would not receive nor acknowledge him as the true Messias and Saviour. And should you ask me why they did not, as then not only so many learned doctors and Scribes were in Israel, but also the Sanhedrim was still in its full lustre, I could answer you a great deal on that head but I am sorry our time is too short to give a full insight into the extreme blindness and prejudices of our forefathers in general in those days. Their poor and unhappy offspring, following their example, have continued in their blind ways, and have led us on, as blind leaders, to this very day. Oh! what shall I, poor wretched creature, now do, or undertake? I see clearly the beams of the sun, shining into my understanding, but cannot possibly rise out of the dark cloud. How could I leave my wife, whom I love as myself? and how could I abandon my children, who are of my own flesh and blood? Oh my heart, my fatherly heart cannot bear the thoughts of it! Besides, by what means could I get my bread? I cannot labour, having learned no business; and to seek my support by charity is revolting to my nature. Besides this, I am also afraid to be turned off by the Christians, who without doubt would mistrust my sincerity, after they have so often been deceived by false and inconsistent proselytes. What shall I do, miserable as I am!'

This testimony to the truth greatly encouraged and strengthened the heart of Solomon and he secretly acknowledged the providence of God, in bringing him there, and causing him to hear such a confession. then related his own history to the Rabbin, who falling

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on his knees besought the Lord to look down in pity upon him, and to grant him the same grace, enabling him to renounce all temporal things, and put his trust in God. Duitsch endeavoured to comfort him, assuring him that if he were really sincere, and desired the salvation of his soul, every object which now seemed like a mountain to him would be removed: that when he was once sensible of the wrath of the God of Israel in looking down upon him in his present state, and should know with what patience and long suffering he had borne with him unto that day, he would no longer regard any temporal hindrances, but that the Lord himself would enable him to cast them under his feet. Just as he spoke these words, the rest of the family returned from the theatre, thus putting an end to the conversation; and though Duitsch visited him several times afterwards, he never could find an opportunity of renewing it; he shortly after left the city, and no further mention is made of this unhappy individual, who perhaps, still continued to drag on troubled existence, like a person who, shuddering with daily alarm, should remain to guard his wealth, in a city infested by the plague. It is worthy of remark, that Zabbathai Tzevi, the false Messiah, who lived in the middle of the 17th century, wickedly endeavoured to excuse his embracing Islamism, which he did in order to save his life, by atrociously pretending, that the words of Isaiah, "he was numbered with the transgressors," predicted the acknowledgment of the Mohammedan faith which he had recently inade. A

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 TESTAMENT— GOES 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