Or, the Conversion of a Jewish Lady.
IT is Christmas Eve. Mrs. N― is in her drawing-room, alone, resting for a moment in the midst of her preparations for the morrow. Her Bible lies open before her, and her mind is entirely taken up with one of its weighty sayings, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” She found this saying true in her own case. Thoughts filled her mind of that love which brought Jesus to this world of sin and death; and she recollected that the next day would be the one on which the world celebrates his birth. She was musing on these themes, with the 2nd of Luke before her, when she heard a knock. Inviting the one outside to enter, the door opened, and Mrs. N― found that her visitor was a young lady, the daughter of a rich Jew in the neighborhood.
These ladies had never seen each other before, but the younger one had no reason to complain of her reception. She explained the object of her visit at such an untimely hour, and received from Mrs. N― the information she had called to seek of her respecting a poor family living in the same town.
Her inquiries all answered, and this business thus at an end, the Jewish girl still lingered with Mrs. N—. It seemed as though she had some weight on her spirits, something she wished to say, but for the utterance of which she could find no words. Mrs. N― did not fail to notice this, and quoted to her visitor some verses of Scripture, which soon led to an earnest conversation about eternal things.
“You seek peace, dear Miss,” said Mrs. N―; “You seek rest to your soul. Oh that I could lead you to the One in whom my soul has found rest and peace! that I could guide you to that blessed Lord and Saviour who has loved us even unto death!”
On this the young lady arose, her countenance flushed, and she said with warmth, “Don’t speak to me of subjects forever forbidden to me.”
“Well,” said the lady, “I will not further press the conversation; but allow me to give you a little book, and if you do really at any time seek rest and peace, read this little book.” So saying, she handed a New Testament to the young lady, who left with the words, “I thank you, Mrs. N.―This is the happiest hour I have spent for many years. I thank you, Mrs. N―, I thank you.”
Years elapsed—three years—and the young Jewess had become a lady of quality, welcomed in the highest circles, and an object of admiration to many, and of envy to not a few. Beautiful, amiable, and admired, was not her heart satisfied? Alas! is it in such things to give rest and peace? The little book given her by Mrs. N― lay on the top of a bookcase, covered with dust. There it lay, unheeded and unread for years. Shall the treasure never be found—the seed never bring forth fruit? God is faithful, and answers prayer.
Three years more had passed, when Rebecca, the young lady, suddenly felt a desire to procure some presents for the poor for Christmas. She called at a shop and bought some wool. Opening the parcel when she had returned, her eye fell on some verses printed on the paper in which the wool was wrapped. She read them over and over again. She seemed riveted to the spot. “Where can I have read or heard such words before?” she says to herself. Soon she recollects her visit six years before to Mrs. N—. “Ah, it was there. Did not Mrs. N―tell me of a Friend who could give me peace and rest Yes, it was from her I heard of these things; but my soul has neither peace nor rest. God knows I have not—He knows it.”
Her soul was now awakened, and she was in great ear. Remembering the book given her by the minister’s wife, she got it down, and began anxiously to turn over its pages. But her eyes were holden, and she could not see. That night was to her a long and terrible one: no peace, no rest, but anxiety and dread of the dark, mysterious future. What was to become of her when the present short, feverish life had passed away?
Morning has arrived; and long before people generally are astir, and before the blinds are drawn up at the minister’s house, a knock is heard at the door, which is answered by Mrs. N― herself. She is not a little surprised to find at the door a lady whom she must have seen somewhere before, but whom she has all but forgotten. The lady is invited in; and soon she and Mrs. N― are seated in the same room in which they had met and conversed six years before.
The visitor began: “Madam, six years have passed since you told me of a Friend who can give rest and peace. Seldom since then have I had the least desire for such a blessing; but”— and here she stopped; her tears and sobs told, better than the completion of the sentence could, what was her errand that morning to Mrs. N—.
“But, now,” said Mrs. N―, “your heart longs for it?”
“Yes,” replied Rebecca, “my heart is full; but I feel myself so poor, so miserable, and heavy laden. I need now such a Friend as the One you told me of. Here is the book you once gave me, but I do not understand it. Please tell me, is there any help for me?”
It was Mrs. N― ‘s turn now to weep. Clasping her hands with emotion, she replied, “Blessed be God! Yes, my dear Miss―, there is help for you, indeed, There is one who has long been seeking you, in order to save your soul. He knows all your need.” She opened the Testament, and read and spoke of Jesus, and his birth at Bethlehem, his life of sorrow and of love, his death upon Calvary, and how he rose from the dead and ascended on high. “Oh, come to him,” said she to her friend; “he knows your need, and his arms are open for you, to receive, to welcome you, and to save your soul.”
A long pause followed these words: a fearful conflict was passing in Rebecca’s mind. On the one hand, anguish, misery, desolation of heart, and Jesus the only One to rescue and to save; on the other, pride, unbelief, and Satan, unwilling to forego his victim or unloose his grasp. At last Rebecca fell on the neck of Mrs. N―, crying aloud, “Lord Jesus! have mercy upon me!”
Blessed word! That cry was heard in heaven. There was joy in heaven, and joy in the little room in the house of Mr. N―, Mrs. N―and the Jewish lady bowed together in prayer to the long despised Nazarene. Her anguish was very great; but though sorrow may endure for a night, joy cometh with the morning; and on the morning of Christmas Day, Rebecca was enabled to rejoice in Jesus, in whom she now found both rest and peace. It was on the day kept in celebration of the birth of Jesus, that this daughter of Abraham became conscious of having become a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus.