EVERY reader naturally desires to know a little about the author whose work he is about to study. To those who are not acquainted with Mr. Levinsohn's romantic biography, a few lines of introduction may be serviceable. Mr. Levinsohn is a Russian Jew, and he was born in the year 1855. He was diligently instructed in the religion or his parents, but he could find no soul-rest in the rites and ceremonies of Judaism. Impelled by a strong passion for peace with God, he left his native land, and, after suffering almost incredible hardships, reached the shores of England in the year 1871.
The story of his wanderings reads like a chapter of romance; for he suffered very great privations. At any moment he might have been in affluence if he had consented to return to his home. But he was resolved to “travel through the whole world, if by thus doing he could find satisfaction for his soul." Those who are interested in the mysterious leadings of God's Spirit, as well as those who find pleasure in true life stories, are referred to "The Story of Isaac Levinsohn." Suffice it now to say that by Divine mercy he was led to receive Jesus as his Savior, and in the year 1872 he publicly professed faith in Christ. His friends entreated, threatened, and employed every artifice in order to induce him to return to the faith which he had abandoned. He, however, stood firm, and was therefore cast off by them all. Some of his former co-religionists even attempted to murder him. He is, therefore, a sufferer of the Lord Jesus, and now labors with much encouragement on behalf of his brethren. The succeeding pages will be read with deeper interest and profit when this is remembered. His biography is a good commentary upon the following chapters, and they should be read with it in hand.