THE hearts of the civilized world have been stirred at the cruelties which have recently been perpetrated upon the thousands of Jews in Russia. As the newspapers have described the torrents of blood which have flowed in the streets of the cities and towns of Poland and Russia, thousands have been led to sympathize with the poor downtrodden Jews. Thousands, yes hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised, yea, more than a million of money has been subscribed to assist the poor Jews in Russia. This certainly shows a commendable spirit, one that is greatly appreciated.
While the Jews have been helped this way there is need, a greater need, which has not touched the hearts of Christendom as much as it should. The greatest need of the Jew is not firearms, nor ammunition, nor weapons of self-defense. His direst need is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He needs to know the power and grace of the Lord Jesus. He needs the power to conquer sin. He needs enlightenment, to understand his own Bible. The greatest sympathy that can be shown by Christians toward the Jews to-day is to give them the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not only is this a duty that Christians should discharge, but it is a debt they owe. Everything the Christian world has to-day it received from the Jews. The blessed Bible was given to us by the Jews. The greatest prophets, priests, kings, poets, legislators, and jurists of Bible times were Jews. The greatest laws the world has ever received came through the Jews. The blessed Saviour Himself was a Jew. Salvation is of the Jews. The early Christian church was cast largely in a Jewish mould. During the first century of the Christian era much Jewish blood was spilled in order that the Gospel might be given to the Gentiles. The heathen world first heard the Gospel through Jewish missionaries. They were exiled, banished, persecuted, torn asunder, and despised everywhere in order that the good news of a crucified and risen Saviour might be made known to the Gentiles. Well could the apostle Paul say: "It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things." Rom. 15: 27.
Certainly the Gentiles owe the Jews a great debt; and one of the principles of the Gospel is to "owe no man anything." Therefore it is time that the debt, in part at least, should be paid to the Jews.
But God says that there is a remnant even at this present time, according to the election of grace, that is to be saved. Rom. 11: 5. There is a movement now on foot to bring the Gospel to the Jews in the present generation. They must hear it before the Lord comes, and they will help spread the glad tidings of the soon-coming King. Dear reader, do you not want to help in this good work? During the past year nearly four million pages of reading matter have been given to the Jews in this and other lands, and millions more will be distributed this year. An organized mission work is about to be opened in the city of Boston, and other plans are being set on foot for the spread of the Gospel among the Jews. There are two ways in which you, dear reader, can help. First, get some Jewish tracts and hand them to your Jewish friends and neighbors; for there are Jews everywhere. Secondly, send a good, liberal offering to help carry forward this good work. The tracts are sent gratuitously. All offerings for the circulation of these Jewish tracts, or help in this Jewish mission work, may be sent to H. B. Tucker, secretary of Central New England Tract Society, South Lancaster, Mass.
THE WAILING PLACE OF THE JEWS.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." Pray for the poor Jews. Give to them a few crumbs of the Bread of Life, the loaves of which they have given to the world in ages past. Let the Jews see that the Christian people are interested in them, and want to give them the truth of the Gospel, which is God's only solution for the sadness and sorrows and persecutions of the Jews.
F. C. GILBERT, A Hebrew Christian,
South Lancaster, Mass.
