244 The effects of reading the New Testament. work, as may be inferred from the ex- other prophecies, it seems probable that it will be no more than begun, and that when their second Exodus shall commence, the greater part of the nation will, at least in a spiritual sense, be still unconverted. From the whole of the foregoing observations, we may draw this important practical corollary, that all the most strenuous efforts of the Gentile Missionary Societies for the conversion of the Heathen are necessaIt appears to me to be highly usery for, and subordinate to, the great ful to bring into view the above spe- cause which the advocates of the cial work appointed for the Gentile Jews have so much at heart; and on churches, because it has a tendency the other hand, that the success of to reconcile the apparently conflict-Jewish Missionary Societies for the ing claims of the friends of Heathen conversion of that people is closely and Jewish missions, in their appeals and indissolubly connected with the to the generosity of the Christian general conversion of the heathen; public. Let, therefore, the advocates and therefore that the friends of Jewof the Jewish cause consider, that ish, and the promoters of Heathen though on the one hand it be true, Missions, so far from looking askance that the main conversion of the Genupon each other, as if there were any tiles is to follow, as a consequence, mutual interferance between their rethe conversion of Israel; it is, on the spective objects, ought, with the most other hand, no less certain, that until ardent spirit of Christian charity, to the gospel shall have been preached endeavor to strengthen one another's among all nations, we shall look in hands, remembering that the success vain for the complete national con- of either is indissolubly connected version of Israel, since this event is with the triumph of both. to coincide with the second advent of our Lord at the end of the present Aion, or age; which end he assures us shall not come till the Gospel shall have been so preached for a witness unto all nations. If then we are, on the one hand, obliged to conclude, that missions undertaken by the Gentiles will not effect the general conversion of the world, I apprehend that, on the other, we shall be led to see that the complete national conversion of Israel is suspended upon the efforts of the Gentile churches in preaching the Gospel among all nations. I admit indeed that the national conversion of Israel is to begin before the end, and also before their restoration, as this seems to be expressly predicted in Deut. xxx. 1-7. But by comparing this passage with [Jewish Expositor. EFFECTS PRODUCED BY READING THE "My word shall not return unto A poor student of the University of Leipsic, having occasion to undertake a journey to his distant friends, was in want of the necessary money for that purpose. He therefore was induced to go to a learned Jew, to pawn his Hebrew Bible and Greek Testament. The latter contained the Greek and German text in opposite columns. The learned Jew, little as he valued this book, was however, prevailed upon to give the student half a rix dollar for it. During the absence of the student, he undertook The effects of reading the New Testament. 245 can describe. Now he was quite overcone, the love of the most holy and the most lovely of the children of men filled his very soul. Being fully determined to become a Chris tian, he went without delay and made his desire known to a Christian minister. The student returned from his to read it through; with a view to the thoughts of futurity had often filconfirm his mind in enmity against led him. Still he could not divest Jesus, to ridicule his person in the himself of prejudices, but read the synagogue, and to be the better pre- New Testament the third time with pared to testify his zeal for the Jew- the following resolution: "If I disish faith. His wife and children cover nothing the third time why were not permitted to see the book; Jesus and his Apostles, and their doche was determined to read it alone, trine, should be hated by the Jews, I as a sworn enemy of Jesus, and to will become a Christian; but if my discover the falsehood of the Christian wish in first opening the book is now religion in all its parts. As the stu- gratified, I will forever detest the dent was absent for about seven weeks Christian religion." During the the Jew had sufficient leisure to per- third reading of the history of Jesus, form his task. But as he proceeded his doctrines, and promises, he could to read, his surprise increased, and a not refrain from tears, his soul was sacred awe pervaded him. In read-affected in a manner which no pen ing some impressive passage he could scarcely refrain from exclaiming, Ah, that Jesus were my Saviour!-Having completed the reading, he was astonished at himself, and exceedingly perplexed, that in spite of his earnest desire to find fuel in the New Testament for the increase of his burning enmity against Jesus, he had discover-journey and brought the borrowed ed nothing deserving of hatred, but on the contrary much that was great, sublime, heavenly, and divine. At length he charged himself with silly simplicity and blind folly, and re-but after some persuasion yielded. solved to open the book no more. In What do you demand for it? asked this resolution he presisted some days. the Jew. A rix dollar will satisfy But the consolatory and heavenly in- me, was the reply. The Jew opened structions he had read, and which a chest, and laid down one hundred had left an indelible impression upon louis d'ors. Take that said he, gladhis mind, and the glorious prospect of ly will I pay more if you desire it. life eternal, which had opened before And if at any time I can be of use to him, did not suffer him to rest either you, only apply to me and I will be day or night; and he resolved to read your friend to the utmost of my powthe New Testament a second time, er. The student was surprised, and fully determined to be more careful supposed that the Jew made sport of in ascertaining that Jesus and his him. But the latter related to him, Apostles had justly deserved the what change of mind had been hatred of all Jews, in all ages. Again, wrought in him by reading the New however, he was unable to discover Testament, upbraided him for setting any thing that was absurd, or which so little value on that precious book, bore the stamp of falsehood, but much and said, "never will I part with this wisdom, inexpressible comfort for anbook, and you will oblige me by acafflicted mind, and a hope of immor- cepting the money." From that time tality which seemed to rescue him he became a sincere Christian. from that dreadful anxiety with which Israel's Advocate. money with interest, to redeem his two books. The Jew asked him if he would sell the New Testament. The student was unwilling to part with it, Narrative of the State of Religion will anticipate this narrative-the within the Bounds of the Presby-malignant fever with which the God tery of New-York, April, 1823. of all, who directs the agencies and The free conversation on the state wields the elements of nature, in of religion in the Presbytery of New sovereign righteousness visited our York at their present sessions, has guilty city, from the latter part of occasioned little or no diminution of last summer through the first two that "abundant thankfulness" which, months of the subsequent autumn. The pressure of this judgment was on the last similar opportunity, they Some hundreds of so peculiarly felt and expressed in locally severe. our fellow-citizens became its speedy their report to the General Assembly. victims. The southern sections of They have indeed augmented evidence of the stupidity of sinners, of the city were depopulated, and the the imperfection of saints, and of the sanctuaries of God in the infected wide spread prevalence of sin; still district were consequently closed, the Great Head of the Church, "of while the consternation was constant whom the whole family in Heaven and almost universal. and Earth is named, appears to be, as we know he is, ever mindful of his own cause, "working salvation in the midst of the earth," and manifesting his everlasting faithfulness and grace in their appropriate fruits; his people recognise his agency, are edified in the faith, and "rejoice in hope of the glory of God." The happy spirit of union and mutual confidence between the ministers and members of the churches under their jurisdiction, has, they think, been more and more consolidated. Their common sentiment is, 'let brotherly love continue;' their experience is, that it is both good and pleasant as the holy and consecrating oil of the Christian priesthood, and it is their 'earnest expectation, and their hope in God, that this, their dwelling together in unity' may be the presage of 'greater than these,' even as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended on the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.' The moral effects of this calamity on the spirits of survivors, both the church and world, were obvious and peculiar at the time. Many migrated to the country; and of those who remained, » while Christians were praying and confessing their sins before the acknowledged Lord of Heaven and earth,' the irreligious were in many instances clamorous and bold in their ungodliness. The Presbytery greatly lament also, that the permanent consequences of this visitation upon the churches generally, and upon those more especially, which have their location in the immediate circle of its desolations, were not so beneficial as they fondly and ardently anticipated. The ordinary institutions and objects of Christian benevolence have been maintained and multiplied. Several new churches have been built and several others are now contemplated or actually erecting in the city of New York. One other church has been organized and furnished with the regular ordinances of the Gospel, and The public worship of Almighty we now number fourteen churches in God has been generally well attend-the city. Sabbath schools, Bible clased, both as respects the numbers and ses, catechetical instruction, prayer the solemnity of our assemblies. meetings, among which we may parThe most signal exception to this ticularize the Monthly Concert of statement is one in which the sympa-Prayer, have been continued and inthetic recollections of the Assembly creased in most of our congregations, A spirit of Christian activity and ef- in its promise and consideration; and fort in the cause of our blessed Lord we expect, from the blessing of our and Saviour, Jesus Christ, seems to Great Head upon the counsel and exbe extending. Missionary operationsertions of its Executive Committee, to become increasingly the object of com- whom the management of its conmon interest, patronage, and prayer; tinual augmentation of the number and the more conspicuous enterprises and the strength of Presbyterian of good, such as Bible Societies, Mis-churches in this city and its vicinity. sionary, Tract, and Education Societies, societies for the instruction of seamen in the truth and grace of the Gospel, the American Society for Meliorating the condition of the Jews, societies auxiliary to these, and other combinations of Christian effort and resources, appear to be advancing, under the benediction of God, in the thoughts and feelings of our general community. revivals of religion, their communicaOn that special subject of interest, tions to the Assembly, cannot be in all respects so richly grateful as were their last, nor so meager and comfortless as often in those of preceeding years. In most of their churches there has been a gradual and considerable accession from the world, and in some of them the additions have been extraordinary and deeply The United Foreign Missionary characterized. The Rutgers' street Society deserves a distinct recogni-Church in the city of New York, is tion in this narrative. Its peculiar the only one, perhaps, which it is details will doubtless be known to the competent to particularize. This Assembly from its own report: it is church was destitute of pastoral superproper, however, to observe that this intendence formally for several mighty engine of beneficence, though months, and virtually, on account of complicated in its operations and em- the fever, for nearly a year. During barrassed in its resources, continues the last five months, they have enjoyto 'go forward,' and will, they de-ed the regular ministrations of their voutly pray, receive the all-sufficient present pastor, and the special insubsidies and succors, which He can fluences of the Holy Ghost; the fruits so easily command, in whose own of this refreshing, already ingathered cause it is singly and efficiently oc- to the church, are about seventy cupied. names. The importance of religious The Presbytery would also an-revivals is more extensively felt, nounce the formation of the United Domestic Missionary Society, as an institution of the most auspicious consequence, in the sphere of its operations, in the reaction of its influence upon the spirits of its members, and in its prospective achievements in the glorious cause. their details more impressively heard and their blessings more generally sought by prayer and supplication to the God of Israel, who only doeth these wondrous things. The aggregate of accessions from the world has been larger than at any former pe riod. They are also induced to state to On the reverse of this general surthe Assembly, that they have formed vey they must, however, impress the themselves into a Presbyterial Mis-usual characters of gloom. The masionary ociety, whose object-to jority of our population give fearful supply the waste places of our bounds proof of continuing on the wrong with the means of grace has been side of the controversy of God with successfully prosecuted during the the apostate children of men. Where past year. This society is growing one has been converted, we fear that numbers, too many to be counted, be read with interest. Dr. P. is a native of Elizabethtown, N. J. are persisting in their native and chosen course of sin and death. The It has pleased the Great Ruler of supineness, irresolution, and dubious the skies to bring us into the immediindications of some, who 'profess that ate presence of the king of Burmanthey know God,' must be noticed and to be informed that I must make among the most mournful of the oc- his capital my place of residence. casions of grief. Several pair ful in- Our reception was very gratifying. stances of discipline, and some of We were obliged to submit to no them distressful in a singular degree, ceremony. As soon as the king was have occurred in the details of ses-informed of our arrival, a royal order sional and presbyterial administration. was issued for our immediate introBut here the deepest shades of human duction. As we entered, with the degeneracy on the one side are grate-impatience of a despotic prince, he fully relieved on the other, by the unequivocal evidences that a spirit of discipline is ascendant in our churches that the vital importance of official faithfulness in dispensing this ordinance of God, our Saviour, is more widely realized than in former times, and that the promise of this spirit is the most propitious to the interest of the gospel throughout our bounds. called to know which was the doctor. We were taken into an open court, and seated on a bamboo floor about ten feet from the chair of the monarch. They are from the western continent," was the first, remarkafter which our great man delivered his account of us. We were then interrogated, as to my skill in curing eyes, cutting out wens, setting broken arms and legs-besides many other things to which my skill did not extend. Our medicines were then called for, and all my stock inspected. The surgical cases were much admired. After looking at Presbytery.mine, the king sent for his own-one On the whole, the Presbytery feel authorised and constrained, in a retrospect of the year, to "thank God, and take courage." Signed SAML. H. Cox, ROBT. M'CARTEE, Committee of THE BURMAN EMPIRE. The Missionaries sent to this em An order was case being unlike mine; he immediately gave it into my hands to use. This I considered as equivalent to fixing me here for life. After my pire some few years since by the A-galvanic pile had amused the king merican Baptist Missionary Society, and his courtiers for an hour we were have been subjected to much incon- dismissed with an order to look out venience in consequence of the un- a place that we liked, and he would friendliness of the government. Since build a house for us. the arrival in that country of Dr.also given to look up all the disPrice, in December, 1821, the pros-eased people and have my opinion. pects of the mission have brightened. upon them. The fame of the Doctor, in curing various diseases having reached the ears of the King, he was summoned to the court of Ava, from whence Messrs. Judson and Colman had not long before, been repulsed. The following extracts from a letter of Dr. Price, dated Ava, Oct. 1, 1822, will The king is a man of small stature, very straight-steps with a natural air of superiority, but has not the least appearance of it in conversation. On the contrary, he is always plea[sant and good humored, so far as I have yet seen him. He wears a red finely striped silk cloth from his |