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CONVERSION OF MR. LAPIDOTH.

ceived, that as nine young children, of whom the eldest was an unfortunate object, received their necessary subsistence from the relations, though with a more sparing hand than before, it would, in entirely depriving them thereof, and obliging them, in professing Christianity, to enter on a state of complete poverty, and bring upon the parents a burden, which could not easily be removed.

In this perplexing state of uncertainty, Mrs. Lapidoth was, in the month of December 1804, delivered of her thirteenth child, which, to the great grief of the parents, being a son, increased the sorrows of their hearts, and obliged them to come to an immediate decision, whether they would, by circumcising the new born infant, act contrary to their convictions; or, by neglecting the circumcision, take that important step on which depended, on the one hand, the peace of their minds; and which on the other hand, might occasion the immediate and complete distress of their already necessitous family; the latter was the more confirmed by a formal question put to them by their relations, the purport of which was to satisfy them respecting the circumcision of the child.

Several ministers and professors were again applied to on this perplexing occasion, of whom some were reluctant to give any positive advice; but others who, on account of their years, experience, and situation in the church, were particularly looked up to, conceived unanimously, that, as servants of Jesus Christ, they were obliged to answer, "If you suffer your child to be circum"cised, Christ is become of no avail to you;" and assured them farther, in the name of Christ, that the Lord would not suffer then, for their profession of the Christian faith, to be deprived of that which was necessary to the support of their existence.

Mr. Lapidoth declared his lively joy at this advice, which agreed so well with the desire of his heart, and with the wish of his wife and eldest children; and declared that, with an eye to that Lord in whom he placed the happiness of his soul, he would quietly expect what his sovereign will had appointed for him.

Having returned to his family, the account of this occurrence occasioned universal joy; and it was unanimously resolved, with good courage, and under the expectation of God's blessing, to go over to Christianity.

In consequence of this, Mr. Lapidoth wrote, in the most moderate terms, to his Amsterdam relations, that, respecting the circumcision of their child, they had their difficulties; and that their ideas and sentiments were of such a nature, as to induce them to cause the child to undergo a sacred ceremony of another kind. On this, farther and more explicit information being required, not only the parents but likewise the three eldest children sent letters, in which, in the most respectful but open manner, they explained their intentions of being baptized, and, by confession of the faith, to go over to the reformed Christian church; declaring farther, that each of them, on the most ma

ture consideration, had resolved to take this step, on which, they thought, their peace of mind depended, and at the same. time heartily praying that this their intention might make the least alteration in the dear bonds of consanguinity, as they, on their side, always hoped to shew, that however they might consider the affair, the Christian religion taught them always to. perform, with the greatest faithfulness, their duty as children; and they prayed further to the Lord, that he would make them. as happy as their children and children's children then felt themselves.

Every thing was now arranged, with courage and gladness, to hasten their going over to Christianity, and the attainment of that object which they had so long desired in vain. The affair now became quite public, and excited a very general interest, and induced many hearts to provide for this family, now quite for-. saken. The necessary instruction being finished, the two parents and the three eldest children were examined by Mr. Wintgens on March 25, 1805, in the presence of two members of the Consistory; and they gave such a satisfactory account of the grounds of their conviction, and of their knowledge of the Christian faith that, without difficulty, they were admitted to a public confession of the Christian belief, which they made on Sunday, March 28, 1805, in the midst of the congregation, in the Church of Vianen, and thereupon, together with the ten younger children, were, by baptism, solemnly incorporated into the Church of the Lord.

The Consistory of the Netherland reformed congregation at Vianen, have not only, according to the rites of the church given their assent thereto, but have likewise not hesitated, in this extraordinary case, to give the following certificate, to serve the converts in case of need:

"We the ministers, elders, and deacons forming the Consistory of the Netherland reformed congregation at Vianen, have no difficulty, on the request of Mr. C. N. Lapidoth, to declare the following on his behalf, as well as of those belonging to him.

"Since the autumn of 1801, when he and his family came to live here, we have known this family, of Jewish origin, as decent people, of a very orderly and irreprehensible conduct, and particularly in their numerous children, we have observed the visible good effects of an intelligent domestic education. Their refraining from many Jewish customs, and the attendance of the father and the eldest son on the public worship of the Christians, excited, gradually, suspicion of their inclination to Christianity, and attracted our attention the more to their persons and behaviour.

"What they revealed to the ministers of their thoughts on religion, was obliged to be kept secret for a considerable time, by reason of their pecuniary and family concerns, till that they, a few weeks since, applied to us with the request of being admitted to the confession of the Christian faith. We acquiesced

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therein, and after having, in presence of some of us, been examined respecting the articles of the Christian faith, and having given very satisfactory answers, they have, on March 28, 1805, made a public confession of faith, and received baptism.

"What is known to us of their character, their course of life, and their present circumstances, gives us all reason to consider the step they have taken as the consequence of an honest conviction and hearty participation, and thus affords us occasion to rejoice at their conversion to the kingdom of our Lord, whilst we recommend them, and all who may read this, to the mercy of our Lord.

"By reason of the extraordinary case of these people, we have not refused to give them, beside the customary certificate of being members of the church, this extraordinary certificate also, to send when and where may be necessary.

Done in Vianen the 29th April, 1805,

(signed) G. CREMER, Scribe. A particular Account of the Baptism of Mr. Lapidoth, the converted Jew, and his numerous Family, according to the Rites of the Dutch Church.

It being publicly known that Mr. Lapidoth and his family had embraced the Christian religion, and were all to be baptized on Sunday, March 28, 1805, a great number of persons, not only of Vianen but of the surrounding villages, attended to witness this solemn ceremony; upon which occasion the Rev. E. P. A. Wintgens addressed them in the following manner:

"You are gathered together in this place in great numbers; and undoubtedly that which you will now see and hear merits your attendance, but it requires also a silent respect, and that you should feel yourselves interested therein. If you deem the honour of your heavenly Father and his glorified Son of importance, if you often utter from your heart that wish, which we have just been singing, namely, the increase of God's kingdom, you will certainly feel yourselves interested whenever children are by baptism incorporated in the church, or adult persons,. through their confession of faith, unite themselves to the congrega tion of the Lord; and whenever the power of the gospel is manifest. in the conversion of sinners, you will then not be indifferent as to the means employed for spreading the gospel among heathen. nations, but you will hear every account of their success with thanksgiving to God.

"And should you not be sensibly affected at this time, when a numerous family from among that people who once crucified the Messiah, now comes forward openly for the honour of the crucified Nazarite, will now openly attach itself to the service. of God's glorified Son, and will openly unite itself with us, in. order to adore that Lord who alone can save?

"Yes, Christians! if we set any honour upon that namo.

which we bear, if we be accustomed to participate in the dearest interests of our fellow-creatures, then this hour must be an hour of joy to us; then shall we conceive with thankfulness the high value of our so long enjoyed, but alas! so little improved advantages; and thus will this solemn work produce a blessed effect on our own minds. With this desire let us pray the Lord to give us grace, and let us pay him the adoration of our hearts." Upon this a devout prayer was offered up, to obtain a blessing upon this soleinn occasion; after which the minister said,

"Let us sing part of the song of Zecharias, verse 1.

"We have now brought to your recollection, by the words of Zecharias, the promises which God, by his holy prophets, had made from the beginning of the world; promises respecting the great salvation, which was to be accomplished by a glorious person, in whom all the generations of the earth should be blessed. We placed ourselves in the situation of that pious priest, who, with some other sincere Israelites, being instructed respecting the approaching appearance of the promised and eagerly expected King of Salvation, did then rejoice, praising God for the day of salvation which dawned on their people.

But was this joy general when Jesus of Nazareth, as the Messiah, publicly appeared? Did they see in him the fulfiller of the divine promise, the bringer of salvation to the world? Did they accept of him as their King, appointed of God? Alas! the contrary is well known to you, my dear hearers, and how little the conduct of the Jews, upon the whole, answered the end of his coming and their own true interest, how much they differed in their minds concerning him, is shown by the Evangelist St. John in those words, to which I shall on this occasion draw your attention; they are to be found in St. John, 1st Chapter, verses 10-13. "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,

even to those that believe on his name. Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." On these words the minister made an appropriate discourse, in which, in a concise manner, he explained the text, and spoke briefly of the excellencies of Jesus Christ, and of the everlasting happiness of those who believe in him. This exhortation being finished and a hymn sung, namely, the 12 articles of the Creed in verse, the minister addressed Mr. Lapidoth and his family in the following manner:

"Dear friends, you, who together with us, are creatures of one and the same God; descendants of that people who, in times of old, were favoured by God with his peculiar revelations and privileges, from among whom the Saviour of the world came forth, who by rejecting him made themselves miserable, but yet are not cast off

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by God. With pleasure we saw, for some time past, that you frequented our devotions in this house of prayer, and united in the adoration which we pay to Jesus the crucified.

"With longing desire we looked forward to that period, when we should hear you openly declare that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah and Son of God, and that you should be solemnly taken into our congregation. Are you now ready to fulfill this our desire? - declare, then, openly what you believe; make your conviction manifest, and bind yourselves to fulfill all those duties which this conviction lays upon you. Do this in the presence of God with an upright heart, of your own free will, and with thankfulness for the great mercy which he has shewn you.

"And, in order that it may appear that you do not intend merely to profess the Christian religion, in which you have been privately instructed by us, but that you intend, by the grace of God, to regulate your lives accordingly, I request you, before God and this congregation, to answer the following questions sincerely:

"1st, Do you believe in the only true God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Creator of Heaven and earth, and all that

therein is?

"2dly, Do you believe that you were conceived and born in sin? and have you a hearty sorrow on this account?

Sdly, Do you believe that Jesus of Nazareth, whom your forefathers put to death on the cross, is truly the Messiah and Redeemer, promised and expected of old, in whom the predictions of the prophets have been fulfilled? that he is the true and eternal God, who has taken upon him human nature from the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary, and that he is given to us by God for a Saviour?

"4th, Do you agree to all the Articles of the Christian faith, as they are taught in the Christian church from the word of God?- and are you resolved to persist stedfastly in this doctrine till the end of your lives?—and will you, in consequence thereof, shun all errors and heresies that deviate from this doctrine?

5th, Do you resolve, from your hearts, to lead a Christian life, to shun the world and its evil desires, as it becomes the members of Christ and his church to do?- and will you submit yourselves to all Christian admonitions?"

Each of these questions was answered, with an audible voice, in the affirmative.

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"May the merciful and great God take pleasure in these your declarations and promises! and may he, of his infinite mercy, give you grace to persevere in your resolutions, through Jesus Christ! Amen.

"As you have now, my worthy friends, acknowledged Jesus before men, you will not refuse to follow that command, which, before his departure from the earth, he left to the promulgators

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