proof that Isa. liii. was received by the Jews at that time as prophetic of the Messiah.

A few days after he left this place, Duitsch arrived at Leipsic, then in possession of the Prussians. Here it happened, that one day as he was crossing the market-place, a soldier approached him with a book in his hand, saying, 'Jew! wilt thou buy this book of me?' Duitsch asked to look at it, but was refused; he then enquired the price: "Only one rix dollar,' was the reply; which greatly surprized him, as it was quite new and neatly bound: he therefore agreed to purchase it, thinking it might be of service to him in learning the German language; no sooner was the bargain concluded than the soldier ran off with the money, laughing at him, and clapping his hands; and pointing at him, he called out in the market, Look here! I have cheated a Jew!' Immediately a number of people, joining in the disgraceful transaction, surrounded Duitsch, laughing at and deriding him. Astonished and somewhat ashamed, quite unable to conceive the reason of their insults, he made his way through the mob, home to his lodging, and soon as as he reached it, desirous of examining the book, the purchase of which had drawn upon him such mockery, he opened it at the title-page and read, in large letters, the following words: The New Testament.'

M

CHAPTER IX.

SOLOMON DUITSCH: THE HUNGARIAN RABBI,
CONTINUED.

HIS DOUBTS AND DIFFICULTIES IN READING THE TESTAMENTGOES TO ALTONA, AND IS KINDLY RECEIVED IN THE HOUSE OF A RABBIN THERE-LEAVES FOR AMSTERDAM-EVENTS WHICH BEFALL HIM THERE--GOES TO LONDON-HIS ILLNESS AND RETURN TO THE CONTINENT-IS INDUCED BY THE JEWS OF ARNHEIM TO BECOME THEIR RABEIN.

HAVING never seen a New Testament before, Solomon Duitsch was not at first aware of the nature of the book which had thus fallen into his hands; it occurred to him, he says, that it was the last will of some great prince or king. He turned over the title page, and read with great surprize the Hebrew names, wherewith the gospel commences; but when he came to the sixteenth verse, which speaks of the nativity of Christ, he was struck with amazement, and fervently acknowledged the goodness of God in having thus, by a means so extraordinary, bestowed upon him the means of obtaining that heavenly knowledge for which he was so earnestly seeking; for he doubted not but from this book he should be able to obtain it.

On the 15th of December he arrived at Berlin, and was kindly received by the Jews there. Two reasons induced him in a great measure to conceal his sentiments and to remain amongst his own people. In the first place, he was unwilling to relinquish the observance of Jewish ceremonies, and in particular he doubted the lawfulness of changing the day on which the Sabbath was observed: in the second place, his fifty ducats were already spent, and his gold watch sold; 'so that,' he says, 'for the sake of bread, I was obliged to keep still with the Jews.'

He remained at Berlin till the beginning of the following year 1763, during which time he finished the perusal of the Testament. It was with inexpressible joy and satisfaction, that he found when he came to the twenty-sixth chapter of St. Matthew, that the book was the same as the one which had been shown him by the Rabbin during the interview mentioned in the previous chapter. But chiefly in the epistle to the Hebrews, he found a rich fund of instruction, peculiarly applicable to a person under his circumstances: there he read with a rejoicing heart that Christ was the only sacrifice for our sins: that all the ceremonies of the first covenant, and particularly that of the great day of Atonement, had been but a type of Him. Yet was it but the early dawn of light and knowledge in his heart; there were many things which he could not understand, many more which he could not believe; opposing feelings jarred together, and every emotion was strictly repressed within his own heart: for he had taken up the idea, that every Jew who applied to the

Christians, was immediately taken to the church and baptized; and he formed a stedfast determination, that such should never be the case with regard to him until every doubt was removed. Publicly therefore he kept with the Jews; secretly in continued study of the word, and in fervent prayer, he sought the knowledge of the Lord.

From Berlin he went to Hamburgh and Altona, where he arrived at the beginning of February. As he was going from Hamburgh to Altona, to look for an inn in which to take up his lodging, he passed the house of an eminent and learned Rabbin, named Jonathan Eibshutz, who being at his window, saw him as he went by. He had scarcely entered the inn, when the Rabbi's servant came, and asked for the stranger who was just arrived there. He was directed of course to Duitsch, to whom he gave a message from his master, begging to see him immediately, and requesting him to return with him. Duitsch immediately concluded, that the Rabbi was aware of the circumstances in which he had placed himself, and was consequently incensed against him. He endeavoured at first to evade the request, and induce the servant to return without him, but was at last persuaded to accompany him. Contrary to his expectation, the Rabbi received him with great civility, and having made enquiries concerning his relations, discovered that he was the great-grandson of a gentleman into whose house at Nicolsburgh in Moravia, he had been received in early youth, and by whose liberality he had been edu

cated, being himself but a poor orphan. Delighted with the discovery, he admitted him to his family, and introduced him to the other Jews.

Duitsch made a long stay with his generous benefactor, and employed this interval of peace in the study of the New Testament, though he could only do so by night. At length, in the month of May 1763, he took his leave, and went to Amsterdam, where he lodged in the house of a person named Moses Rokisch, in the Vinkebuurt. With this Jew, he went one Sabbath day to the Synagogue; on their return home, he was asked how he liked the fore-singer. He replied that he had no objection to him, but that he must give the preference to Abraham the fore-singer at Frankfort on the Maine. A Rabbin who was following them, addressed him upon hearing this, and enquired whether he were acquainted with this Abraham, and whether for a reasonable recompense he could undertake to bring him to Amsterdam; to which he replied in the affirmative. On the next Sabbath, when the elders of the Synagogue assembled, he was requested to attend their meeting: here it was agreed he should immediately proceed to Frankfort and engage the said fore-singer, for which service they promised to pay him twenty ducats out of the common chest, and thirty ducats more from the elders. The 6th of June he set out on his journey.

In his passage up the river, from Keulen to Boam, he met with four Romish priests, who probably perceiving him to be a Jew, and finding him inclined to religious controversy, began to argue with him with