Newspaper Page Text
No. 3 Vol. V.
EFFECTS PRODUCED BY READING
THE NEW TESTAMENT.
“My words shall not return unto me void.”
Remarkable History of the Conversion of a
Jew.’
Extracted from “ Hitmens Christian Jour
nal.” a periodical work highly esteemed
among Christians in Germany, reprinted in
a small volume, published by Baron von
Blomberg, at Detmold.
A respectable inkeeper in a village in
Germany had a very depraved,ungodly son.
One day, an old sickly Jew, Elieser, arriv
ed at the inn, situated at some distance
frbm the village, and feeling himself very
ill, immediately ordered a bed to rest upon.
While he was fast asleep, the young pro
fligate conceived the hellish idea to profit
from the opportunity—for the innkeeper,
his father, with his mother, and ail the ser
vants, were gone to the fair in the market
town—to murder the old sick Jew, and to
rob him of his money.—He inflicted upon
him several stabs with a knife whereby he
lost his senses. Though he was still
breathing, yet the murderer considered his
death as inevitable, took and ring from his
finger, and the little money he had in one
of his pockets, and threw the body on a
dunghill behind the house, with a de
sign to rover it as soon as possible. But
he bad scarcely re-entered into the room,
but he was seized with the terrors of hell,
which disqualified him for every reflection.
Id a state of distraction he ran out of the
house, without minding the body of the
murdered Jew, left uncovered, and the de-
Iserted house, determined to travel withJhe
■utmost speed to the nearest seaport, a day’s
■journey from his village, and there engage
las a sailor. Meanwhile the stabbed Jew,
■whose wounds wre not mortal, recovered
■o far as to be able to move with slow steps,
Ho the adjacent village. He could Dot give
Huy satisfactory account of the circumstan-
Hes imder which he met with this accident,
Both from weakness,and because be hadnei
■her seen his murderer, nor the instrument
■V which he came to his wounds, for he
Hirst recovered his senses, when he had laid
Home time on the dunghill. He died on
■be following day; and the surgeon who
Had examined the corpse declared, that
■hough his wounds were not in themselves
Hhsolutely mortal, vet in the present case
Had been the real cause of accelerated
Heath. *
M The murderer, pushed on by tormenting
Bars, proceeded on bis way: in a wood he
Bum), on the edge of the road, a young
Hew fast asleep ; suddenly another satanical
Boa suggested i'self to bis m;ad. He
Hew the knife with whsch he had commit
Hd the ffiurder, out of his own pocket, put
Hgently in the pocket of the still sleeping
Hw, and rapidly pursued his journey on a
H path through the wood. He reached
H; seaport P. In the inn where he took
H his lodging, hisyomthful appearance and
Hcdsome figure struck the daughter of the
Huso; the affection soon become mutual;
Hd when the father had given his consent,
were married, and remained in the
|H)Stvto assist the fatherin his business.
so happened, that two soldiers wern
in the same road where the mur-
had perpetrated his second atrnciou'-
>fls. They found there a weli-looking
man sleeping, whom, from his dress
countenance, they supposed to he a
: Hv; it was the same who had been men
companion, “ we are both of us huu-
Bgand thirsty, may we not apply to the
egrets of the sleeping Jew for a little
Hey ? As he is asleep he will not refuse
p| “The hint is good,” returned the
■r, “ for I am almost fainting from thirst,
Hi have not a farthing in my pockei.”
BHy o w put a hand into the coat pocket
■Howsy Nathan (this was the name of
fflH;<:w] for money : but instead of a purse
jMWband and drew forth a large knife,
terrified when they found it cov-
ISHnith gore; but soon recovering from
Rig terror, bv the hope of earning the
to which thd law entitles those who
into the hands of justice a
PHr.de r suspicion of murder, they awak-
Jew, bound him, and deaf to his
IJnHous, entreaties, and protestations.
pjjHconducted him into the town, where
he was put into the prisou.
SjHre he remained in confinement for
a year. In the first month al
HH the state of inactivity became to him
tedious. He asked the jailer
ljiHer he could give him hooks to read ?
HHre isj” replied he, “Id the whole
jjigbut one hook, probably left behind
gHbrmer prisoner.” “ What book, ask-
SH Jew. “I do not know it,” was the
of the ignorant rude jailer. “ I
read it; but on looking into it,
found, that it contains some histori
and also some letters.”
cried the Jew, “give me that hook ;
ttj’t book is preferable to tedinusness.”
Hie. it. The Jew was almost struck
when he read the title-page
ggho.'k ; it was, The New Testament of ,
Jesus Christ. He ,wa- about to re
fHt, lot—so he said to himself, —
. hg harm . an it do me, if for once with
§H) ey.vs, I see what the Christians re
llgtheir and ified son of Mirjam ? 1 shall
SHy be enabled to argue with Chris-
THE MIS SIONART.
tianß.” He now actually began reading;
he first read with secret reluctance ; but as
he continued reading, the mere reluctance
changed into tormenting alarm and distress
of mind he could not possibly account for.
The sermons of Jesus contained in the
Gospels, appeared to him so full of wisdom ;
his actions so supernatural; his views so
pure ; his sentiments so noble and so holy,
that he felt himself struck with reverence
to him, and was convinced, that not one of
all men that have lived here on earth, not
even Moses or Abraham, was comparable to
him. From his early infancy he bad heard
his parents and teacher represent Jesus of
Nazareth as a proud, quarrelsome, and to
his own people, hostile innovator,mutineer,
and impostor. He now was amazed to see
before his sight, on every page, the hum
blest and meekest of all the sons of Abra
ham, nay of all the children of Adam. He
could not be satiated by reading the sermon
on the mount, distilling the dew of heaven
ly wisdom, the last prayer of the divioe
high-priest, and his last conversation with
his disciples, overflowing with the most len
der parting love ; with silent tears in his
eyes he read the history of the passion
and death of Jesus; and at his last words
upon the cross, especially at that prayer,
“ Father, forgive them !” he began bitterly
to cry. He could scarcely prevail upon
himself to proceed, but his desire to know
the conduct of the disciples after the death
ot their master, induced him to read the
Acts of the Apostles also; here the events
of the day of Pentecost, and the effects of
the sermon of that day, struck him with pe
culiar power. But the conversion of a
Paul made the deepest impression upon his
soul: this marvellous event operated decis
ively ; almost unconsciously he exclaimed,
with a loud voice, “ As truly as the God of
Abraham lives in heaven, Jesus of Naza
reth is the Messiah, the Son of the living
God !’• And in the same state of ecstacy
he lifted up his hands and prayed, “As tru
ly as thou, O Jesus of Nazareth, art the
true Prophet and Messiah, I will be (by
disciple! Have mercy upon me! have
mercy, as thou shewedst mercy to the thief
at thy right hand! Pray for me, as thou
prayedst for thy murderers—Father, for
give them!”
The son ot Abraham, now in bis heart a
believer, longed now with an increasad de
sire after the day of his acquital, of which,
conscious of his innocence, be bad na* the
least doubt. This desire was not so much
owing lo his natural Jove of liberty, as to a
wish to confess publickly with the mouth,
what he believed with bi heart, and to be
added by baptism, to the followers of Jesus
Christ. He'spent hi time every day in
reading the New Testament, which now
bad become his invaluable treasure, and
be repeatedly perused it from the beginning
to the end, with increasing interest and joy.
In his eximination before the court of ju
lice he defended himself with freeness, but
modestly; even his judges coofe9ed that
his conduct bore testimony to his innocence ;
and the visible calmness of soul he showed
when the bloody knife found in his pocket
was produced, and his modest declaration on
that occasion, staggered the judges. As to
the final issue of trie trial, the prisoner was
without fear, quietly wailing for the day,
when God himself would be pleased to
make his innocence manifest by some provi
dential incident. After having been de
tained in prison for fifteen months, he re
ceived his sentence, by which he was to be
whipped publickly before the town-ball, oo
three consecutive days, and then to one
year's hard labour in the citadel. A tear
dropped from his eye 9 when the sentence
was communicated to him, but he returned
calmly and resigned into his prison.
The day of execution arrived; the pris
oner had already been brought into the
town-hall, to be undressed for the first
whipping, when an official message arrived
from the court of magistrates at P., bv
which notice was given, that the real mur
derer of the Jew Elieser had there been
detected and brought into prison, and that
he had already confessed his crime.
Our prisoner was now immediately sent
back mto prison, but showed into a better
room, and after the lapse of a week, he
was in the most honourable terms, restor
ed to full liberty. The most respectable
inhabitants of the town expressed their con
cern for bis undeserved imprisonment, and
their cordial sympathy in his release. He
replied, “Your interest in my case affects
roy heart: but I cannot accept your com
passion, for by my imprisonment I have lost
but little, but gained infinitely.”—Very
soon after having been set at liberty, he
inquired after a pious minister of the Gos
pel ; the Rev. Mr. B. was recommended to
him as a holy man ; to him he opened his
heart, and related to him all that he bad
experienced both in his outer and inner
man, and most earnestly entreated him to be
baptized, & admit him to the Lord’s Supper.
When the minister had thoroughly ex
amioed him, he wrote to his superiour.
: He, who like this Israelite, has been tanght
of God, does not stand in need of human in
struction. I have found him so profoundly
informed of every truth of our religion,
and at the same time so firmly convinced of
its divinity, that I should deem it sinful to
refuse him baptism. Some weeks after-
nf,..., ... Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. —Jesus Christ.
Os all the dispositions and hab.ts which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.- Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, JUNE 3oj 11523.
wards he was publickly baptized in the
parish church, and then admitted to partake
of the holy sacrament, under great emo
tions vs his heart.
The real murderer, who lived under a
false name, with bis father-in-law at P. as
hi 9 assistant in the mangement of the inn,
had by some unguarded expressions, al
ready excited some suspicion, when a cir
cumstance happened where he fully be
trayed himself. Two strangers who had
put up at the inn, conversed about the
murder, and all that since had followed, in
the presence of a member of the court of
magistrates. They mentioned the son of
the inn-keeper at M., as the supposed crimi
nal ; and as just at that moment the son-in
law of the house entered into the roco, one
of the strangers in a jocose manner, said,
“ Exactly like this our young landlord, that
person is said to be, in his appearance.”
At these words the young man turned pale,
trembled, attempted to speak, and stam
mered. The magistrate whose suspicion
was roused, went to his colleagues, who af
ter some deliberation, resolved to watch
the young man during day, and in the even
ing confine him, which was done.
At the first stage of his trial the wretch
contrived to elude the acuteness of his
cross-examiners, but by dint of unrelenting
investigations, more and more circumstan
ces of aggravation were brought to light,
and his unsatisfactory account with regard
to the ring, still in his possession, continued
the suspicion. At last the inward judge
brought about what his human judges had
been unable to effect. lowarJ torments
were so visibly depicted in his countenance
and in his conduct, that the judges were
emboldened to address him in these words,
—Villain, dost thou dare longer to defy the
heart-searching eyes of the Almighty?
Thou standest before an opengnlf; before
it swallow thee, io honour of truth, say,
Yes! Trembling in every limb, he said,
Yes; and after making an open confession
of his crime, and every attending particu
lar, he was sentenced to be whipped in the
market place on eight consecutive days,
and to 9ix years’ hard labour in the citadel.
Our convert Nathan, now after his bap
tism Christlieb, (Christophilus) had no
sooner been informed of the transaction,
but his heart was filled with sorrow and
compassion for the criminal. He was not
rejoiced to see the author of his past mis
fortune brought to punishment; he only
feit a strong desire after the salvation of
his soul. To this effect he took the resolu
tion to go to C., there to take lodgings for
six years, in order to see the culprit every
day, to bring him in (he way of life, and to
do him good for soul and body. For tnis
he requested the permission of the coai
mander, which also was granted to lorn,
when he had explained his reasons. He
procured belter food for the criminal, and
aided iD his cure and nursing during an iil
ness which befel him. On that occasion he
made his spiritual cure, the conversion of
his poor soul, bis chief concern. He in
structed, he warned, he entreated, he soli
cited the sick, to save his poor soul, bv
turning with a penitent heart to him who
pardoned and saved the murderer on the
cross. His tears and solicitations proved
effectual. It pleased the L<*rd, who r
ceiveth sinners, to touch the hardened
heart of the culprit; he wept for mercy,
and foiled mercy. He melted away in
tears of Ihe deepest repentance, under a
prayer, offered up by his benefactor; and
prayed uferwards himself with affecting
fervour and devotion. The Lord answered
the supplication of the contrite sinner,
and spoke peace to his soul. From that
day he began to recover from his illness;
and, after his restoration lo health, both his
countenance and his conduct bore testimo
ny of the reality and sincerity of his con
version. His transformation into anew
man was even observed by the commander,
who more and more esteemed him for his
peaceable, industrious, and obedient beha
viour, and endeavoured to make his situa
tion as easy for him as it was in his power
to do. After the years of his punishment
bad elapsed, he recovered his liberty.
His spiritual and temporal benefactor took
him into his own lodging, where they re
mained together for some months, improv
ing themselves by the word of truth, and
strengthening themselves by daily prayers
in faith, in love, and in perseverance in the
grace, they both of them had obtained.
After having partaken together in the holy
sacrament, Christlieb accompanied his
friend to the place of his former residence,
and hastened to his wife, who presented to
him his first born son, whom sbe had
brought into the world during the first year
of his confinement. On the following day
he left them and returned to his own resi
dence, where after three or four months
he fell sick, and was removed into the
kingdom of everlasting bliss and joy. Oo
hi 9 sick-bed he often mentioned the name
of his friend, with ferment gratitude and in
tercession, that the Lord would make him
faithful unto the end, and a shining light to
his family. This prayer was not in vain.
His friend remained faithful to the grace
he had experienced; and be was made the
blessed instrument of turning his wife
and her parents from the world and the
service of sin, into the narrow path, which
leadeth to life. He was the object of scorn
to the worldly minded, but of gratitude
and praise to the true worshippers of God
and Christ.
. RELIGIOUS.
A NARRATIVE
Os the State of Religion whithin the bounds
of the General Assembly of the Presbyteri
an Church in the United States.
Tne General Assembly find it, every
year, more difficult to exhibit a just view of
the State of Religion within their bounds.
The extension of tbeir limits, the increas
ing number of their churches and communi
cants, the variety and importance of their
religious institutions render this duty, at
once pleasing and arduous. On these sub
jects, they do not judge it expedient to en
ter as much into detail as they have done
oo some former occasions; but they desire
to furnish such a statement of the dispensa
tions of Providence, towards the churches
under tbeir care, as shall impress their
members with right views of their present
state and obligations.
The Presbyterian Church, in the United
States, embraces thrirteen Synods, and
more than seventy Presbyteries. One of
these Presbyteries is in the eastern part of
New England; all the other# lie on the
west and south of that region, and stretch
from Niagara and Champlain, in the state
of New York, to Missouri and Louisiana on
the south-west, n distance of more thau
1500 miles. No inconsiderable part of the
population spread over this extended re
gion is dependant on the Presbyterian
Church for the ordinary means of gtace.
From that church, to a considerable degree,
they expect the preaching of the Gospel,
and the administration of its ordinances;
the patronage of Literary aud Theological
Seminaries; the religious instruction of
the young, and the encouragement and
maintenance of charitable institutions.
Could we command an adequate supply of
labourers for the field which we are invited
to occupy, the amount of effort and respon
sibility devolving on us, would be increas
ingly great; but an adequate supply of la
bourers does not exist. The provision
which has been made, and is now making,
for the religious wantsthat have awakened
our solicitude, will be stated in its proper
place. At present, we wish distinctly to
announce the fact, that the means of reli
gious instruction are inadequate, in a lamen
table degree, lo the demand for tbeir em
ployment. From documents which wili
appear in another form, it is clearly dedu
cibie that oar population it rapidly gaining
on the means of religious improvement.
Fo illustrate this position, in regard to the
preaching of the Gospel, the following facts
may be stated. In the Presbytery of Niag
aca, there are thirty one churches, and
only seven ministers and licentiates. The
Presbytery of Albany is among those which
are bet supplied wiffi the ministry of the
Gospel; but, in four counties within its
bounds, more than 50.000 souls are repre
sented as destitute of adequate means of
grace. In the extensive states of Mississip
pi and Louisiana, there cannot be found
more than eight or ten Presbyterian minis
ters, and very few of any other denomina
tion. The whole territory of Michigan i
yet Missionary ground; while East and
West Florida, with a numerous population,
in a very interesting state, have no minister
of our communion. In one city with three
or four thousand inhabitant ß , much anxiety
is evinced to obtain a stated Protestant
ministry.
These are some of the reasons for assert
ing that the means of grace are alarmingly
inadequate to the exigences of our popula
tion. To render this view more appalling,
we are assured that the deficiency is in
creasing. New settlements, unfurnished
with a Christian ministry are forming in the
west; while the demands of the east are
not diminished. The wave of emigration
rolls farther and farther onward; and, un
less God interpose, by some special move
ments of his people, in their favour, it
would, really, seem that our children are
likely to settle on the shores of the Pacifick
Ocean, without the Christian religion.
Let us now contemplate some of the
means which are employed for the cultiva
tion of this vast field, and the particular as
pects of providence towards it, during the
past year. The stated and ordinary means
ofgrace have been afforded as usual; and
our ministers, aod elders, generally, appear
to have been engaged with zeal and fideli
ty, in the varions departments of their do
ty. The spirit of religious exertion is still
active; and, in some instances, ii has ap.
peared in new and successful modes of ope
ration. lo addition to the efforts of Sab
bath Schools, Catechetical Instruction,
Bible Classes tb Concert of Prayer, Bible
Societies, Theological Seminaries, Educa
tion and Missionary Associations, we. are
happy to learn that more than usual atten
tion has been paid to the religions instruc
tion of seamen ; and, that, on many minds
the present condition of the Jews has made
a distinct and affecting impression. While,
on ihese subjects, it does not accord with
the design of the narrative, to descend to
particulars; we do not hesitate to invite
the attention of our churches to the reports
Price 5 J 3 i so K- wm. or, >
respecting them, which are now before the
publick; and, particularly, to that of the
Society for meliorating the condition of the
Jew.
The Theological Seminary, at Prince
ton, has been unusually full during the last
year. At present, it numbers eighty five
students. But the Board have still to de
tail the embarrassments under which it la
bours for want es funds.* The Theologi
cal Seminary at Auburn is yet in its incipi
ent state, but represented as rising iff pros
perity. Its number of students, at present
is thirteen.
The Board of Missions, acting under the
direction of the General Assembly, have, as
usual, made an interesting report. This
Board have a few important auxiliaries in
different remote sections of the country,
and extracts from the journals of their mis
sionaries show that their labours in many
instances, have been suddenly aud exten
sively blest.’ The Board make au urgent
appeal for more liberal patronage.m behalf
ct this ancient missionary institution.
There are many other local societies with
iD our bounds, aiming at the same grand ob
ject, amoDg which the Assembly observe
with pleasure the United Domestick Mis
sionary Society of New York.
The proceedings of this Assembly con
tain a distinct representation, oo the edu
cation of pious and indigent young men,
for the gospel oiinitry. We are happy to
perceive that this important object is com
manding more attention among our church
es, and as evidence of this, we refer to the
exertions of the various Education Socie
ties with tbeir auxiliaries; and those in
particular of the Presbytery of Albany,
which alone is represented as having ex
pended about 1200 dollars for this object,
during the past year.
The United Foreign Missionary Society,
though not confined to our denomination,
commands, it is believed, throughout our
churches, a good and increasing degree of
favour. Hitherto its labours have been
confined to our western Indians, among
whom it has now five stations with well or
ganized education families. There should
oe but one sentiment among Christians on
the duty ot patronising this noble institu
tion. The directors have nevertheless, to
complain that their resources have been
iunited to an amount far short of their ex
penditures; and the Assembly would cordi
ally unite with them in the hope, that the
peculiarly imposing claims of this society,
will not, much longer, suffer it to languish.
Having alluded to most of the means of
religious improvement, enjoyed by our
churches, it becomes us now to inquire what
has been the result. Ou this subject wa
shodld speak with great caution. Bur it it
important to exhibit the spiritual state of
the churches nnder our care. From <h©
Presbyterial reports, it appears that the
whole number of communicants belonging
to our criurch has been much increased:
out it cannot now be ascertained to what
precise extent, as many of tho? * reports are
imperfect.! Admitting additions to
nave been of such as shall be saved , it is of
littie importance to us, wherhe r they have
been gathered mto the Chris'ian communi
ty, by ihe gradual distillations of the Holy
■>pirit, or by (hat increase of his influences
which constitutes a revival of religion.
Still there are many reasons for considering
revivals of religion as peculiarly desirable ;
and the Assembly would disappoint the
cnurches under their care, if they failed to
designate those which appear to have been
most remarkable.
[Most of the revivals here enumerated have
been incidentally noticed in the columns of this
paper, and the length of the narrative induces us
no w to omit them.]
We hare given a brief enumeration of
the places which have beeD favoured with
the oulpourmgs of the Spirit of God.
These revivals, bearing as they do, the
marks of a genuine work of grace, must be
regarded as among the most cheering dis
pensations of Divine Providence towards
our churches duriug the last year.
We are happy to state that our I'riendiy
intercourse with the churctms of Connecti
cut, Massachusetts, Vermont and New
Hampshire, continues to be cherished; and
that from the annual reports furnished bjr
the delegates from those bodies, the im
pression is favourable in regard to the prev
alence of truth and godlinees in that region.
.Their Colleges, and Theological Semina
ries and Missionary institutions are flourish*
ing; and many of their churches have been
visited with revivals of religion.
The colleges of Hamilton, D'ckmson,
Jeflfers.ro, Alleghany, ;>nd North Carolina,
have been represented as iu a flourishing
state. Many of them embrace a considera
ble proportion of piou3students; and, in all,
it is believed, the cause of morality and re
ligion is decidedly gaining ground. With
regard to errours on the subject of religion,
it would probably be correct to state that
* Will any of our congregation*
moved on thn subject when they learn, from the
Report of the Directors, that promising young
men are every year prevented from uniting with
the Seminary, fr the want of pecuniary means*
t According to a standing order of the Generl
al Assembly, the names of the ministers and
churches under their care, will be published nest
year; and it is hoped that all the Presbyteries will
he careful to send up their reports in tbe most
perfect form.