Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ. Bernstein Aaron

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СКАЧАТЬ prince, used the expression "der hochselige Prinz" with reference to the deceased. Whereupon the prince charged him with flattery, as he did not think that the Jews believed that a Christian could be saved. Wallich then brought Augusti, who proved from the "Sefer Hasidim" that a pious Christian who keeps the seven Noachian Commandments has a share in the world to come. This incident was in the providence of God the first means in Augusti's conversion. On that occasion Dr. Reinhardt, an evangelical pastor, was present, and they became acquainted with each other. This led later to discussions about the interpretation of Isaiah liii. Augusti, after much searching in Jewish commentaries, was convinced that this chapter speaks of a person and that Jesus is the one in whom it was fulfilled. Before his baptism he made an open confession in the synagogue of his faith in Christ, and he was baptized on Christmas Day, 1722, in the presence of Prince Gunther and the whole court officials. After his baptism he delivered an address on Ps. ix. 2, in which he expressed his thanksgiving for God's wonderful dealing with him. Soon after he began to study theology at the Seminary of Gotha. In 1727, he went to Jena, and afterward to Leipzig. He was appointed Assistant Professor of the Gymnasium at Gotha, in 1729, and in 1734 became minister of the parish of Eschberge, in which position he remained until his death. The famous theologian, Johann Christi Wilhelm Augusti, was his grandson. Augusti published several works in Latin and German, notably "Das Geheimnis des Sambathian." ("The Mystery of the Sambathian," a fabulous river mentioned in the Talmud, which casts stones during six days in the week and rests on the Sabbath.) He also published a work on the Karaites.

      Baba, M. D. M., a convert of the L.J.S. in Persia.

      Bach, Daniel Friedrich, born in Potsdam, 1756, died in 1830, studied in the Art Academy of Berlin. The year of his embracing Christianity is not mentioned. He became a famous painter. (Brockhaus Conv. Lex. I. 99).

      Bachert, Rev. S. T., A.K.C., convert and missionary of the L.J.S. After his ordination he was curate of St. Matthew's, Marylebone, St. John's, Kilburn, and St. Michael's and All Angel's, South Hackney, London. He was appointed as head of the mission in Hamburg in 1874, where he laboured with evident divine approval for about a quarter of a century. He was the founder of a home for enquirers, with a workshop, as well as of a chapel attached to it, where the inmates studied, worked, lodged, worshipped, and were under a well-organized Christian training. A very large number found eternal peace there, and quite a considerable number became ministers and evangelists of the Gospel. Bachert was afterwards promoted to be the Head of the Missionary Training College in London, and when this was given up, he was sent to take charge of the mission in the north of England. The story of his conversion is a very pathetic one.

      Baffral, James, a prolific statistical writer, baptized at Strasburg on Christmas Day, 1859; his wife (née Levy) and five children two years later. The relations, after the death of the father, tried their utmost to bring the children back to Judaism, and they appealed to the law of the land, but failed. One of the daughters afterward became superintendent of the Deaconesses' Institution.

      Balaghi, F., Professor of Theology in Hungary, was a pupil of Theodor Meyer when he was stationed at Prague.

      Bahn, Martin August, a Berlin Jewish student, embraced Christianity when he was under the teaching and influence of Schleiermacher, in 1837.

      Bahri, Rev. Joseph, convert of the British Society at Stuttgart; laboured for several years as missionary of the L.J.S. at Vienna, and then as curate to Bishop Billing in the Parish Church of Spitalfields, and then curate of Hoby and Rotherby where he died at the age of 43. He was a spiritually-minded man and a fervent preacher, and cherished boundless love for his nation.

      Ballin, Josef, a well-known historical painter, a native of Weener, Ostfriesland, was baptized by Pauli of the L.J.S. when stationed at Berlin about 1843.

      Barnett, Henry. The following is his own account of himself: —

      "For twenty years I lived with my parents in a small town in Poland, called Konin. These years were entirely spent in the study of tradition and religion, as it had been my father's desire to preserve 'law and religion' for the youngest of his family, the other members following in the pursuit of business. In those years I knew not the nature of sin. The New Testament I never saw with my eyes; such words as the 'gospel' and 'missionary' were not at all in my vocabulary. I was going on with the religion of my fathers in pride and conceit, yet weeping over sin and pleading for mercy and pardon, though I did not know how hideous sin was in the sight of God, neither did it ever enter my mind to ask myself whether I obtained those things I so earnestly sought for from God. Satisfied with the religious duties of my life whilst sin was doing its work, and priding myself in being engaged in a higher capacity than the mere ordinary trade or business man of the Jewish community. When I was about twenty-one years of age I left my home to avoid military conscription. Before I left I prepared myself for occupying a position among the Jews as a 'slaughterer' in connexion with the synagogue. I did not succeed in this, not being a good singer for conducting public prayers. Reaching London, there seemed only one thing to do, viz., to learn a trade in order to maintain myself. Whilst learning a trade amongst my Jewish brethren I also learned 'Sabbath-breaking,' gradually gave up the morning and evening prayers, and went more and more into sin.

      "In a wonderful way the Lord brought me under the influence of the Gospel. On the voyage from Hamburg to Hull I met with a Jew who professed Christianity. I met him about six months later in London, and made occasional calls upon him. While I was doing this my heart went often up to God to deliver me from taking a wrong step. I only knew then the opinion of Jews regarding the Jewish missionary and his enterprises. I felt then that whatever the man himself might be, what he proclaims was not to be despised, and I attended the Gospel meetings at spare times with a kind of double feeling. I began to read the New Testament, and 'faith came by hearing' before two years (1873) expired after my being under the sound of the Gospel. I knew that I was a sinner, according to Psalm li. I learned the meaning of Ezekiel xxxiii. 13. I found the true Messiah of Isaiah liii., and understood that Christ died for me. I 'believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and was saved' (Acts xvi. 31). Since 1882 I have been enabled, like Saul of Tarsus, to cry, 'Lord what wilt Thou have me to do?' (Acts ix. 6)."

      Baron, Rev. David, was likewise for many years in the Mildmay Mission and companion to Barnett in his travels. He is the founder of the Mission under the title, "Hebrew Christian Testimony for Israel." He is known as a good expositor of Scripture and is author of several books relating to the Jews.

      Bartholdy, Jacob Levi Salomo, was uncle on the mother's side to Felix Mendelssohn born, in Berlin, 1779, died in Rome, 1826. He became a member of the Protestant Church in 1805, and through his influence the whole Mendelssohn family became Christians. He served as an officer in the Prussian army, and in 1815 he was appointed consul-general in Rome. He wrote treatises on modern Greek, a description of the Terolese war, and "Traits from the life of Cardinal Consalvi." The Berlin Museum possesses his collection of antiquities, comprising Etruscan vases, bronzes, ivories, majolicas, etc., which are now displayed in the National Gallery.

      Basevi, George Joshua, architect, followed the example of his brother-in-law Isaac Disraeli, in leaving the synagogue in 1817. But it must be stated that no writer expressly asserts that either of the two were received into the Church by baptism. This is known, that Basevi while inspecting the bell-tower of Ely Cathedral fell and was killed instantly, and then received Christian burial in the chapel at the east end of the Cathedral.

      Bassin, Eliezer, born about 1840 in the government of Moghilev, Russia. In 1869 he went to Constantinople, and then after experiencing God's wonderful dealings with him (so graphically described by Miss Stern in her book "Eliezer") he made a public confession of his faith in Christ. He was afterwards a student of the L.J.S. Training College at Palestine Place, and was sent out as a missionary to Jassy, Roumania, by the same Society. Later he laboured for some years in Edinburgh, under a Scotch Society. He was the author of a work entitled, "The Modern Hebrew and the Hebrew Christian," London, 1882, which contains an autobiography, relating his experience after deserting from the Russian army, and information about the Hasidim, especially the СКАЧАТЬ