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CHAPTER VI.

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AND now I will proceed to record another instance of sovereign mercy, greatly exceeding our expectations. I was graciously restored to health. During my convalescence, and while observing the feast of Tabernacles, Mr. — returned to town, and immediately called upon me; I was much pleased with the gentleness of his manners and conversation, which savoured so much of the love of Jesus. appeared to be perfectly acquainted with the present state of the Jews, and expressed great love for them. He informed me of his efforts to bring them to know their king Messiahand the dangers and perils he was exposed to, in that "work of faith and labour of love." He shewed great sympathy for the situation of myself and my family, so that putting all these circumstances together, he made a most favourable impression on my mind, exalted my ideas of that religion which he professed, and consequently increased my love to the Lord Jesus,

the author and finisher of our faith. O that the ministers of the Gospel felt more earnestly for the benighted Jew! O that they would but account it an honour to be employed as pioneers and as heralds in "casting up the highway, in gathering out the stones, in lifting up a standard to the people, in proclaiming to Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh! behold his reward is with him, and his work before him!" and thus be preparing for that blessed period, when "they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, when they shall be called, sought out, a city not forsaken." Isaiah lxii. 12.

When my health was sufficiently recovered to enable me to go out, I went to hear Mr. preach, and through his ministry I became more prepossessed in favour of the Christian faith. In fact, that servant of God appeared to me a most zealous, pious, and unassuming minister of Christ, and I felt my soul firmly knit to his. At several subsequent interviews, he urged the necessity of my publicly confessing Christ. The fear of man and worldly advantage alone prevented my immediate compliance with his remonstrances, seconded, as they were, by the following Scriptures, Luke

xii. 8. "Whoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God: but he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God,"-Rom. x. 9. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

This was a time of sore trial and temptation. The hour had arrived when it was necessary that I should decide whom I should serve, God or Mammon, for we cannot serve both. The "old man," within me, became more rebellious, and did not consent to be crucified. The adversary was putting forth all his devices to draw me into his snare. I thought it right to represent to Mr. the very peculiar situation in which I was placed. He entered fully into my feelings on the subject. He knew well that I must give up father, mother, and almost all that was dear to me, and consent to be hated and persecuted. Christians may easily conceive the distressing situation in which I was placed, as I have no doubt many

have experienced something of the same kind: though whatever displeasure may arise in the minds of nominal christians, when their relations are in earnest about the salvation of their souls, and give up all for Christ; it falls far short of what the poor converted Jew has to encounter, when about to publish to the world, and confess in the church, that the Lord Jesus Christ is his Redeemer. No one can adequately describe the sufferings, persecutions, and deprivations of the Jew, when he enlists under the banner of his Lord. Every endearing tie is torn asunder, he is spurned from the parental roof, detested, shunned, and excommunicated by every individual of his nation; his business too is quite ruined, in consequence of his former friends abstaining from all intercourse with him, in secular concerns. Yet how trifling is anything he can possibly endure, when compared with the weight of suffering which was laid on the Lord Jesus, who suffered "the just for the unjust." The inward conflict was fierce, sometimes victory seemed to be on one side, sometimes on the other; but "thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Mr.

assured me that as far as lay in

the power of himself and the church under his pastoral care, I should be protected. I was much encouraged by his pointing out to me the many gracious promises held out to all those that call upon the name of God, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I could not do otherwise than acknowledge the truth of all he said, yet, still having the fear of man before my eyes, I entreated him to give me time for consideration. I avowed to him that I was an humble disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. He that searcheth the hearts and trieth the reins of the children of men knew that Christ was my only hope, and that in him was centered all my happiness. But I dreaded to confess this publicly. All my arguments were vain, Mr. still urged the necessity of a public confession. At length I yielded, I will not say reluctantly, for I now felt convinced that I was wrong in opposing myself to the ordinance of Christ. These words came forcibly to me, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name of the Lord."

On the evening of the 26th day of December, 1831, within five minutes walk of my birth-place, and near the residence of my dear

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