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 Frey, Joseph 
 
 Samuel C 
 
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 1771-1850. 
 
 
 
 Narrative of 
 
 the Rev. 
 
 Josep: 
 
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NARRATIVE^ viAY 6-1' 
 
 
 &BV. JOSEPH SAnKUEXi C. X-. VKBV 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 A HEBREW GRAMMAR; 
 HEBREW, LATIN, AND ENGLISH DICTIONARY; 
 
 EDITOR OF VANDER HOOGHT'S HEBREW BIBLE. 
 
 ELEVENTH EDITION. 
 
 NEW- YORK : 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. 
 
 SOLD BY- J. K. MOORE, CLINTON HALL. 
 
 D. FANSHAW, >&INTeR. 
 
 ia34. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by the 
 Rev. Joseph C. F. Fret, in the Clerk's OiBce of the District Court 
 of th© Southern District of New-York. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 >ITION. 
 
 • 
 
 <^. 
 
 In presenting to the public the eleventh edition of his Narra- 
 tive, the author feels no inclination to write a long preface ; nor 
 has he added much to the body of the work j it having been his 
 chief object to give a plain, simple, and unadorned, but con- 
 nected and faithful statement of the dealings of God with him 
 for the last threescore years, he has studied to unite perspicuity 
 with brevity. The work might easily have been extended to a 
 much larger size^ but this would necessarily have increased the 
 expense and limited its usefulness. He ha^, however, added an 
 Appendix, containing answers to a variety of questions relative 
 to the Jews and the Ten Tribes. That He who has been pleased 
 to bless the former editions to precious souls, might condescend 
 to crown the present with his divine benediction, is the heart's 
 desire and prayer of the 
 
 Author. 
 JVew-For/r, March^ 1834. 
 
 y 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 "-^v-VN 
 
 w 
 
 Tii'E ftf&t e^ticm oR tl):is Narrative was published in London 
 in 1809. Soon after, a second, and then a third edition were 
 called for. Three or four editions had been published at Boston 
 before the author came to this country ; and in 1817 he published 
 a new edition, much enlarged. In the preface to that edition 
 the author has the following observation : 
 
 " In perusing the following pages, the reader is particularly- 
 requested to keep in view the nature and design of the work. 
 It is a Narrative, and not a confession of faith, nor a defence of 
 Christianitj^, nor an argumentative discourse to convince and 
 persuade the Jews to embrace the Christian religion ; the sole 
 design of the author is to furnish the public at large, and his 
 Jewish brethren in particular, with the means of judging for 
 themselves of his character while among his own people 3 of his 
 motives for embracing the Christian religion ; and the manner 
 in which he has ever since sought to promote the salvation of 
 his kinsmen after the flesh. The author thought it, therefore, 
 necessary that this Narrative should contain a faithful account 
 of all the ways in which the Lord has graciously led him, for 
 more than forty years, in the wilderness." 
 
 By these means, those who doubted whether the author was 
 a Hebrew of the Hebrews, had it in their power to ascertain the 
 truth by a single letter to his parents ; and had he been guilty 
 of any immoral conduct before he embraced the Christian reli- 
 gion, his own kindred would have thought a disclosure of it a 
 *1 
 
PREFACE. O 
 
 service done to God. The author having, by embracing the 
 Christian religion, given up all prospects of future intercourse 
 with, and enjoyment of, his parents, friends, and kindred, and 
 voluntarily chosen, at the age of twenty-five, to learn a trade, 
 that he might earn his bread by his own industry, will doubt- 
 less convince the candid reader that his sole motive was a love 
 of truth. The author also hopes that the plain and simple state- 
 ment of facts will evince, that, from the commencement of his 
 ministerial labors to the present time, he has been actuated in 
 all his proceedings by a sincere desire to promote the spiritual 
 and eternal welfare of his Jewish brethren. 
 
 The author was perfectly aware that such a statement would 
 expose him to divers remarks. Some scorn his learning a trade ; 
 but he, like Noah's dove, prefers a bitter leaf of his own indus- 
 try^to all the riches and pleasures gained in any other way. 
 The patriarch Jacob served twice seven years' apprenticeship 
 for his wives, and six additional years to make provision for his 
 family. Moses, the servant of God, and deliverer of our fathers 
 from the house of bondage, was forty years a shepherd. David, 
 the man after God's own heart, was called froia following the 
 sheep-fold to sit upon the throne of Israel. Prophets, evangelists, 
 and apostles were brought up to earn their bread by the labor 
 of their own hands. The Talmud makes it as much the duty 
 of a father to teach his son a trade, as to teach him the law of 
 Moses. Nor did it ever enter the mind of a Jew to erase the 
 name of Rabbi Yochanon Hasandler from the list of the learned 
 rabbins because he was a shoemaker. 
 
 The eighth edition having been for some time out of print, 
 and frequent applications made for a new edition, the author 
 has revised and reduced the work to a small bulk, by omitting 
 much that was connected with the proceedings of the London 
 society, and added in its place his employment since his arrival 
 in this country to the present time, together with the origin and 
 
6 PREFACE, 
 
 progress of the American Society for Meliorating the Condition 
 of the Jews. 
 
 That the former editions have been useful, the author has 
 had many proofs. In a letter received from the late Miss Han- 
 nah Adams, dated Boston, October, 1816, she has the following 
 paragraph : 
 
 " The perusal of your life first awakened the attention of a 
 number of ladies in Boston to the state of God's ancient covenant 
 people. On the fifth of June last they formed themselves into an 
 association, to be called ' the Female Society of Boston and the 
 vicinity, for promoting Christianity among Jews.' " It affords 
 t he author not a little encouragement to know that this society 
 has continued active and useful hitherto. 
 
 That the blessing of God may rest upon this edition, is the 
 sincere desire of 
 
 The Author. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Chap. I. His birth and education, . . . Page 9 
 
 II. Religious offices which he sustained among the 
 
 Jews, 1^ 
 
 III. Time and place of his embracing the Christian 
 
 Religion, 22 
 
 IV. Circumstances which led him to a farther ac- 
 
 quaintance with divine truth, . . .27 
 
 V. Entrance into the Missionary Seminary at Berlin, 40 
 
 VI. My design in coming to England, . . 48 
 
 VII. Labors under the patronage of the Missionary 
 
 Society, 64 
 
 VIII. Rise and progress of the London Society for 
 Promoting Christianity among the Jews, 117 
 
 IX. Labors in this country, .... 149 
 
 X. Origin and progress of the American Society 
 
 for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews, 151 
 
 XL His change of views on the subject of Baptism, 161 
 
 Appendix, 167 
 
NARIiATIVB 
 
 aSTT. J0SB3?H SAMWBS. C. F. r'B.IS"S^. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HIS BIRTH AND EDUCATION. 
 
 It pleased God, in whom I live, move, and have 
 my being, to favor me with the light of this world, 
 Sept. 21, 1771. The place of my nativity is Mayn- 
 stockheim, near to Wurtsburgh, in Franconia, Ger- 
 many. My father, Samuel Levi, was nineteen years 
 a private tutor in a Jewish family at Maynburnheim ; 
 and, after he had married, continued, as it were, day 
 and night in the study of the sacred Scriptures and 
 the traditions of men, and acted as Morah Tzedeck, 
 whilst my mother carried on the trade by which the 
 family was comfortably supported. 
 
 Morah Tzedeck is a person to whom the Jews 
 apply ,for direction in difficulties arising from the 
 observation of the innumerable religious ceremonies 
 with which the Jewish ritual abounds ; and the cases 
 on which a person is consulted are such as the fol- 
 lowing : If a grain of corn should be found in any 
 kind of food during the feast of unleavened bread, 
 it may happen that not only the food must be thrown 
 away, but even the vessels which contained any part 
 of it dare not again be used during the feast. Or 
 suppose a family, while feasting on meat or fowl, 
 should find that their knife or fork is one of those 
 which are used in eating food prepared with milk 
 
10 trey's narrative. 
 
 or butter, the company must desist from eating any 
 more of those victuals ; nor dare they use any of 
 those knives, plates, or other vessels, until the case 
 has been decided by the Morah Tzedeck, whose 
 verdict is very frequently that the food must be 
 thrown away, and the earthen and china vessels in 
 which it was served be broken to pieces. Such like 
 questions are daily brought before the Morah Tze- 
 deck ; and in towns where as many as seventy fami- 
 lies live, as is the case in my native place, such 
 questions are continually arising. 
 
 According to the religion of my parents, I was 
 circumcised on the eighth day after my birth, and 
 received my name, Joseph Samuel. The reason why 
 I have now the addition of three names, will be 
 given in Chap. III. Jewish children are called by 
 the name of the nearest relation who is dead, perhaps 
 in reference to Deut. 25 : 6 : accordingly, the first 
 child was called Levi^ which was the name of my 
 father's father ; the second, being a daughter, re- 
 ceived the name of my mother's mother ; and as I 
 was the third child, I received the name of my 
 mother's father, whose name was .Toseph. My pa- 
 rents had ten children, five daughters, and as many 
 sons. My sisters were taught to read the prayer- 
 book in the Hebrew language, i. e. to pronounce 
 the words without understanding even the literal 
 meaning of a single sentence. This, alas ! is usually 
 all the religious education which the females receive, 
 and many of them even not so much. 
 
 Those who believe that females have souls as 
 well as males, and that they are as much interested 
 in the new covenant blessings as the sons of Abra- 
 ham, will as much lament the neglect of their edu- 
 cation as they will disapprove of the impious daily 
 thanksgiving of every Jew : " Blessed art thou Je- 
 hovah our God, King of the world, that thou hast 
 
prey''s narrative. H 
 
 not made me a woman." Christian females, let 
 me entreat you not only to shed the tear of compas- 
 sion over the miserable and degraded state of your 
 Jewish sisters, but most earnestly to supplicate the 
 throne of grace that the God of Israel would " bring 
 his daughters from the ends of the earth, as well as 
 his sons from afar." 
 
 Here I would take the opportunity of rectifying 
 an erroneous sentiment propagated from the pulpit 
 and the press : that it is the behef, both of Jews and 
 Mahometans, that their females had no souls. Such 
 a sentiment I have never heard from the lips of a 
 Jew, nor met with in their writings. On the con- 
 trary, it is evident that they believe females have 
 souls ; for the same prayer which is used for the souls 
 of males to be delivered out of purgatory, is also read 
 for the females. The origin of the above error is, 
 I suppose, an inference from the degraded state in 
 which the Jewesses have formerly been held ; but 
 this is a mistake. Their havinfj^ been neo^lected in 
 religious education, or thought inferior to males, 
 was owing to the covenant of circumcision being 
 made with males, and not with females. 
 
 My brothers and myself were put under the care 
 of a tutor in our own family, who instructed us daily 
 according to the Law and the Talmud ; and every 
 Saturday we were examined by our father in what 
 we had learned during the week. Our tutor took 
 every opportiuiity to impress us with prejudices and 
 hatred against the Christian religion. Whilst ex- 
 plaining the five books of Moses, he mentioned in 
 every place the opinions of Christians, raised ohjec- 
 iions against them, and endeavored to establish us 
 in all the Jewish errors. On the evening preceding 
 the 25th of December, it being supposed that Jesus 
 Christ was born on that evening, the Jews do not 
 study any thing sacred ; but our teacher always 
 
12 FREYS NARRATIVE. 
 
 made us read a little book called Toltoth Jeshu, i. e. 
 the generation of Jesus; which contains the most 
 horrid blasphemies, and is calculated to fill any per- 
 son who believes it, with prejudice, disgust, and 
 hatred against Jesus and his followers. 
 
 The forementioned practice of the Jewish teach- 
 ers was more strictly observed by ours, by the ex- 
 press desire of my dear mother, who was a most 
 inveterate enemy to Christianity, because her bro- 
 ther had embraced the Christian religion, and had 
 lived and died at Strasburgh, in the faith of the Son 
 of God. This circumstance gave rise to a common 
 saying in my native town, whenever a quarrel arose 
 between the Jewish boys and my brothers ; and in 
 particular as to myself, who was always the wildest, 
 it was generally said, " Let them alone, they will 
 certainly turn Christians, as their uncle did." For 
 ever blessed be the Lord, who has accomplished this 
 prophecy in me, the most unworthy. " Bless the 
 Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who 
 forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy 
 diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, 
 who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender 
 mercies." 
 
 My mother herself narrowly watched us, and 
 would never suflfer us to read any book but in the 
 Hebrew language, lest wc should read any thing 
 about the Christian religion. The reader will not 
 wonder at my mother's conduct, when he is informed 
 that to embrace the Christian religion brings greater 
 reproach upon the family than if all the children 
 had been guilty of the worst of crimes ; and the 
 person himself who believes the Christian religion, 
 becomes the object of their utmost abhorrence. One 
 of the names by which such a person is called, is 
 Meshum^^^atU f»*o«^ the root Shamadj which signifies 
 to destr ; and to this name they generally add Yc- 
 
13 
 
 tnach shcmo vesichro; i. e. let his name and memory 
 be blotted out. 
 
 The advantages and disadvantages arising from 
 this mode of education I now experience frequently ; 
 v\'hilst on the one hand it was the means of my pro- 
 gress in Jewish learning, on the other hand it kept 
 me in perfect ignorance of all other useful know- 
 ledge ; until my 24th year I had not seen a New- 
 Testament, nor a translation of the Old. What 
 little knowledge I now possess, is to be ascribed to 
 the blessing of God upon the diligent use of means 
 since I came among Christians. 
 
 Before I was three years old I began the Hebrew 
 alphabet ; and when but six years of age could per- 
 fectly read any chapter of the books of Moses. It 
 is true, I understood very little of the true meaning 
 of the jn-ecepts, and of the real design of the cere- 
 monies contained in those books ; yet ten thousand 
 thanks to my dear parents, who taught me the sacred 
 Scriptures from a child, the fruits of which I now 
 reap daily. About that time it pleased God to afflict 
 me with the small-pox, which brought on a long and 
 painful illness, and my life was supposed to be in 
 danger for about a year and a half, during which 
 time I forgot what [ had formerly learned ; the sight 
 of my left eye was also injured, and I lost the use of 
 speech ; but, through the blessing of God, I was 
 gradually restored to the use of my eye, and soon 
 recovered my speech. The latter, however, has 
 always continued in a measure defective ; and even 
 at present, in reading a long-contiuued sentence, I 
 experience some degree of hesitation. This for- 
 merly had often been a source of grief to me ; but, 
 blessed be God, I have long since seen the wisdom 
 and goodness of the Lord in this fatherly chastise- 
 ment, (as will appear, chap. 3,) and I shall, I trust, 
 have reason to say through eternity, that "this light. 
 
 2 
 
affliction, which is but for a moment, has worked 
 out for me a far more exceedinf]^ and eternal weight 
 of glory." 
 
 On my recovery, I was again instructed in the 
 section out of the Law appointed for the week, with 
 the explanation of Rasht, i. e. Rabbi Solomon 
 Yarchi ; and was also taught a chapter every day 
 out of the former prophets and the Hagiographa; 
 but never was any part of the latter prophets, except 
 what is contained in the Haphtoroth, explained to 
 me ; no wonder, therefore, that I was ignorant of 
 what they had written concerning Messiah.^ 
 
 It is an ancient custom among the Jews, to read 
 in the synagogues, every sabbath day, a section out 
 of the Law, or five books of Moses, so as to read 
 the whole once every year ; and as their leap-year 
 has fifty-four weeks, they have divided the law into 
 so many sections, each of which is called Scdrah, 
 or Section. In those years which have not so many 
 weeks, and in which no festivals fall on the sabbath, 
 two sections are joined on certain sabbath days. It 
 is handed down as a tradition, that when Antiochus 
 Epiphanes prohibited the reading of the Law, they 
 substituted fifty-four portions out of the prophets, 
 which they call Haphtoroth^ one of which is still 
 read every sabbath day after the section of the Law 
 is finished. I have often been surprised that in the 
 selection of these Haphtoroth^ those parts which 
 
 * The Hebreu', or Old Testament, contains twenty-lour book^;, 
 which are divided into Toruh. Neviim, and Kethuvim. The 
 Torah, or Law, contains the five books of RIoscs. Neviim, or 
 Prophets, are again divided into \\\(i former prophets, containing 
 Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, -^iie latter prophets con- 
 tain Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 minor prophets, v^h. 
 are considered as one book. Kethuvim or Hagiographa^ con- 
 tains the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations, 
 Ecclesiastcs, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nebemiah, and Chronicles. 
 Ezra and Nehemiah arc one book.; 
 
frey's narrative. i5 
 
 speak the plainest respecting the Messiah are left 
 out, especially as the 52d and 54th chapters of 
 Isaiah are appointed, but tlie three last verses of the 
 52d chapter, and the whole of the 53d, are skipped 
 over. The only reason I can assign is, that the 
 people might be kept in ignorance of Him of whom 
 the prophets spake, and of whom it is written in 
 the book of Psalms. The omission of so many pre- 
 cious and most important poi'tions of the writings 
 of the holy prophets, as the 7th, 9th, and 53d chap- 
 ters of Isaiah, the 23d chapter of Jeremiah, and 
 the whole book of Daniel, particularly the 9th chap- 
 ter, has led me, among other reasons taken notice 
 of by Vitringa, (de Synag. vet. lib. 3, p. 2, c. 11, p. 
 1007,) to suspect the truth of the antiquity of the 
 selection of these Haphtoroth. I am rather inclined 
 to think that, at a much later date, to prevent the 
 people from reading the whole Bible, this method 
 has been adopted. Hence we find most Jewish 
 families in the possession onJi/ of that Hebrew Bible 
 which contains no more than the Law, the Haphto- 
 roth, and five books out of the Hagiographa, viz. 
 Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and 
 Esther. This circumstance may be considered as 
 one great cause why so very fe.w of the children of 
 Israel know any thing of so great and useful a part 
 of the sacred Scriptures. 
 
 That the rabbins have studiously prevented the 
 people from becoming acquainted with the predic- 
 tions respecting the Messiah, may be further proved 
 by the impious circumstance, recorded by several 
 Jewish writers, that a curse is denounced in the 
 name of R. Jonathan, a great man amongst the 
 Jews, against the computers of the seventy weeks 
 in the 9th chapter of Daniel, viz. Tepach azmonshel 
 mechasuvay Idzin, i. c. " let their bones rot, who 
 compute the times of the endJ' My beloved bre- 
 
16 frey's narrative. 
 
 thren and kinsmen after the flesh, I beseech you, if 
 you love your souls, if you wish to be really happy 
 in the life that now is, and in that which is to come, 
 let nothing hinder you from searching the Scriptures, 
 "for in them you think you have eternal life, and 
 they are they which testify of the Messiah." 
 
 When I was nine years old, the holy book of God 
 was shut up and laid aside, and in its stead the pro- 
 ductions of men, as the Mishnah, Gemarali, &c. <fcc. 
 were brought forth and eagerly studied by me in 
 succession, with pleasure and satisfaction, being nou- 
 rishment to my earthly and sensual affections, and 
 fuel to my corrupt heart; and thus was I four years 
 longer absorbed in vain speculations, spending my 
 strength for nought. . On the first sabbath after I 
 was thirteen years and a day old, I read in the syna- 
 gogue, according to custom, the section of the Law 
 appointed for the day ; and was now considered a 
 man.) fit to be one of the ten necessary to constitute 
 a full number for public worship. I was now obliged 
 to observe the Law for myself, and therefore called 
 Bar Mizva, and was no longer considered under the 
 power of my father. I had now arrived at that 
 period of life in which it is usual with the Jews to 
 decide whether a person will engage in business, or 
 qualify himself for any religious office. Having 
 chosen the latter, I continued five years longer in the 
 study of the Talmud and its various commentators. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 RELIGIOUS OFFICES WHICH HE SUSTAINED AMONG 
 THE JEWS. 
 
 Having attained the age of eighteen, I left my 
 father's house by the consent of my parents, and 
 
17 
 
 went to Hesse, where I officiated as BacJiar, or 
 tutor, in a family of six children, teaching them to 
 read Hebrew, and to understand the literal mean- 
 ing ef the five books of Moses, together with some 
 parts of the Mishnah, and also writing and arith- 
 metic. In this situation I continued for three years, 
 and was occupied only six hours a day; the remain- 
 der of my time I was often at a loss how to spend. 
 O that I had then known the value of time, and 
 improved it suitably! Lord, remember not the sins 
 of my youth, and may I henceforth "redeem time, 
 for it is short." Besides free board and lodging, I 
 received about twenty dollars per quarter — a con- 
 siderable sum in Germany, especially for a single 
 man. Thus I thought myself rich, and "increased 
 with goods, and had need of nothing; not knowing 
 that I was wretched, and lui^erable, and poor, and 
 blind, and naked." 
 
 At the age of twenty-one I received an appoint- 
 ment as Chasan, or leader of the synagogue, to read 
 the public prayers and the Law of Moses. At this 
 period I was much esteemed among my brethren ; 
 but the pride of my heart was not satisfied. I was 
 determined to obtain the title of Shochat, or sustain 
 the office of killing their animals for food. I there- 
 fore took great pains, and spent a whole year in 
 obtaining the knowledge of the Jewish method of 
 preparing the knife for killing the animals, and to 
 be well versed in the laws respecting the lungs. 
 None but those who have learned these ceremonies 
 can judge of the difficulty of acquiring such a know- 
 ledge of these things as to stand an examination. 
 At length I obtained this honorable degree from the 
 Rav, or Rabbi of Hesse Cassel. Li the use of these 
 ceremonious observances I was extremely strict, 
 although not one of them is to be found expressed 
 in the book of God. But these are only a few of 
 
 2* 
 
18 
 
 the innumerable vain and extremely burdensome 
 traditions received of the fathers. O blessed Jesus! 
 thy yoke is easy, and thy burden light ; for by thee 
 the weary and the heavy laden find rest. Happy, 
 thrice happy, those who are brought into the holy 
 liberty of thy glorious and everlasting kingdom ! 
 
 About this time my mother entered into a large 
 concern of business, namely, of supplying a part of 
 the Prussian army with grain and provision, lying 
 then at Frankfort on the Maine, and therefore 
 wished for my assistance at home. I complied with 
 her wish, and returned to my father's^ house. But 
 having neither skill nor pleasure in trade, I once 
 more left my kindred and my country, and returned 
 again to Hesse. On the day of my departure, my 
 dear father accompanied me a little way out of the 
 town, and at the moment of parting he laid his hand 
 upon my head to give me a parting blessing. The 
 words he made use of on that solemn occasion were 
 then deeply impressed on my mind, and will never 
 be forgotten by me ; they were these : "The angel 
 of the covenant be with thee." Little did I then 
 think that he alluded to the Angel Jehovah who a,p- 
 peared to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; 
 that spoke to Moses out of the fiery bush ; that gave 
 to Israel the Law from Mount Sinai ; and of whom 
 Jehovah himself said, "Behold, I send an angel 
 before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring 
 thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware 
 of him, and obey his voice ; provoke him not, fo?' he 
 will not pardon your iramgressiovs ; for my name is 
 in him,"*^ Neither could I have then conceived, what 
 I now firmly believe, viz. that that very Angel Jeho- 
 vah is Jesus of Nazareth, who v/as, in the fullness of 
 time, born at Bethlehem ; died on Mount Calvary, 
 to atone for our sins; rose again for our justifica- 
 tion ; for ever liveth at the right hand of God to 
 
19 
 
 nmke intercession for us ; and who will come again, 
 (to reign on the earth a thousand years,) and judge 
 the whole w^orld in righteousness. O the rich, free, 
 and sovereign love of my God, who I trust has re- 
 vealed in ine Jesus Christ his Son, the hope of eter- 
 nal glory, whilst my dear family were left in Jewish 
 unbelief. However, from the conduct of my dear 
 father on this occasion ; from liis deadness to all 
 worldly concerns ; from his delight and study in the 
 Law of the Lord day and night , and, above all, from 
 his secret devotion, I have often been led to indulge 
 the hope that he has been a believer in Jesus Christ 
 our blessed Savior ; like Nicodcmus, who came to 
 Jesus by nigltt ; and like Joseph of Arimathea, who 
 w^as a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the 
 Jews ; or at least one of those devout Jews who 
 waited far the consolation of Israel. To return. 
 
 As I had saved some money in the preceding years, 
 '1 resolved to travel, and accordingly made a tour 
 through Westphalia to the borders of Holland, and 
 then back again to Gottiugen, Hanover, and Ham- 
 burgh. Here I stayed about nine weeks, and boarded 
 in a Jewish family where many strangers resorted. 
 One day a Jewish brother informed me that he had 
 received a letter from a friend desirous to obtain a 
 teacher for his children. After some conversation 
 on different branches of learning, and examination 
 of my credentials, he said, " You are the very man 
 that will suit my friend;" and offered me a letter of 
 introduction. Being tired of an idle life, I accepted 
 of his offer, and gave him a few dollars for his re- 
 muneration. In a ^G\N days I went with the stage to 
 Schweri?i, about three days' journey from Ham- 
 burgh, to present my letter of introduction. But 
 how great was my astonisliment when the gentle- 
 man to whom I presented it assured me that he had 
 neither written for a teacher, nor had any children 
 
20 FREY S NARRATIVE. 
 
 to be instructed ! My disappointment in not getting 
 51 situation was far less than my surprise to have 
 been thus imposed upon by one of my own brethren 
 and kinsmen after the flesh. The words of David 
 came immediately to my mind : " It was not an 
 enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne 
 it." But, blessed be the Lord my God, who has so 
 overruled this circumstance that I can now adopt 
 the words of Joseph^ my namesake, " He thought 
 evil against me, but God meant it unto good ; to 
 bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people 
 alive." 
 
 Among the passengers from Hamburgh to Schwe- 
 rin was a Jewish teacher, and a young Christian, an 
 agent for a tobacco factory in Hamburgh. The 
 latter having observed a great difference in our con- 
 duct, (for my brother Jew plainly <leclared, by his 
 actions, that he had freed himself from the restraints 
 of Jewish ceremonies; for he ate and drank freely 
 of every thing that was set before him ; whilst I, on 
 the contrary, according to my education, ate scarcely 
 any thing but bread and butter, and that cut with 
 my own knife, during the whole journey,) addressed 
 US thus : " If you will give me leave, I will state to 
 you my opinion concerning the different manner in 
 which you act, both professing to be Jews." Hav- 
 ing obtained permission, he said to my companion, 
 " You, my friend, arc neither a Jew nor a Chris- 
 tian, neither hot nor cold ; if you think yourself 
 freed from Jewish ceremonies, you ought to believe 
 that the Messiah has come." To me he said, " I 
 am sorry to see you denying yourself, and so much 
 troubled with the burdens which your fathers were 
 never able to bear, and which you need no longer to 
 observe ; for," said he, in continuance, '' the cere- 
 monial law is fulfilled, and taken away by the Mes- 
 siah Jesus, who has confirmed the new covenant 
 
21 
 
 with his biood ; as it was foretold by the prophet 
 Jeremiah." Here he took out his Bible, and read 
 as follows : " Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, 
 that I will make a new covenant with the house of 
 Israel, and with the house of Judah ; not according 
 to the covenant that I made whh their fathers, in 
 the day that I took them by the hand to brin*^ them 
 out of the land of Egypt, which my covenant they 
 brake, although I was a husband to them, saith the 
 Lord ; but this shall be the covenant that I will 
 make with the house of Israel : after those days, 
 saith the Lord, I will write my law in their inward 
 parts, and write it in their hearts: and will be their 
 God, and they shall be my people." "You per- 
 ceive," said he, "that the covenant of ceremonies 
 should be succeeded by another and better covenant. 
 It is evident, therefore, that the former has ceased ; 
 for sacrifices, which were the life of all other cere- 
 monies, as well as Jerusalem, the place where they 
 were to be offered up, are both no more ; the new 
 covenant must have been ratified, and this has been 
 done when Jesus died on the cross, and the veil of 
 the temple rent from the top to the bottom." This 
 portion of Scripture, which I had never read before, 
 for the reasons mentioned above, and his observa- 
 tions, made a deep and lasting impression u])on my 
 mind, and for some time I was wretched and mise- 
 rable, full of doubts and fears, and knew not what 
 to do. To my Jewish brethren I could not disclose 
 my feelings, for the least suspicion of doubts re- 
 specting the truth of their present religion, or a 
 favorable opinion respecting that of the Christians, 
 would have inevitably exposed me to their displea- 
 sure, hatred, or persecution, and among Christians 
 I had no acquaintance. 
 
 Having understood that my Christian friend had 
 gone to Ilostock, I resolved to follow him. From 
 
22 
 
 this time I must date the commencement of a new 
 period in my life. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 TIME AND PLACE OF HIS EMBRACI?;G THE CHRIS- 
 TIAN RELIGION. 
 
 On my arrival at Ilostock I went to the inn near- 
 est the coach-office, to inquire for my friend ; but 
 coidd get no information respecting him, either in that 
 place nor elsewhere. Having been informed that 
 no Jew was allowed to remain in that city for a 
 single night without a license from the magistrate, 
 for which a certain sum was to be paid, I told the 
 landlord thati wasa Jew by birth, but that I had come 
 to that place to inquire into the truth of the Christian 
 religion, and \vas resolved to embrace it in case I 
 should become convinced of its veracity. On hear- 
 ing this he immediately promised me every assist- 
 ance, and the next day he went with me to a cler- 
 gyman, who examined me respectmg my knowledge 
 of the Christian religion, and my motives in search- 
 ing after truth. Finding that I had no arguments 
 to produce in favor of the Messiaship of Christ, he 
 suspected my motives to be worldly. He did not, 
 however, altogether discourage me, but went with 
 me to some other ministers, and stated my request 
 to the magistrate, before whom I was shortly after 
 summoned to appear, where I was strictly examined, 
 and my testimonials were approved ; but I was told 
 that there had been many Jews who had embraced 
 Christianity only for secular advantages, and lived 
 afterwards as heathens, which made them very cau- 
 tious of receiving any before they were thoroughly 
 convinced of their sincerity. 
 
FREV S NARRATIVE, 23 
 
 In ortler to convince them that I sought nothing 
 but the truth, I promised not to receive the least 
 emokiment from -duy Christian ; but that I was 
 Vviliing to learn any trade to obtain my daily bread 
 by the labor of my own hands. A few weeks after 
 this examination, oflicial application having been 
 made to the magistrate in my native place, and 
 satisfactory answers received, I was informed "that 
 I was to apply to the ministers in the three neigh- 
 boring towns, and if none of them were willing to 
 instruct me, I should return, and they would take 
 me under their patronage." 
 
 Accordingly I went to Wisman, where I was 
 kindly and affectionately received by the Kev. Dr. 
 Haupt, who recommended me to a shoemaker, to 
 wdiom I was bound apprentice for three years. In 
 the mean time I went twice every w^eek to the mi- 
 nister for instruction, and spent as much time at 
 home as I could spare from my employment, in com- 
 paring the German translation with the Hebrew 
 Bible, and in reading the Now Testament, which 1 
 had never seen before. By comparing the predic- 
 tions respecting the Messiah, contained in the Old 
 Testament, with the history of Jesus of Nazareth 
 as contained in the New, my judgment was soon 
 convinced that he is the promised Messiah; and con- 
 sidering the doctrine and precepts of the Gospel, I 
 perceived that the dispensation of the Gospel is far 
 more glorious than the Mosaic. At this early pe- 
 riod of my Christian pilgrimage I began to expe- 
 rience the truth of the declaration of my blessed Re- 
 deemer : " He that will be my disciple must deny 
 himself, and take up his cross and follow me." The 
 reader may possibly expect that I allude to persecu- 
 tion from my Jewish brethren ; this was not the case, 
 for there were no Jews residing in that city. But 
 what is more strange, many who called themselves 
 
24 
 
 Christians, treated me as a hypocrite and deceiver. 
 Not unfrequently I was told, *'you are only come 
 among us for what you can get ; as soon as you have 
 made your fortune you doubtless will give up your 
 profession and return to the Jews." These things 
 often pierced my heart sharper than a two-edged 
 sword, especially when comparing my former honor- 
 able, comfortable, and promising condition, with my 
 present low, poor, and despised situation as a shoe- 
 maker's apprentice. For I vv^ould observe that, in 
 general, an apprentice in Germany is treated very 
 little better than a slave in this country. My situ- 
 ation was attended with peculiar difficulties. My 
 master's wife having been for several years melan- 
 choly, and sometimes altogether deranged, reduced 
 him into low circumstances, and I soon found that 
 no plentiful table was to be my portion ; and my 
 natural pride was exceedingly humbled by the au- 
 thority assumed by his daughter, who was not four- 
 teen years of age, whereas I was now five-and- 
 twenty, and having spent the preceding years in so 
 respectable a situation among my own people, with 
 whom, I had no doubt, if I had then gone back to 
 them, I could have gained one equally good. These 
 things were not pleasant to the flesh, but grievous ; 
 however, blessed be the Lord, who enabled me to 
 persevere, and who prepared me to bear still greater 
 hardships in his blessed cause. 
 
 At the expiration of one year and a half my mas- 
 ter was obliged to give up business ; on wdiich account 
 a new difficulty arose : the minister would not bap- 
 tize me until after I had finished my apprenticeship 
 with another master ; and the trade, or society of 
 shoemakers, would not allow any other master to 
 employ me before I was regularly bound, and which 
 could not be done till after my baptism. For their rule 
 is, that no apprentice is allowed to stay more than 
 
FRKY'S NARRATIVE. 25 
 
 three months with a master without having his name 
 regularly registered iirthe book belonging to that 
 trade ; but as no Jew could bo bound an apprentice 
 in Germany, my name could not be registered till 
 after I was baptized. Thus was I left almost with- 
 out a single friend in a strange place. 
 
 A.t that time a band of players was at Wismar, 
 and in order to gain support without being burden- 
 some to society, I transcribed the parts which they 
 had to act for about two months. The master of 
 the band was much taken with me, and had it not 
 been for the slight impediment in my speech, caused 
 by the small-pox, would have engaged me as an 
 actor. Thanks to God, who in his abundant mercy 
 and gracious dealings with me, a poor sinner, broke 
 this snare also. 
 
 By the kind orderings of Providence, most unex- 
 pectedly I became acquainted with a gentleman by 
 the name of Matthias Van Gilben, who advised me 
 to go to New-Brandenburg in Mecklenburg Strelitz, 
 to a minister, an intimate friend of his, and offered 
 to give me a letter of introduction. I therefore took 
 leave of J)r. Haupt, wlio gave me testimonials of my 
 character, and a letter of introduction to the minister 
 at New-Brandenburg : and in my way thither, in 
 every town where I came, I called on the ministers, 
 who all severally wished me well, and success in my 
 undertaking ; but none was willing to give me the 
 necessary assistance. How iew, alas ! are those who 
 really seek the salvation of Israel ! On arriving at 
 the place of my destination, I called on the Lutheran 
 minister, Mr. Cortum, presented my letter and pa- 
 pers, w ho received me kindly, and gave me effectual 
 assistance. Here I was again bound to a shoe- 
 maker for another year and a half, and went, as 
 forinerly, twice every week to the minister for reli- 
 gious instruction. 
 
 On the 8th of May, 1799, 1 was publicly baptized, 
 3 
 
•2(j frey's narrative^ 
 
 or, more correctly speakings sprinkled, and received 
 as a member of the Protestant Lutheran Church. 
 It has always been the custom, that, at the baptism 
 of a Jew, some respectable persons should stand 
 god-fathers, who make him n^.any presents ; but I 
 refused to receive any, or any kind of presents, a? 
 another proof that I did not embrace Christianity 
 for the sake of worldly gain. It is also an ancient 
 practice in Germany, lor a converted Jew to receive 
 new names at his baptism ; therefore, upon this oc- 
 casion, the minister gave me three additional nameS; 
 viz. Christian Frederick Frey. The first expres- 
 sive of the religion I embraced ; the second, which 
 signifies ritJi ire, peace, to express his good wishes ;. 
 and the last, as my surname, to remind me of the text 
 which he preached on the occasion, viz. John, 8 : 
 32, 36. " And ye shall know the truth, andthe truth 
 shall make you free.'' " If the Son therefore shall 
 make you free, ye shall be free indeed.'* Free, in 
 English, signifies the same as Fre?/ in the German 
 language, but is pronounced Fri/, and should be prc- 
 nounced in the English the same as the pronoun 
 the?/ ; but most of the people, v/hile I was in Eng- 
 land, attemling more to the origin and signijicativn 
 than to the spelling of my name, pronounced it 
 generally as if written free ; and I myself got into 
 the habit of doing the same. 
 
 A few months after my baptism, my apprentice- 
 ship having expired, I was made a journeyman, 
 which is considered a great and important ceremo- 
 ny, and was now at liberty to travel as a journey- 
 man. It was therefore my intention to accompany 
 a journeyman of the same occupation to Rostock, 
 where I had first expressed my wish of embracing 
 Christianity. But God, in his gracious . design, 
 had appointed another place for me, where I shouhl 
 be led to a fuller discovery of the trut^li as it is in 
 Christ Jesus, as will be related in the next chapter. 
 
i-t<ey's narrative. 27 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LED HIM TO A FAllTIIER 
 ACQUAINTANCE WITH DIVINE TRUTH. 
 
 Two days before the time en which we proposed 
 to leave for Rostock, my companion wounded his 
 -hand in such a manner that ho was obliged to give 
 up all thoughts of the journey. But as I iiad given 
 notice to my master of my intention to leave him, I 
 did not choose to remain any longer, and therefore 
 removed to the next town, which was Prentzlow, in 
 Prussia, where i arrived on the 24th of December. 
 The weather was exceedingly cold, and there were 
 a considerable number of journeymen, but little 
 work. However, I not only got employment, but was 
 settled in one of tfie best situations in the place. 
 Thus, although but lately out of my apprenticeship, 
 the Lord gave me success, and greatly blessed the 
 ^.vovk of my hand. *' Surely goodness and mercy 
 have followed me all the days of my life." O 
 that I could praise God for his loving kindness and 
 tender mercies! 
 
 In this situation I met v,ith ^o much envy and ill 
 \vill from my fellow-journeymen, that I thought best 
 to change it for another, not so good in point of 
 wages, and much more laborious ; but it proved more 
 profitable to the welfare of my soul ; for here I first 
 learned to bow my heart as well as my knees before 
 Jehovah, and prayed, for the first time, "in spirit 
 and in truth." The circumstance which led to this, 
 is in itself but of a trifling nature ; but when I look 
 back and consider its effects, I am constrained to 
 acknovyledgc and adore the hand of God my Savior. 
 From my childhood I have been taught to mark the 
 • ays of God, and in doing so found much pleasure ; 
 
28 
 
 and now, since I profess to know more of that God, 
 who alone orders all things according to his own will, 
 my delight is still greater in reviewing the ways iu 
 which he has so graciously led me for more than 
 forty years, even to the present hour. A few weeks 
 before Easter, Mr. Mat. Van Gilben, the gentleman 
 who so effectually recommended me to the minister 
 at New-Brandenburg, paid me a visit, and made me 
 a present, saying, " Buy yourself an apron with this 
 money, and wear it in remembrance of your friend 
 till I sec you again." Accordingly, I went with his 
 own son to a tanner of the name of Michaelis. TJiis 
 was the rnan whom the Lord designed to bless to 
 my soul. For, as I observed afterwards, that we had 
 passed by, unnoticed, several tanners in the way to 
 his house. Oh ! my soul, ever commit thy ways 
 unto the Lord, and he shall direct thy steps. When 
 Mr. M. presented the apron, and mentioned the 
 price, I said, " Is not that too much ? for T ought to 
 know the value of these things." " How came you 
 to know it ?" asked he. I answered, " When I was 
 a 3e\Y, and officiated as Rabbi, and killed their ani- 
 mals, I frequently saw them selling skins." " So," 
 replied Michaelis, '* and what are you now? a 
 Christian?" " Yes," said I, with the greatest con- 
 lulcncc. He inquired further, " In what manner 
 do you live ?" This was indeed a strange ques- 
 tion ; for I had never heard, mucli less perceived, 
 that there were any different modes of living, or 
 conversation, amongst Christians. " I live," said I, 
 '* as all the shoem;ikcrs' journeymen live, and every 
 Sunday I go to church ; and after service, you know, 
 we cannot be at hoine at the n^astcr's house, where 
 we lodge and board during the week ; I must there- 
 fore go to the tavern, i. e. the house of call, where 
 I spend the remainder of the Sabbath, and usually 
 continue til! Monday, playing at cards, and some- 
 
20 
 
 times dancing ; the rest of the week I am diligent 
 at work." *' I am sorry," replied Michaelis : " as you 
 profess to he a Christian, you ought to manifest it 
 in a different manner," To which I answered, *' I 
 have iio friends or acquaintance here, and therefore 
 must go to the house of call ; and^ being amongsl; the 
 other journeymen, I must join in their manner of 
 life, else 1 shall be laughed at and ridiculed by them 
 all." Michaelis then said, with great kindness, " You 
 may come to-morrow afternoon, at five o'clock, to 
 the house of Mr. Thorinan, where several friends 
 meet; you will become acquainted with them, and 
 have an opportunity of spending your time on the 
 Sabbath at their houses." Michaelis at the same 
 time made me a j)resent of the Narrative of Solo- 
 mon Duitch, a converted Jew, Vviiich has been of 
 great use to me in confirming my fiiitb in the Chris- 
 tian religion. 
 
 Follov/ing tlie bent of natural curiosity and fond- 
 fiess of society, I promised to go there the next 
 lay. This conversation took place on a Saturday. 
 ;)n my return home I inquired of my master's wife 
 v/hether she knew a Mr. Thormao, at whose house 
 some friends met every Lord's day. She could not 
 speak evil of them, yet was unwilling to speak well, 
 therefore she only said, *' It is a society o^ '■ praying 
 brethrenJ' " May the Lord increase and multiply 
 their number. Early on the following morning, the 
 appointed day in which God had designed njost gra- 
 ciously to strip me of my own self-righteousness, to 
 clothe me with the righteousness of his dear Son, 
 and to adorn me with the garment of salvation, I 
 felt my mind so uneasy that I could not remain in 
 bed. I arose, but the family being all asleep, 1 
 knew not what to do. In the meantime I heard 
 the sound of an organ proceeding from the churcli 
 near the place of mv abode. I immediately went 
 
 3# 
 
M) FREY S NARRATIVE. 
 
 ihiiher, but knew not why. The Rev. Mr. WolTo 
 was, Oil that morning, confirming a great number of 
 chihh'en, being Palm Sundaiji the Sabbath before 
 Easter. At the concki.sion of the ceremony bead- 
 dressed them and said, " My dear children, I am 
 afraid tliat some of you will soon return again into 
 the broad roal which leadeth to dcstriictionj but my 
 prayer unto God for you is, tliat you might be saved. 
 I would therefore recommend to you the following 
 passage of the Holy Scriptures, ' My heart shall 
 not reproach me as long us I live.'* .Tob, 27 : 6. 
 Now, my dear children,'' said he, with great affec- 
 tion, '' consider these words at the close of every 
 day, and examine \vhethcr yor.r conscience does not 
 accuse you for the day past ; and if it does, be sure 
 to kneel down and pray for the fovgivcjicss of your 
 sins through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior." 
 
 My dear reader, I must here be permitted to 
 pause, for it is impossible for me to say wliat were 
 the feelings of my heart on hearing these words. I 
 found them " sharper than a two-edged suord," 
 Heb. 4: 12, and "stronger than a hammer which 
 breaketh the rocks in pieces," Jer. 23 : 29 ; my 
 conscience accused me of crimes innumerable, and, 
 alas! "a wounded spirit who can bear?" I nov/ 
 firmly believed that I had not only broken the double 
 covenant as a Jew, v;hich was first made with God 
 by my parents at my circumcision, and, secondly, 
 by myself, when 1 was thirteen years old ; but also 
 that covenant with God in Christ, which 1 had 
 rashly made when I was baptized and joined to tlic 
 Christian church. 
 
 * Or, as he rc])eate(l it liom the Gerniari Bible, '^ my con- 
 science does not reprovo \\\c for the whole of my life." Com- 
 pare with this, Act?, 5:24: 16: '-Herein do I exercise m3''pel/j to 
 have aiwayr^ a con>'cience void ofoHence towards God and to- 
 wards men." 
 
r.REY S NARRATIVE. 31 
 
 it now pleased the Lord to teach me something 
 of the sj)irituality of the law. I not only found myself 
 guilty of very many sinful actions and words in my 
 past life, but I was also convinced that '* every ima- 
 gination of the thoughts of my heart were only evil 
 continually," Gen. G : 5. r*line eyes, which were for- 
 merly full of lusts, w^ere now overflowing with floods 
 of tears ; the very ground beneath my feet seemed 
 ready to open itself and swallow me up, like Korah 
 and his company. I thought that the eyes of God, 
 and of the congregation, were fixed upon me with 
 the greatest abhorrence and disgust. I left the 
 place, and entered, for the first time, into the closet, 
 and shut the door behind me, that I might pray in 
 secret to my Father which is in heaven. But, alas ! 
 I knew not how to pray, nor had I confidence to 
 draw nigh to that God whom I had so often and so 
 greatly oflended. Several passages of the Holy 
 Scriptures, especially these words, " Enter not into 
 judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall 
 no man living be justified," Psalm 143 : 2, I re- 
 peated again and again, but found no comfort. 
 
 From personal experience, my dear reader, I can 
 say tliat there is nothing easier than for a natural 
 nuin to think that God will pardon his sins for some 
 imaginary reason or other ; and nothing more diffi- 
 cult for a truly avv'akened sinner to believe that God 
 can pardon his sins, and yet be a holy, just, and true 
 God. It is not in the nature of any means, although 
 it be our bounden duty to use them diligently, either 
 to convince the natural man that he is a guilty, de- 
 filed, and helpless sinner, nor to persuade the con- 
 vinced sinner that the Almighty can be a righteous 
 God, and at the same time the justiner of liim that 
 believeth in Jesup. Bcik effects it is the office of 
 the Holy Spirit to produce, who maketh the means, 
 graciously appointed by God, and diligently used by 
 
32 PREY'S NARRATIVE. 
 
 man, effectual to the salvation of the souL *' tie 
 who convinces the mind of sin, of righteousness, 
 and of judgment," must also " take of the things of 
 Jesus, and show them to the heart of the mourning 
 sinner." John, 16 : 8. 
 
 Having described the circumstances \^hich God 
 made to operate in overwhelming n)y heart with 
 godly sorrow, I proceed to mention the manner in 
 which the Lord Jesus gave rest to my soul. 
 
 The reader will recollect the conversation which 
 took place between Mr. Pdichaclis and myself on the 
 preceding day, and his invitation to me, to be at five 
 o'clock at Mr. Thorman's. At that time I had re- 
 solved to go out of curiosity, but now 1 was like a 
 new-born babe, desiring the sincere milk of the 
 word, that I might grov/ thereby, 1 Pet. 3 : 2. 
 Never was a day so long as this seemed to be. At 
 length the much-vvished-for hour aj)proached, and I 
 joyfully hastened to meet the Christian Society ; but 
 when I reached the house, the thunder and light- 
 nings of Mount Sinai terrified my mind afresh, and 
 my sins filled my face with shame; all my natural 
 boldness was gone, and I felt myself utterly unwortiiy 
 of going among the dear friends assembled together ; 
 like one of old, mine eyes were fixed to the ground, 
 and the language of my heart was, ''God be mer- 
 ciful to me a sinner," Luke, 18 : J 3. However, to 
 fulfill my promise, I entered in. As soon as Mr. 
 Michaelis saw me, he got up, took me by the hand, 
 and introduced me to Mr. Thorman as a convert 
 from Judaism. Mr. Thorman, who had been for 
 nearly sixty years an exjierienced, useful, and faith- 
 ful soldier of Jesus Christ, received me with fcJie 
 greatest afl^ection, sympathy, and o#fn passion ; and 
 from that very moment to the day I left that place, 
 I esteemed, reverenced, and trusted him as a man 
 of God. 
 
 Amongst other questions, lie asked whether the 
 
33 
 
 ministers who had instructed me for three years, 
 prayed with me on their knees. I am sorry to say 
 that my answer, dictated by truth, was a negative. 
 
 The service now began with singing, then fol- 
 lowed a short prayer, and after that he read a ser- 
 mon on Isa. 53 : 5, *' He was wounded," &c. Jesus 
 Christ was the sum and substance of the discourse, 
 from which I received much comfort; then we all 
 kneeled down, and he prayed. More than twenty 
 minutes were spent in prayer for me, thanking God 
 for calhng me out of darkness, and more particu- 
 larly that it would please the Lord to make mc 
 useful and faithful. 
 
 After the service was concluded, Mr. Thorman 
 invited me to visit him the next day. I now longed 
 to retire to my closet. On my return to my master's 
 house, all were surprised, for it was quite a new 
 thing to see me on a Sunday evening, and seldom 
 on a Monday. I told them I had been at Mr. Thor- 
 man's, and wished rather to be by myself than to go 
 to the house of call. I asked my master if Mr. Thor- 
 man had studied. "No," was his reply. "But 
 ho\v is it possible," said I, "that a man could pray 
 so long without a book, particularly for me, w'ithout 
 even knov/iogof my coming to him ? and consequent- 
 ly he could not have studied the prayer." " That is 
 no wonder," said one of the family ; "these people 
 j)ray always." ImiTjediately I went into my closet, 
 fcH upon my knees, and cried, '-Lord, teach mc 
 thus to ])ray !" 
 
 After two hours' sweet meditatiois, I laid myself 
 down, and slept under the shadow of the Pilost High. 
 Farly on Monday morning I arose with an eager 
 desire to read tlie Bible ; on opening the sacred 
 volume my eye was fixed on the 1st Tim. 1 : 15, 
 "Th.is is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accep- 
 tation, thai Ciirist Jesus came into the world to save 
 
!4 
 
 FREY S NARRATIVE. 
 
 sinners; of whom I am chief.'' Having been used, 
 as a Jewish teacher, to catechize children, I put tho 
 same questions to mj^ own soul as I would have done 
 to a child in the school : Who is the j)crson spoken 
 of? was my first inquIr3^ A. Christ Jesus. What 
 did he come into the world for, and where did he 
 come from ? A. From some place that is not in this 
 world — from heaven. Why did he come into the 
 world ? A. To save sinners. What kind of sinners? 
 A. Sinners that are in this world, and great sin- 
 ners too. » 
 
 Whilst thus musing with myself, I was enabled to 
 conclude and believe, that though I saw myself the 
 chief of sinners, yet Christ was able to save me; 
 for he saved Paul, who called himself the chief of 
 sinners. From that moment I was led to rejoice 
 in the salvation of God my Savior, and felt the love 
 of God shed abroad in my heart, which constrained 
 me to vow an eternal hatred against every sin, and 
 to devote myself to the service of him who lived 
 and died for sinners. Never did I Dnjoy an hour 
 like that morninsr. I "enerallv breakfasted on Mon~ 
 day at the house of call, having spent the night there, 
 as 1 observed before ; but now I went to my employ- 
 ment with pleasure, and with renewed strength. 
 
 My master and his family were surprised to see 
 me at work on a Monday, and could by no means 
 account for the sudden change, not J^nowing that 
 the Gospel of Christ teaches a man to be diligent in 
 business and fervent in spirit. In the afternoon 
 two journeymen came to know why I had not been 
 at the house of call on the preceding day. Being 
 told that I had been with Mr. 'I'horman, and that i 
 was now hard at work, singing psalms and making 
 melody in my heart, they were astonished at my 
 conduct, and endeavored to persuade me to go with 
 them to our former scene of dissipation. I received 
 
them affcctioiifitcly, and assured them of the un- 
 speakable happiness I now felt in my soul, and that 
 i had promised to go again in the evening to Mr. 
 rhorman's. Finding that they could not prevail 
 on me by kindness, they began to ridicule the society 
 of Christiana with whom I had just formed an ac- 
 quaintance, expressed their sorrow for the unhappy 
 change, which, as they thought, I had experienced, 
 and left me in tlie liopc that God would deliver mo 
 from the dangerous sect of praying brethre'ii. O 
 Lord, evermore grant me the spirit of grace and 
 supplication, that I may pray without ceasing. 
 
 In the evening I called upon my dear friend Tlior- 
 man ; after some conversation, he took me into his 
 closet, where wc kneeled down together ; he began 
 to read the first chapter in the Gospel by St. John, 
 and changed it, verse by verse, into a prayer, intro- 
 ducing at the same time parallel passages from the 
 Old Testament, to illustrate and confirm the truth 
 which he had read from the Gospel, and earnestly 
 begging for the influence of the Holy Spirit to bless 
 it to our souls. This inestimable privilege I enjoyed 
 almost every day, especially on the Sabbath, as long 
 as I continued at Prentzlow. Mr. Tiioriiian would 
 also frequently read tlie periodical publications of 
 the Basil Society, and other letters relative to the 
 diiiusion of the Gospel among Christians, ani espe- 
 cially the exertions of Christian.s in England to send 
 the word of salvation to the heathen. Very often 
 he would break forth with a deep sigh, and exclaim, 
 " O that I was again a young man like yourself, 
 I would immediately go as a missionary." I do not 
 recollect that he ever spoke to me directly about 
 ofiering myself as a missionary, nor did I then feel 
 the least inclination to go, even if I had been asked. 
 However, his labor of love and prayer of faith 
 
36 FREY S NARRATIVS. 
 
 have not been in vain, as it will bo seen in the noxt 
 chapter. 
 
 I had no sooner tasted of the grace of God, than 
 I was desirous to invite others to come to the full- 
 ness of grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. With 
 pleasure I embraced every leisure moment to visit 
 the sick, aiid twice every w^eek I went to the poor- 
 house. Here I had the first opportunity of speaking 
 of the love which my dear Redeemer bears to sin- 
 ners in general, and whicii he has manifested to me 
 in particular. 
 
 The effect which the change of my disposition 
 had upon my master deserves the attention of the 
 reader. Before my acquaintance with Mr. Thor- 
 man and his friends, I spent, generally, one or two 
 days in a week in idleness, and took care to work no 
 more than just enough for my support. My master, 
 therefore, treated me with the greatest kindness, in' 
 order to keep me diligently at work ; but from the 
 time when I began to labor hard and faithfully on 
 Mondays, as well as other days in the week, so as to 
 earn nearly twice as much wages as before, he not 
 only looked coolly upon me, but very soon dismissed 
 me from his employment, without being able to 
 assign a single reason for his conduct. O the en- 
 mity of the carnal mind ! But blessed be the Lord, 
 who often overrules the bad conduct of man to ac- 
 complish his own gracious purposes. 
 
 It is a custom in Germany for masters and jour- 
 neymen to dissolve their connection at Midsummer 
 and (yhristmas only ; but my ma^-ter having dis- 
 missed me about two weeks before Midsummer, 1 
 could not expect to meet with another until that 
 day arrived. I went to Mr. Thorman, and told 
 him that I intended to leave Prentzlow, as I could 
 not bear the idea of spending my time till Mid- 
 summer-day in idleness. Mr. Tliorman informed 
 
37 
 
 me that a friend of his, Mr, Boettcher, was going- 
 to Berlin, who would no doubt procure a master 
 for me. He gave me, also, a letter of recommen- 
 dation to Mr. Burgett, a shoemaker at Berlin. On 
 the 20th of June, 1799, I took an affectionate leave 
 of my dear friend Thorman. Never was any thing 
 more painful to me than parting with this man ; 
 nor liave I scarcely ever met with one altogether 
 like him. It would be unsuitable, nor do I think it 
 necessary, to detain the reader by a particular ac- 
 count of this excellent disciple of Christ. But as 
 his praise is in all the churches in Germany, it may 
 not be improper to insert at least the following letter 
 of his, which was given to me by Mr. Boettcher, on 
 the first day of our journey to Berlin. 
 
 " Dear Frey, 
 
 " You are now going to Berlin. It is possible we 
 shall not see one another again in this life. Remem- 
 ber what you have seen and heard in this place, and 
 follow the instructions which you have received. 
 Read diligently the word of God, and pray, at the 
 same time, that your understanding may be more 
 and more enlightened to see, and that you may 
 feel more of the deceitfulness of your own heart. 
 For in your heart (as Bunyan observes) are seven 
 abominations, which you must see every day, as 
 long as you live, and which must constantly drive 
 you to Jesus your Savior. 
 
 *' The seven abominations are these : 
 
 *' 1. Inclination to unbelief. 
 
 " 2. Forgetfulness of the love and mercy of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 ** 3. Trust and confidence in your own works. 
 
 *' 4. Wandering thoughts, and coldness in prayer. 
 
 *' 5. Neglect of watchfulness after pcayer. 
 4 
 
38 frey's narrative. 
 
 " 6. Prone to murmur against God and man. 
 " 7. You can do nothing that God has com- 
 manded you, without mixing with it self-will, self- 
 love, pride, positiveness, ambition, &c. 
 
 *' When you would do good, evil is present with 
 you. Now, when you feel this, you must flee, by 
 prayer and supplication, to Jesus the crucified, as a 
 poor, miserable, and helpless sinner, that his atoning 
 blood may cleanse you from these abojninations, 
 and that his Holy Spirit may change your heart, 
 and renew a right spirit within you. If you do not 
 this every day, truly, uprightly, and diligently, you 
 will be lost at last, notwithstanding you have been 
 baptized as a Christian, and received the Lord's 
 Supper frequently." 
 
 To be thus characterized, and to be directed to 
 such a remedy, was a hard lesson for iiesh and 
 blood. But, through grace, I have learned to be- 
 lieve that these seven abominations are but a part 
 of that world of iniquity within me, and that I am 
 daily indebted to the grace of God, by which I am 
 restrained from sin, and kept in the path of right- 
 eousness, holiness, and peace. 
 
 Mr. Thorman proceeds in his letter : 
 *' You must likewise pray for wisdom and under- 
 standing, to learn your trade thoroughly. Be dili- 
 gent and faithful in your employment ; remember, 
 you work not only for men, but you have a Master 
 in heaven, even Jesus Christ. If you feel your work 
 to be hard, consider that the Lord Jegus Christ has 
 sweetened it, having himself labored (as is most 
 probable) as a carpenter till he was thirty years of 
 age. If you do this, even the ungodly master will 
 esteem you ; and none will hinder you in your de- 
 votion or prayer, if performed in its season. Happy 
 will you be, if you follow my advice; but miserable 
 
39 
 
 will yon be, if you despise my counsel. The Lord 
 be your guide. Amen. 
 
 *' I am your sincere friend, 
 
 " J. F. Thorman. 
 
 '• Prentzlow, June 20, 1799," 
 
 Saturday, June 22d, on my arrival at Berlin I 
 went to the house of call. On my inquiry after Mr. 
 Burnett, I was told that he was a dangerous and 
 infectious person — one of the praying brethren ; 
 and that he scarcely ever visited the house of call. 
 However, I soon found him, and was received in a 
 most affectionate manner. He recommended me 
 to a pious young man to lodge with, from whom I 
 derived many spiritual benefits. 
 
 The next day being the Lord's day, T went in 
 the morning, with Mr. Burgett, to the Rev. Mr. 
 Woldersturff, a venerable aged minister of the 
 Gospel. By this valiant soldier of Christ I was pri- 
 vately instructed how to put on the whole armor of 
 God. In the afternoon I called upon a friend, to 
 whom I had a letter of recommendation. 
 
 This gentleman took me in the evening to a Mo- 
 ravian chapel, or congregation of United Brethren, 
 when the Rev. Mr. Cunow preached from Luke, 5 : 
 8, *' When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at 
 Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a 
 sinful man, O Lord." 
 
 The simplicity of the place of worship, the regu- 
 larity and order of the congregation, the subject of 
 discourse, and the manner in w hich it was delivered, 
 made a lasting impression upon my mind. Ever after 
 I attended the public meetings of this Christian 
 Society, and very soon obtained liberty to attend 
 their private meetings on Wednesday and Friday 
 evenings. I was just at the point of being received 
 as a member of this highly respected community, 
 when I was prevented by joining the Missionary 
 
40 
 
 Seminary. But, although I did not actually become 
 a member, yet my attachment to them has never 
 been diminished. My heart has ever rejoiced to 
 meet with one of these plain and humble followers 
 of the Lamb. 
 
 It was among these Christians I heard of the 
 love of Jesus in every sermon, and saw him, as it 
 were, crucified before my eyes. It is true, I have 
 since seen the impropriety of preaching noiking but 
 the love of Christ, as manifested in his sufferings, 
 yet I still agree with them, that Jesus Christ ought 
 to be the sum and substance of every discourse. A ser- 
 mon without Christ, is like a body without a soul. 
 
 I was but a few days at Berlin when I obtained 
 employment from a master who feared God and re- 
 garded men, at whose house I remained till I entered 
 the Missionary Seminary. The circumstances which 
 led to this change in my life are as follows : 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ENTRANCE INTO THE MISSIONARY SEMINARY AT 
 BERLIN. 
 
 The reader will not be surprised to find that 
 the trade which I learned was almost beyond my 
 strength, if he considers but for a moment the man- 
 ner in which I was educated, and the way in which 
 I employed myself among my own nation. My 
 health was much impaired, and frequently I foimd 
 such pain in my breast as not to be able to work. 
 My master, who often sympathized with me under 
 my afflictions, one day proposed to procure my ad- 
 mission into a free-school, where persons are edu- 
 cated to be school-masters. Nothing could have 
 been proposed more suitable to my education, for- 
 
rHEY'S NARRATIVE. 41 
 
 met employment, and natural inclination, than this; 
 I therefore approved of the plan, and thanked my 
 master for the kind interest he took in my welfare. 
 But, O how wonderful are the ways of the Lord ! 
 One evening, at my devotional hour, when reading 
 the sacred Scriptures, I was forcibly struck with the 
 following words : " Then said Jesus unto his disci- 
 ples. If any will come after me, let him deny him- 
 self, and take up his cross, and follow me. For 
 whosoever will save his life, shall lose it : and who- 
 soever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it. For 
 what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole 
 world, and lose his own soul ? or what shall a man 
 give in exchange for his soul ?" Matt. 16 : 24-26. 
 Whilst meditating upon these words, my mind was 
 deeply impressed with the danger of entering this 
 school, where true religion was but little known ; 
 and I reflected that although this situation might 
 greatly improve my bodily health and temporal cir- 
 cumstances, yet it was very likefy to lead to the ruin 
 of my soul. After much prayer to God for direc- 
 tion, I resolved to continue in my employment till 
 Divine Providence should point out a situation preg- 
 nant with less danger to my eternal welfare. 
 
 On the same night I had a most remarkable 
 dream, the substance of which is briefly as follows: 
 it seemed to me as if I saw my dear Redeemer 
 standing before my bed, and could hear him dis- 
 tinctly saying, " Fear not, you shall be a physician 
 io heal many of their diseases." I replied, "By 
 what means shall I become a physician, who am a 
 stranger in the land ?" The answer to this was, 
 " You have many friends in this place." With these 
 words the vision disappeared, and I awoke from my 
 sleep, arose from my bed, and fell uport my knees, 
 spending a considerable time in prayer and praise. 
 This dream has often since led me to adore the won- 
 4* 
 
42 
 
 derful condescension of the Son of God to strengthen 
 the weak and feeble in the flock, in various ways, 
 and by different means. How fitly and faithfully 
 does his conduct answer the prediction concerning 
 the Messiah ! " He shall feed his flock like a shep- 
 herd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and 
 carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those 
 that are with young. A bruised reed shall he not 
 break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench." 
 Isaiah, 40 : 11; 42 : 3. The young man me\i- 
 tioned above, who slept in the same room with me, 
 gave me no rest till I told him what was the burden 
 upon my mind, and the circumstance which had 
 transpired in the night. Without my knowledge he 
 spoke to his friends on the subject, and introduced 
 me to many pious and excellent Christians, who 
 comforted me under my bodily afflictions, and in 
 whose company I was much builded up in our most 
 holy faith. My friend, as well as myself, understood 
 the above-mentioned dream only in its literal sense, 
 namely, that I was to be a practitioner of medicine ; 
 and therefore he formed a plan, and used his influ- 
 ence amongst his friends to procure the necessary 
 support whilst I was studying that science. But this 
 seemed not to be the will of Providence, and there- 
 fore it came to naught. 
 
 This amiable young Christian, a pattern of bro- 
 therly love and affection, and clothed with humility 
 as with a garment, first introduced me to the Rev. 
 Mr. Jaenicke, minister of the Gospel to the Bohe- 
 mian congregation. Whilst mentioning the name 
 of this servant of Christ, I should certainly have 
 considered it my duty to speak of his excellent cha- 
 racter, but conscious of my inability to do justice to 
 the subject, I shall merely observe, that he is a man 
 of God, anointed with the Holy Ghost, and con- 
 stantly going about doing good. 
 
fkey's narrative. 43 
 
 One Sabbath towards the closeof 1799, when re- 
 turning from the Moravian chapel, I was met by 
 several young men, one of whom said, "Well, bro- 
 ther Frcy, should you like to go as a missionary ?" 
 " Yes," said I, "I am willing to go any where whi- 
 thersoever the Lord Jesus Christ should be pleased 
 to send me." " You had better," said another, " go 
 to Mr. Jaenicke and give in your name." Ac- 
 cordingly I went to Mr. Jaenicke, who, after having 
 had some conversation with me, especially on the 
 nature of the work of a missionary, inserted my 
 name amongst those who had already offered them- 
 selves as candidates " to j)reach among the Gentiles 
 the unsearchable riches of* Christ." Several months 
 elapsed before we knew for a certainty that the 
 seminary would be established. Mr. Albrecht, one 
 of the candidates, and myself, went with letters of 
 recommendation from Mr. Jaenicke to Baron Van 
 Shiernding, of Dorbrylugh, in Saxony, at whose ex- 
 pense the seminary was to be supported ; and a few 
 weeks afterwards we received orders from him to 
 quit our worldly occupations, and devote ourselves 
 to study, under the care and superintendence of Mr. 
 Jaenicke. In the month of February, 1800, the 
 Missionary Seminary was opened, and seven stu- 
 dents were received, viz. Messrs. Albrecht, Hard- 
 wig, Langner, Palm, Schreibfogel, Ulbricht, and 
 myself. The missionaries in this seminary were 
 not designed for any particular place among the 
 heathen, nor to be sent out by this institution, but 
 merely to receive the necessary education, and then 
 to be sent by any missionary society. From this 
 circumstance a very great difficulty arose ; for not 
 knowing the place of our future destination, it was 
 impossible to determine what language we ought to 
 learn. 3Ir. Jaenicke and his friends therefore re- 
 solved that we should be taught the rudiments of 
 
44 
 
 several languages. Accordingly we began Latin ^ 
 Greek, Hebrew,* Dutch, French, Arabic, and Sy- 
 riac. Besides this, we had to attend on several other 
 lectures, such as theology, geography, music, medi- 
 cine, <fcc. <fec. Our work was hard, and nothing 
 but love to immortal souls, and an earnest desire to 
 promote the honor of a precious Savior, could have 
 supported us. Those who wished to make them- 
 selves masters of the lessons they had received, had 
 need to redeem every moment of their time. Sel- 
 dom did I allow myself six hours' sleep, and very 
 frequently I sat up whole nights. 
 
 While at this seminary, we had not the privilege 
 of preaching publicly, for none are licensed to preach 
 but those who have been regularly educated at a 
 university; however, we composed each a short dis- 
 course, once a fortnight, and delivered it at Mr. 
 Jaenicke's own house, where some friends were ad- 
 mitted. Before we had reached the end of the first 
 year in the seminary, a change took place in the cir- 
 cumstances of our excellent patron, which threaten- 
 ed the ruin of the institution, and we were actually 
 told that in a month's time we were to return to 
 our former employments ; but blessed be the Lord, 
 who hears and answers the prayers of his people. 
 Mr. Jaenicke, our dear father, as we wished to call 
 him, wrote to different societies and private Chris- 
 tians to afford their aid to support the infant cause. 
 Under these circumstances, the faith, hope, trust, 
 and patience of Mr. Jaenicke v/cre tried in a most 
 remarkable manner. The funds of the institution 
 were often so exhausted that he was obliged to pay 
 our sustenance, for several weeks together, out of 
 his own property, without the least certainty of ever 
 
 * Alihongh the Hebrew might be called my native language, 
 yet I attended the lecturer, to learn it more grammatically. 
 
frey's narrative. 45 
 
 being repaid. Toward the close of 1800 Mr. Jae- 
 
 uicke received a letter from Dr. K , of H , 
 
 requesting that the candidates might be examined, 
 and one of them chosen for the Danish Missionary 
 Society, but that Mr. Frey should not be examined, 
 as they did not wish for him, on account of his hav- 
 ing been a Jew. 
 
 On the day of their examination, being left alone 
 in the academy, my mind was much affected by the 
 thought of my being excluded from the examination, 
 and thought unfit or unworthy of the office. I hum- 
 bled myself before God, and after having spent some 
 time in prayer, I wrote the name of each candidate 
 upon a piece of paper, and took one, to see, as it 
 were, whom the Lord had chosen.* To my great 
 surprise 1 had taken my own name ; but as I w^as 
 expressly excluded, I did not know what to make of 
 it : how^ever, I comforted myself with these words, 
 " What I do ye know not now ; but ye shall know it 
 hereafter :" nor was it a long time before this cir- 
 cumstance was quite plain ; for though brother 
 Schriebfogel was then chosen, and left the semi- 
 nary some time before me, yet it was myself who 
 actually entered upon the labors of a missionary 
 before any of the others. 
 
 With the beginning of the year 1801, Mr. Jae- 
 nicke received several very encouraging letters and 
 liberal donations from the society at Basle, from the 
 Missionary Society in London, and from private 
 Christians. On the 11th of June, 1801, Mr. Jae- 
 nicke informed us that the London Missionary So- 
 ciety had written for three missionaries, to be assis- 
 tants to Dr. Vander Kemp, in Africa. After a most 
 solemn prayer to God, he chose brother Palm, Ul- 
 
 * Being at this time intimately acquainted with the Movavi- 
 unt-', who made use of the lot, I followed their example. 
 
46 
 
 NARRATIVE. 
 
 bricht, and myself. On the 11th of July, 1801, we 
 left Berlin, and began onr journey to England. 
 
 But before I conclude this chapter, I will take no- 
 tice of one circumstance at least which occurred 
 whilst at Berlin. One day, when taking my dinner 
 as usual in the eating-house, I was much struck with 
 the conversation of some persons at the table; their 
 language and expressions, respecting our blessed Sa- 
 vior, were so horrid and blasphemous, that I could 
 bear it no longer, but addressed them in the follow- 
 ing manner: "My friends, you profess to be Chris- 
 tians, but by your words you manifest that you are 
 at present as great and bitter enemies to Jesus 
 Christ as those who crucified him. Had you charged 
 my brother or my friends with half of that with 
 which you have charged my God and Savior, I should 
 certainly have summoned you before a court of jus- 
 tice : and suppose that you should not be able to prove 
 what you have asserted, what would be the conse- 
 quence ? But, alas! there is no tribunal in this me- 
 tropolis where I could defend the character of my 
 blessed Savior. However, be it known to you, that 
 there is a day coming, when both you and I shall 
 stand before the Judge of the whole earth, when the 
 books will be opened, and your present conversation 
 will be read before an innumerable company, with 
 the addition, that a person then present, who was 
 once a Jew, but had embraced the Christian religion, 
 reproved you for the dishonor cast upon your Sa- 
 vior." Here I was interrupted by a young man, Mr. 
 Rockenstein, who said, "So you have changed your 
 religion ? I think that is the worst thing a person 
 can be guilty of. Every person ought to keep the 
 religion in which he was brought up." "Before I 
 answer your question," said I, "or justify my con- 
 duct, permit me to ask, do you believe the Bible ?" 
 "I would," was his reply, "but I cannot." "I 
 
frey's narrative. 47 
 
 should be glad to have some private conversation 
 with you." We paid for our dinner, and took a walk 
 together. Upon inquiry, I found tliat Mr. Rocken- 
 stein was a native oi^New Brandenburg, Sirelitz Meck- 
 hnburgh, the place where I was received a member 
 of the Christian church, and where I finished my ap- 
 prenticeship ; on which account I was considered as 
 a native of that place, and usually called Branden- 
 burgher. This circumstance united our affections, 
 and rendered our conversation free and unreserved. 
 Mr. R. told me that he was led to doubt the truth 
 of the Bible, because there were several things in it 
 which he could not reconcile with the ])erfections of 
 God, and other things which he could not under- 
 stand. I endeavored to remove his doubts, and be- 
 fore we parted he promised to call on me the next 
 day. Early on the next morning, which was the 
 Lord's day, he called on me, and we went both to 
 Iiear Mr. Jaenicke, who, in the course of his sermon, 
 pointed out the folly, guilt, and danger of those per- 
 sons who reject the Bible because it is above their 
 comprehension. My friend Rockenstein concluded, 
 from the discourse of Mr. Jaenicke, that I had told 
 him our yesterday's conversation, for which he re- 
 proved me. Having assured him that I had not 
 done so, but that Mr. Jaenicke was a man of much 
 prayer to God for the influence of the Holy Spirit 
 to be enabled to speak a word in season, Mr. R. 
 seemed to be satisfied. On the same day we went 
 together to Ri'lxsdorf, to hear a Moravian minister, 
 where, to the great surprise of my friend, the minis- 
 ter, Johannes Bellwitz, preached on the divinity of 
 our blessed Savior ; and, like Mr. .Jaenicke, with 
 holy zeal for the honor of Christ, and unfeigned 
 love for the souls of men, he warned every one of 
 his hearers not to reject any part of divine revelation, 
 ahhough it might exceed their comprehension. This 
 
48 
 
 sermon was greatly blessed to my friend Rocken- 
 stein, who afterwards attended regularly on the mi- 
 nistry of Mr. Jaenicke, walked according to the gos- 
 pel of Christ, and gave full evidence of his being a 
 Christian in deed and in truth. Soon after I had 
 come to London I received from him several edify- 
 ing and satisfactory letters, which lead me to con- 
 sider him as the first fruits of my weak and feeble 
 endeavors. 
 
 Christian reader, let this circumstance, as well as 
 the word spoken to me in the stage-coach, as men- 
 tioned in page 20, encourage you to embrace every 
 opportunity to reprove and exhort sinners, and to 
 recommend Jesus Christ and his glorious Gospel ; 
 for " a word spoken in season, how good it is !" 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MY DESIGN IN COMING TO ENGLAND. 
 
 Saturday, July 11th, 1801, 1 left Berlin, in com- 
 pany with Messrs. Palm and Ulbricht, for the pur- 
 pose of going to London to the Missionary Society, 
 and from thence to Africa, to join Dr. Vander Kemp 
 in missionary labors. We arrived at Hambingh on 
 the Monday following, and called on Mr. Vander 
 Smissen, who received us with Christian affection 
 and love. From Hamburgh we wei^t to Hatzhau- 
 sen in Friesland, to the Rev. Mr. Stracke, where 
 we met with a most cordial reception. At this place 
 we remained six weeks, to learn the Dutch lan- 
 guage. While staying with Mr. Stracke, we had 
 the privilege of preaching, in the surrounding vil- 
 lages, to most attentive congregations of from two 
 to four hundred people. We had also an opportunity 
 
frey's narrative. 49 
 
 of becoming acquainted with several most excellent^ 
 pious, and zealous ministers of the Gospel. 
 
 On the first of September the wind became favor- 
 able and we received orders to embark for England. 
 Three captains, friends to the cause of the Re- 
 deemer, offered each to take one of the missionaries 
 gratis. Early on the next day we took an affection- 
 ate leave of our friends, and went each to his re- 
 spective vessel, which lay at Emden. The separa- 
 tion from my two missionary brethren was not a 
 small trial. The hope of seeing them again a<- 
 London afforded some relief; but my greatest com- 
 fort and support was derived from sweet communion 
 with my blessed Savior, " who sticketh closer than 
 a brother." The first day, when on board the ship, 
 I was unwell ; but keeping much on deck, I soon re- 
 covered. The grandeur of the sea, which I had 
 never seen before, the rising of the sun, the sight of 
 an approaching ship, together with the kind treat- 
 ment of the captain, made the voyage seem very 
 short, and exceedingly pleasant. 
 
 On Tuesday, September 15th, we reached Graves- 
 end. At the Alien Office I was informed that the 
 brethren, Palm and Ulbricht, had just gone up to 
 London, and that I must wait at least two days until 
 I received a passport from London. I went to an 
 inn, but as I could not speak one word of English, 
 I knew not what to do. Whilst walking up and 
 down in the street, in great anxiety of mind, I met 
 with a poor German soldier, who could speak both 
 German and English ; him I took with me to the 
 inn to be my interpreter. In the afternoon I went 
 to the Rev. W. Kent, and dehvered a ^ew lines, 
 which the pilot on board the ship gave me, to inform 
 Mr. Kent who I was. Although I could not speak, 
 yet it was very encouraging to meet with a Chris 
 tian friend, especially as Mr. Kent was exceedinglv 
 
 5 
 
50 
 
 kind to me, and introduced me to several of fiis 
 friends. In the evening I was much depressed in 
 my mind, cast down, and fidl of fears ; but I was 
 enabled to pour out my heart before God in fervent 
 prayer, and retired with some confidence and trust 
 in Him who has said, *' My grace shall be sufficient 
 for thee." About two o'clock in the morning I had 
 a most remarkable dream, which I recorded in my 
 day-book as soon as I rose, and which has since 
 been literally fulfilled. The dream, as it stands in 
 my journal, introduced by an observation, and a 
 short prayer, is as follows :* 
 
 *' Observation. The design of my day-book is to 
 enable me, after many day?, to survey with gratj- 
 tude and praise all the ways in which the Lord has 
 led me ; especially to record, from day to day, as 
 much as possible, the imaginations of the thoughts 
 of my heart, whether good or evil. I consider it, 
 therefore, my duty to observe what passes in my 
 soul when my body is asleep, as well as when 
 awake ; and though I would not believe every dream 
 to be the immediate communication of God to the 
 soul, yet it cannot be denied that there have been 
 such dreams ; and none can affirm that there shall 
 be no such in our days. It is true, I know not 
 whether the present dream shall come to pass ; 
 however, like Mary, I will ponder all these things m 
 my heart, and preserve them in my journal. 
 
 * 1 am quite aware of the observation? to which I shall be 
 exposed from a certain description of readers and writers, by the. 
 insertion of dreams, and I mast acknoAviedge I have had some 
 refactance in doing so. Having, however, ample means ol 
 establishing its truths, and being moreover anxions to imitate 
 the sacrecT writers, by giving a full and faithful account ol 
 every circumstance relating to my public walk in Ii(e, and as 
 this dream itself had a close connection with my future destina- 
 tion, I have not felt myself at liberty to withhold it from the 
 public. 
 
PREY^S NARRATIVE. 51 
 
 *^ Prayer, Blessed Jesus ! ihoa hast saiH, 'Whoso 
 shall offend one of these little ones, which believe 
 m me, it were better for him that a mill-stone were 
 hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned 
 m the depth of the sea.' Matt. 18 : G. I beseech 
 thee, O Lord ! let not this dream give offence to any 
 who may hereafter read it. If it be thy will, let it 
 be accomplished ; but let me never be self-willed, or 
 obstinate, but may I ever be able to discern the 
 directions of thy wise and holy providence, and 
 cheerfully acquiesce in thy gracious will, whether it 
 be prosperous or adverse. Now, Lord, unto thee I 
 commit all my ways; do thou with me, a poor sin- 
 ner, as it seems gocd in thy sight, for thy name's 
 sake. Amen. 
 
 ^^ Dream. I read in a newspaper, that the two 
 brethren. Palm and Ulbricht, as well as myself, 
 were to preach in London ; that the Jews in par- 
 ticular were (in a most affectionate manner) invited 
 to the discourse which I was to deliver. The ap- 
 pointed day approached; an immense crowd col- 
 lected, and I was enabled to preach to them with 
 ^.^decit fjuedom, and to lift up my voice like a irum'pe.t. 
 i thought that the effect of this discourse was, that 
 i was afterward desired to stay in London, to preach 
 loth to Jews and Christians : to which I replied, 
 that I could not possibly part with my dear brethren. 
 Palm ajid Ulbricht, and let them go alone; but that 
 if the directors w^ould f»3nd for another missionary 
 to accompany those brethren, I would consent; and 
 with which the directors having complied, I resolved 
 iQ remain in England." 
 
 As soon as I awoke, I prayed to God for wisdom 
 Mnd grace to prepare me for his service, whether in 
 London, among Jews and Christians, or in Africa, 
 amongst the poor Hottentots. At five in the morn- 
 ing I went to meditate in the fields, and found great 
 
52 FREY S NARRATIVE. 
 
 comfort and encouragement in that gracious pro- 
 mise of our Savior, "I am with you always, even 
 unto the end of the world." Matt. 28 : 20. 'Having 
 received a passport, I went up to London. On my 
 arrival at the counting-house of Joseph Hardcastle, 
 Esq., the Treasurer of the Missionary Society, I 
 was directed to a house in Bishopsgate-street, where 
 I was to lodge. Here I expected to meet my dear 
 brethren, Palm and Ulbricht ; but as they had gone 
 on board their vessels to spend the night with their 
 captains, of which none in the house could inform 
 me, on account of the language, I was greatly dis- 
 appointed. The people observing the cause of my 
 distress, took me into the room where the brethren's 
 luggage was, the sight of which greatly revived my 
 spirits. In this house I remained until I went to 
 Gosport. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the people of the 
 house, behaved themselves exceedingly kind to us ; 
 they endeavored, in every possible way, to make us 
 comfortable ; they also took great pains to help us 
 forward in the knowledge of the English language. 
 The method which I adopted to learn English, was 
 to compare the English Bible with the German. In 
 the five months which [ stayed in London, I read 
 the Gospel of St. John, in English, four times over, 
 and compared every verse with the German Bible, 
 and sought for the meaning of every word in the 
 dictionary, by which means I could very soon under- 
 stand what was spoken, though I could not express 
 myself fluently till some time after I had left London. 
 On the first Sabbath of my being in London, I 
 went to Rotherhithe, to hear the Rev. John Town- 
 send. I was much pleased with the manner in which 
 the worship was performed ; but not being able to 
 understand the language, I went to the German 
 church at the Savoy, in the Strand, where, at that 
 time, the Rev. Mr. Ringeltaube, now a missionary 
 
frey's narrative. 53 
 
 m India, under the patronage of the Missionary Soci- 
 ety, preached. Soon aft^', tlie Rev. Charles Stein- 
 kopfFwas ordained in the same church, where I con- 
 tinued to hear him with great pleasure and edifica- 
 tion. As I was not ahlc to converse in English, and 
 having a great desire to promote the salvation of my 
 dear brethren of the house of Israel, I went fre- 
 quently to their synagogues, and to those parts of the 
 metropolis where they principally reside, to converse 
 with them in Hebrew, German, or Dutch. Very often 
 I returned to my abode weeping and lamenting over 
 the deplorable condition of these my dear brethren 
 •and kinsmen according to the flesh. Sometimes I said 
 to Mr. Smith, " Could I stay but one year in Lon- 
 don, I believe I should be able to preach to the Jews 
 in English, so as to make myself understood by them. 
 And Oh how happy I should be to declare unto them 
 the word of salvation, if ever so much exposed to 
 their hatred and persecution !" But although this 
 was my constant wish and earnest prayer to God, 
 yet, for some time, I had no hopes of obtaining my 
 desire, as we were daily in expectation of meeting 
 with a ship to go to the Cape of Good Hope, as as- 
 sistants to that venerable man of God, Dr. Vander 
 Kemp. But how mysterious are the ways of the 
 Lord! Five months elapsed without finding a single 
 vessel to take us to our destined haven. Both my 
 brethren. Palm and Ulbricht, as well as myself, 
 manifested impatience, and a readiness to murmur 
 against the dispensations of Divine Providence ; but 
 blessed be the name of the Lord, *' whose thoughts 
 are not as our thoughts, and whose ways are not as 
 our ways," with gratitude and praise I can now say, 
 '' He has done all things well." 
 
 Mr. Ringeltaube having one day read in my jour- 
 nal the dream which I had at Gravesend, as men- 
 tioned above, and having been told that I wished to 
 
 5* 
 
54 
 
 stay some time in London, to preach to my brethren 
 the Jews, advised me tc^rite a letter on the sub- 
 ject to Mr. Hardcastle, ^d promised that he would 
 translate it into English. Accordingly I wrote to 
 that purpose; in answer to which, I was desired to 
 draw up an account of my life, and to state fully, 
 in a letter to the directors, my request, together with 
 the motives which induced me to it. 
 
 tn compliance with their wish, I wrote a short 
 account of my narrative, (the substance of which 
 appeared in the Evangelical Magazine for January, 
 1806,) and sent a letter to the directors, which I 
 wrote in the German language, and of which the 
 following is a literal translation : 
 
 Rom. 9 : 1-3. "I say the truth in Christ, I lie 
 rot, my conscience also bearing me witness in the 
 I [oly Ghost, that I have great heaviness, and con- 
 ' inual sorrow in my heart. For I could (or rather, 
 I did*) wish that myself were accursed from Christ 
 for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 
 
 " Beloved brethren in our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 ihese, and similar words of the Apostle Paul, in 
 which he manifested his love to the Jews, and his 
 heartfelt sorrow on account of their unbelief, have 
 often raised in me so great a desire to go as a mis- 
 
 * Perhaps few passages of Scripture have "been more per- 
 verted to promote error than this. The apostle has been lield 
 np as a pattern of holy zeal, to have been willing to suffer 
 r.ternal damnation, if thereby souls could be saved. This 
 strange and unscriptural doctrine can certainly not be deduced 
 from This text. The Greek word evidently has the fast signifi- 
 cation, and refers to the icish and desire of the apostle before 
 his conversion, and was mentioned by him as a reason why he 
 felt so mucli pity and compassion for his unbelieving brethren. 
 A drunkard reclaimed will naturally feel more for a poor drunk- 
 ard in the street, than those who have always detested this worse 
 than beastly conduct. 
 
frey's narrative. 55 
 
 sionary amongst the Jews, as to overbalance all the 
 dangers which such a minion might expose me to. 
 Indeed, soon after I was truly awakened, I felt an 
 anxious wish, out of love to my dear Savior, who 
 gave himself for me unto the most painful and igno- 
 minious death, and out of love and compassion to 
 the ignorant amongst Christians, or amongst hea- 
 thens, to preach the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ, 
 that the Son of God has endured the greatest suffer- 
 ings, even unto the death of the cross, for poor, 
 accursed, helpless men ; yet it is also true, that as 
 often as I saw a Jew, one of my own brethren and 
 kinsmen according to the flesh, my whole heart was 
 stirred up within me; and my prayer to God was, 
 O that this poor lost sheep might find the right way 
 to the good Shepherd, who gave his life a ransom 
 for our souls. Whenever I found an opportunity to 
 speak to one of the descendants of Abraham, I told 
 him that the promised Messiah was already come, 
 not only as the son of David, but also as the Son of 
 God ; that he was made a curse for us when he suf- 
 fered and died on the cross to deliver us from the 
 curse of the law, but that the same person rose 
 again from the dead on the third day, according to 
 the Scripture prophecy ; that he ascended on high ; 
 and that in believing this, I enjoyed happiness that 
 could not be expressed. I also translated, at Ber- 
 lin, into German Hebrew, (i. e. German language in 
 Hebrew letterS;) three of Mr. Cooper's sermons 
 preached to the Jews in London, in expectation that 
 the Baron Van Shirnding would cause them to be 
 printed for the use of the Jews. I also translated 
 liUther's Shorter Catechism, and wrote several 
 things, which I frequently read to some of my dear 
 brethren, and often observed, that many of them 
 resisted the truth merely out of fear of men. On 
 the Sabbath I used to go to the synagogue, for the 
 
66 
 
 sake of having religious conversation with my deaj' 
 brethren. Two or three hundred would stand round 
 about me, to whom I spoke with the greatest bold- 
 ness respecting their unbelief and misery, and de- 
 clared to them the suitable, free, and full salvation 
 by Jesus Christ ; and assured them of his wonder- 
 ful love to |)oor sinners, yea, even to the chief of 
 sinners. Some brought forward objections against 
 Christianity, but, through grace, I was enabled, 
 from the writings of the Old Testament, to defend 
 myself. Although 1 have not yet seen any fruit of 
 those labors, yet I know and believe that the doc- 
 trine of the cross will produce its effects in due 
 season. 
 
 " The reasons, therefore, my dearly beloved bre- 
 thren, why I believe that my blessed Savior will 
 count me worthy, if not here, yet somewhere else, 
 and if not now, yet at some future time, to make 
 known his blessed Gospel to my brethren and sis- 
 ters, are these : 
 
 *' First — The inexpressible and irresistible wish 
 and desire which I feel to point out, through the 
 grace and assistance of Him whose strength is made 
 perfect in our weakness, to the poor and w^andering 
 Jews, the way to obtain eternal life. 
 
 *' Secondly — It is well known that a Jew w^ho hag 
 embraced the Christian religion, is generally looked 
 upon by his ovv^n nation with the greatest contempt 
 and reproach, yea, even persecuted as much as lies 
 in their power ; yet, to my great surprise, I have 
 been received, by many Jews in Berlin, with friend- 
 ship and respect. Twice T had religious conversa- 
 tion with the presiding Rabbi himself; and here, in 
 London, I have dined with some, at whose table I 
 have not been ashamed nor afraid to confess Jesus 
 of Nazareth to be the true Messiah ; and not a few 
 
frey's narrative. 57 
 
 have already visited me at my apartments, for the 
 sake of having religious conversation. 
 
 " Tliirdly — I have observed that my brethren will 
 rather listen to what I say, than to what they hear 
 advanced by a Christian ; and that they would open, 
 with freedom and confidence, their mind to me, 
 which they would never do to one who was born a 
 Christian. 
 
 '' The last reason which I assign for my wish is : 
 
 " Fourthly — That I humbly hope Tam acquainted 
 with their peculiar dispositions and conduct; that I 
 know their religious sentiments ; and that I shall be 
 enabled, through the grace of my blessed Savior, to 
 become all things to all men, that I may by all means 
 save some, especially of those of my own nation, 
 whom I love with love unfeigned and inexpressible. 
 
 *' It is, therefore, my dearly beloved brethren, my 
 humble wish to remain, if but one year, in London, 
 to try, if possible, to save if but one soul from the 
 power of Satan, and lead them to the good Shepherd 
 who gave his life for the sheep, <fec. But Jesus is 
 my Lord and Savior, who has bought me on the cross 
 with hie pi-Qoioii* Llnojl ; to liim I g"ivp mysclf again 
 in body and soul, to be directed in this important ob- 
 ject. He who is infinite in wisdom, knows best what 
 is good for me, a poor worm. He is perfectly ac- 
 quainted with the hearts of men, and turns them as 
 he does the rivers of water. The desires and mo- 
 tives of my heart are better known to him than to 
 myself; and he will no doubt lead and rule, accord- 
 ing to his holy will, the hearts of my dearly beloved 
 brethren and directors. 
 
 " I am your willing servant, 
 
 "C. F. Frey. 
 
 **Londcn, Nov. 24, ISO I." 
 
 After I had sent this letter to the directors, I at- 
 
58 
 
 tended several of their meetings, to answer various 
 questions relative to a mission amongst the Jews ; 
 and on the 21st of December I received the impor- 
 tant intelligence, that " the directors had resolved 
 that I should stay at least one year in England." 
 The workings produced in my mind, on the receipt 
 of this message, were very opposite, and continued 
 so for several weeks. The idea of preaching the 
 word of salvation to my dear brethren, and the hope 
 of rescuing some from everlasting destruction, filled 
 my heart with unspeakable joy and pleasure ; but a 
 consciousness of my utter unfitness for so great and 
 arduous an undertaking overwhelmed my mind with 
 inexpressible sorrow and grief, and would have led 
 me to despair, had it not been for that gracious pro- 
 mise, " as thy day is, so shall thy strength be." The 
 following passages of Scripture likewise greatly en- 
 couraged my heart : 2 Chron, 34 : 3, " In the eighth 
 year of his reign, (i. e. Josiah,) while he was yet 
 young, he began to seek after the God of David his 
 father : and in the twelfth yersi' he began to purge 
 Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the 
 
 grovell, anrl tbo onrvPfl imngoo, aiicl tho molten ima- 
 ges." 2 Cor. 5:7," We walk by iiiith, and not by 
 sight." The change respecting myself affected like- 
 wise the brethren. Palm and IJlbricht. Instead of 
 going directly to the Cape, they were both sent to 
 Kotterdam, where they stayed for some time ; and 
 afterwards several brethren, from the Missionary 
 Seminary at Berlin, joined them. 
 
 Thus I have showed the circumstances which led 
 to a change in the design of my coming to England, 
 and the fulfillment of a great part of the dream which 
 J had at Gravesend. 
 
 The reader will, no doubt, now expect to hear 
 how I entered upon this new and most important 
 part of my life, and what success has followed my 
 
frey's narrative. 59 
 
 labors amongst the Jews ; but I must beg the read- 
 er's patience, and call his attention to the gracious 
 deaHngs of God with me for the space of three years 
 and a half, viz. from the time it was resolved that I 
 should stay in England, to the time of my actually 
 entering upon the field of labor. As I knew nothing 
 of the English language, and as preaching to the Jews 
 requires souie particular j)reparatory studies, the di- 
 rectors resolved that I should go to Gosport, to their 
 Missionary Seminary. Accordingly, on the 28th of 
 February, 1802, I left London and went to Gosport. 
 For ever blessed be the Lord, who in his wise pro- 
 vidence sent me to that place, to be under the tuition 
 of a man like the Rev. David Bogue. Would to God 
 I had words to express the high esteem which I feel 
 for this my dear tutor, and the great obligations un- 
 der which I am to him for the inestimable benefits 
 which I derived, and do daily receive, from his most 
 excellent lectures on various subjects ; from his wise, 
 prudent, and most judicious advice ; and from his 
 exemplary conduct, both as a Christian and as a 
 minister. 
 
 The fust thing I had to attend to in the seminary, 
 was the knowledge of the English language. I had 
 also to iearn the Latin and Greek languages. By 
 the desire of my tutor, I gave the students instruc- 
 tion in Hebrew ; but the extreme difficulty of ob- 
 taining a suitable Hebrew grammar, led me to com- 
 pose a new one, several editions of which have been 
 published in London and in this country. 
 
 A few v/eeks after I had been at Gosport. I en- 
 gaged for the first time in prayer, in the seminary, 
 in the English language. Toward the close of 
 March I was invited by the Rev. Mr. Cox, of Fare- 
 ham, to spend the first Sabbath in April at his 
 house, and to partake of the Lord's Supper at his 
 place of worship. I accepted of his invitation. On 
 
60 frey's narrative. 
 
 the preceding Lord's day I had a peculiar desire to 
 prepare a few words in English, and to deliver them 
 on the next Sabbath, before the minister to whom I 
 vi^as to pay a visit. I chose the 5th verse in tlie 17th 
 chapter of the Gospel by St. Matthew : "While he 
 yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadow^ed 
 them : and, behold, a voice out of the cloud, which 
 said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well 
 pleased ; hear ye him." On these words I wrote a 
 few thoughts in the German language, and translat- 
 ed them, by the help of a dictionary, into English. 
 According to my promise, I went to Fareham, to 
 the minister; and early on the Lord's day, a num- 
 ber of people having met together in the vestry, I 
 engaged in prayer, and then read what I had writ- 
 ten on the above-mentioned passage of Scripture. 
 Never in my life have I witnessed a scene like that 
 morning ; tears, like streams of water, flowed from 
 every eye, and the people blessed and praised God 
 for what they saw with their eyes, heard with their 
 ears, and felt in their hearts. I have since been in- 
 formed that the Lord was pleased to bless those 
 few imperfect sentences in broken English to two 
 persons, especially to one who disbelieved the divi- 
 nity of our blessed Savior. This circumstance I 
 considered then as a proof that it was the will of 
 God that I should stay in England ; and I looked 
 upon those two who received the word with profit, 
 as my first fruits, on British ground, of a plentiful 
 harvest. 
 
 t" In the same month I went to an association at 
 Christ Church, where, for the first time, I ascended 
 an English pulpit to engage in prayer; and in the 
 following May I went up to London, to the Mission- 
 ary meeting, when the Rev. Rowland Hill introduc- 
 ed^me into his pulpit for the like purpose. The feel- 
 ings of my mind at the sight of such an immense 
 
frey's narrative. 61 
 
 congregation, and on account of my imperfect know- 
 ledge of the language, cannot be described. O that 
 I could sufficiently praise the Lord for his wonder- 
 ful goodness and mercy to me a poor sinner. 
 
 Whilst I was at Gosport, I made it a common 
 practice, on a Saturday, to go over to Portsca, where 
 many Jews live, to have religious conversation with 
 them. One time I was met by a Jew constable, who 
 asked me for my license as a foreigner. I replied 
 that I had a license at Gosport, but had not thought 
 it necessary to take it with me whenever I crossed 
 the water, as it was well known to several Chris- 
 tians at Portsea, that I belonged to the Missionary 
 Seminary, under the care of the Rev. D. Bogue. 
 However, he would not be satisfied with this, but 
 took me to the Mayor's house, who not being at 
 home, I was led by the constable directly to Ports- 
 mouth jail. Being late in the evening, I was put 
 into a room where two other prisoners were. Before 
 I laid myself to rest, having told the prisoners the 
 cause of my imprisonment, I prayed to God, and 
 was enabled to pray particularly, in a most affec- 
 tionate manner, for my brother Jew, who had im- 
 prisoned me. This was the first time I had ever 
 slept in a prison ; but I can assure the reader that 
 I never enjoyed a more comfortable, sweet, and re- 
 freshing sleep than I had that night ; for I had not 
 only the testimony of iny conscience to be void of 
 ofl^ence towards God and towards men, but I could 
 not help thinking that I suffered, in a great measure, 
 on account of my religious profession. In the morn- 
 ing, when the prisoners met in the yard, as usual, 
 they said one to another, " There is a wonderful 
 man come amongst us; we curse oiu- enemies, but 
 he prays for them ; nay, he even prayed last night 
 
 for Mr. , who brought him into the jail." When 
 
 I came into the yard, a poor old woman invited me 
 
 6 
 
62 FREY's NARilATIVlS* 
 
 to breakfast with heiv As 1 had neither gold no? 
 silver with me, I accepted thankfully of her kind 
 offer. After breakfast, I said to some of the prison- 
 ers, "I am sorry that we are deprived (being Sab- 
 bath day) of the privilege of going to a place of 
 worship; if you have no objection, we will sing a 
 hymn, and read a chapter in the Bible." Having 
 obtained their consent, I took Dr. Watts' Psalms 
 and Hymns, and on opening the book, the following 
 hymn was the first that presented itself: 
 
 "M}:- God, my life, my love, 
 
 "To thee, to thee f call; 
 *^I cannot live if thou remove^ 
 
 "For thou art all in alL 
 
 " Thy shining grace can cheer 
 
 "Tills dungeon where I dwell -^ 
 « 'Tis 'paradise iitliou art here, 
 "If thou departj \\s hell.'' 
 
 B. n, Hymn 9^. 
 
 Having, like Paul and Silas, sung praises to God^ 
 I also engaged in prayer ; after that I read the 26th 
 and 27th chapters in the Gospel of St. Matthew, 
 made a few observations on the sufferings of our 
 blessed Savior, and on the conduct of the Jews; 
 where I took occasion to inform them that I had 
 been a Jew myself, but had embraced the Christian 
 religion ; on which account I was hated by my breth- 
 ren the Jews, and which was. perhaps, the real cause 
 of my imprisonment. But to show that Christ did 
 not only die for our offences, but also rose again for 
 our justification, I read also the 28th chapter of the 
 same gospel, and concluded with a short prayer. 
 "Whilst thus engaged, the Jew constable came to the 
 jail, and desired the jailer to call me into the house, 
 as he wished to put some questions to me, with a 
 design to lay my case before the Mayor. The 
 
 ¥ 
 
63 
 
 jailer, though at that time no frierid to religion, re- 
 fused, saying, ** I dare not interrupt him, for he is 
 preaching to the people." Two Jews, who knew 
 that I frequented tlie house of Mr. Brooks, went to 
 him, on the same evening that I was brought to jail, 
 and informed him of my imprisonment. Mr. B. im- 
 mediately sent word to Mr. Bogue, and, before one 
 o'clock on the Lord's day, 1 was liberated. Several 
 of the poor prisoners wept, and desired me to stay 
 with them that afternoon, that they might hear more 
 of Jesus Christ. I promised that I would pay them 
 a visit. Not long after, when I performed this pro- 
 mise, I obtained liberty to preach to the prisoners 
 every Lord's day, which I did for two years after ; 
 but when I had sufficient knowledge of the language 
 to preach in regular congregations, the jail was sup- 
 plied by one of the students for many years after. 
 I have reason to believe that the v/ord has been 
 blessed to the jailer himself; nor will it have been in 
 vain amongst the prisoners. The same person who 
 put me into the jail, ever afterwards treated me with 
 the greatest respect, and frequently heard me preach. 
 Thus *' the Lord niaketh the wrath of men to praise 
 liim, and the remainder thereof he does restrain." 
 In May, 1802, I went again to London, to the 
 missionary meeting; and, on the Sabbath after, I 
 preached my first sermon to the Jews, at Zion 
 chapel, from Gen, 13 : 8, " And Abram said unto 
 Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between 
 thee and me ; and between my herdmen and thy 
 herdmen ; for we are brethren." The place, though 
 immensely large, yet was exceedingly crowded, and 
 a great number of my dear brethren, the Jews, 
 attended. The Lord graciously assisted me, both 
 in body and mind, to speak to so large a congrega- 
 tion with great freedom and affection. This I con- 
 sider as the complete fulfillment of the dream which 
 
64 frey's narrative. 
 
 I had at Gravesend. In the same month I returned 
 a^ain to Gosport, and remained there till May, 
 1805, when, by the desire of the directors of the 
 Missionary Society, I left their seminary to begin 
 my regular labors amongst my dear brethren in 
 London. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 LABORS UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE MIS- 
 SIONARY SOCIETY. 
 
 The first sermon which I preached when I came 
 to reside in London, was at the Tabernacle, on the 
 Saturday evening after the missionary jneeting. 
 As there was no stated place of worship provided 
 for me, I preached for different ministers, both on 
 the week days and on the Sabbath. Several Jews 
 attended, whenever and wherever I preached in 
 London, or its viciiaity. Almost every day I had 
 one or more Jews calling on me, but scarcely ever 
 one who would enter upon religious conversation, 
 argument atwdy or experimentally. I was introduced 
 to two Jewesses who had embraced the Christian 
 religion ; the one a member of the Baptist church, 
 Walworth, under the pastoral care of Dr. Jenkins, 
 and the other was convinced under the ministry of 
 the Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, of the haberdashers' alms- 
 houses, but which last has since become a member 
 of the same church, at Walworth. With these two 
 Jewesses, together with three Christians, I began a 
 prayer-meeting, at my own apartments, on the 8th 
 of June, 1805, and continued the same every Fri- 
 day evening. Our number soon increased, so that 
 the place was not large enough; yet we continued 
 to m.eet for a whole year, and then removed the 
 
^REIT's NARftATIVfi. 65 
 
 pfayer-meeting to Zion chapel. At this meeting 
 we had frequently a few Jev/s attending". The 
 prayers then oiFered up may yet bring down gra- 
 cious answers. With pleasure I do still recollect 
 the happy and profitable hours we spent together 
 in prayer and praise. " O how good and pleasant 
 it is for brethren to dwell together in unity !" Fre- 
 quently we experienced that "where two or three 
 ^re met together in the name of Jesus, there he is 
 in the midst of them, and that to bless them." 
 
 At a meeting of the directors, June 17th, 1805, 
 it was resolved that I should preach a weekly lecture 
 to the Jews. This lecture I commenced on vSatur- 
 day evening, July 6th, 1805, at the Rev. Mr. Ball's 
 chapel, Jewry-street, Aidgate, and continued there 
 for twelve months, when it was removed to Zion 
 chapel; but, after a year, it was preacl cJ again at 
 the former chapel. Among the many ministers 
 who attended was the late Rev. John Newton, who 
 was so affected that he wept like a child. My 
 preaching to the Jews, however, was frequently in- 
 terrupted by my being sent to different parts of the 
 kingdom to preach and collect for the Missionary 
 Society ; perhaps no less than three months out of 
 twelve. At first a great number of Jews attended 
 on these lectures; but they were soon prohibited in 
 the synagogue, threatened, watched, and actually 
 punished ; which was, no doubt, one great cause of 
 their absenting themselves: however, there were 
 always some who attended with apparent serious- 
 ness. The lectures preached from the beginnino- 
 of the institution till the month of November, in 
 the same year, were remarkably blest. Three of 
 my dear people, who regularly attended those lec- 
 tures, were publicly baptized in Scyptember, 1806, 
 two in Zion chapel, and one at Hoxton chapel, a 
 short account of which appeared in the Evangelical 
 6* 
 
66 
 
 Magazine for October, 1806. The latter of these 
 is now my dear partner in life, as well as my sister 
 according to the flesh, and my child in the Gospel. 
 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has thus 
 united us in "a threefold cord, which cannot easily 
 be bioken." There were also three other Jews who 
 attended- at the same time, and gave full evidence of 
 thtir conversion to God. Nor have these lectures 
 been without a blessing to Christians; I could men- 
 tion several persons who bless God that they ever 
 attended that place of worship, although their mo- 
 tive, originally, was merely curiosity. But I must 
 forbear pursuing this subject, lest it should become 
 fuel to the natural pride of my own heart. How- 
 ever, to the glory and praise of free, sovereign, and 
 all-sufficient grace, I must not pass over the follow- 
 ing pleasing and singular circumstance : — A most 
 respectable person of the Society of Friends, who 
 for many years refused to accompany his wife to any 
 place of worshij^, except to those of his own com- 
 munity, whose business then brought him to Lon- 
 don, was one day prevailed upon, by one of his own 
 denomination, to go and hear the Jew preach to his 
 brethren ; when the word of the Lord, though spoken 
 by a weak and feeble instrument, came home with 
 power to his heart, and accomplished the design for 
 which He sent it. He afterwards attended the lec- 
 tures regularly, and at different places of worship, on 
 the Lord's day. At his return to his family in the 
 north of England, he carried with him the blessed 
 effects of the glorious Gospel of the Son of God. 
 This gentleman had laid hiinself out to promote the 
 glory of the Redeemer in the welfare of Zion, and 
 was chosen one of the directors of the Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 I now return to mention how the mission went on 
 among my dear brethren. It has already been ob- 
 
67 
 
 served that the number cf Jews who attended the 
 lectures decreased, yet some continued. Several of 
 these applied to the Missionary Society for protec- 
 tion and support. Here great difficulties arose, 
 which appeared insurniountabh'. To find employ- 
 ment for Jews amongst Christians seemed impossi- 
 ble ; to support them in idleness would be most 
 injurious, as it would be a sure means of making 
 hypocrites, instead of industrious and honest men ; 
 yet, to suffer them to starve, would indeed be cruel. 
 Humanity, therefore, directed to give them a trifle, 
 from time to time, in hope of soon finding them 
 employment. Every application of the Jews pro- 
 duced opposite sensations in my mind : whilst, on 
 the one hand, I rejoiced whenever one of my dear 
 brethren called on me ; on the other hand, my heart 
 was overwhelmed with grief on account of the 
 above-mentioned difficulties. Having stated these 
 circumstances to a friend of mine, who was not in 
 connexion with the Missionary Society, he, together 
 with some others, proposed, that if the directors 
 would devote a sum of money to the amount of one 
 thousand pounds, some kind of a work-house, or 
 small manufactory, might be established, where 
 many Jews, of both sexes and different ages, might 
 be employed. Accordingly I mentioned this plan 
 at a meeting of the directors ; but it was thought 
 proper not to adopt it. The original plan was pur- 
 sued for some months longer ; but difficulties in- 
 creased and multiplied. Difference of opinion arose 
 among the directors. Some objected (I am fully 
 confident, from the best of motives) against support- 
 ing Jews from the fimds of the society; whilst 
 others objected against spending so much precious 
 time, almost at every meeting, in behalf of the mis- 
 sion to the Jews, without making scarcely any pro- 
 gress, and whilst much business relative to the hea- 
 
68 IFREY's NARRATiVEk 
 
 then must be neglected. To remove these objec^ 
 tions a committee was appointed, called the Jewish 
 Committee, to manage the affairs of the Jewish mis- 
 sion, and report their proceedings to the Board of Di- 
 rectors ; and a resolution was passed, the substance 
 of which, as far as I can recollect, was as follows: 
 *' That no Jew should be relieved from the funds of 
 the society, except those who lost their bread by 
 embracing Christianity, or gave proof of the sin- 
 cerity of their profession." But these remedies 
 were very soon found inadequate to the disease. 
 The very nature of the thing made it impossible to 
 find out whether the assertion of one who said, that 
 on account of his attending my ministry he had 
 lost his situation amongst the Jews, was true or not. 
 That a Jew, who is found to be favorable to Chris- 
 tianity, would be dismissed by his Jewish employer, 
 or lose his bread among his brethren, on that ac 
 count, is too notorious to need any proof; and who- 
 ever is acquainted with the principles of the Tal- 
 mudists, will not be surprised to find that a Jew 
 should assign any other reason for his conduct in 
 dismissing one of his brethren for embracing Chris- 
 tianity, rather than avow the true one; nor could 
 the story of the person himself be credited till his 
 conduct among Christians had proved the sincerity 
 of his profession. But here again arose the diffi- 
 culty, " By what means the poor individual should 
 be supported until his character vvas established.'*" 
 No Christian would employ such a person till he 
 knew that he was trust-worthy. A house of refuge 
 and industry was not yet found, and the resolution 
 of the directors, just referred to, had made no pro- 
 vision for such a person till he had been found a 
 just object of the patronage of the Missionary So- 
 ciety. But what shall the poor petitioner do in the 
 mean time? Shall he go back to his former connec- 
 
69 
 
 tion ? Alas ! some have done so ; but, adored and 
 praised be the Lord, who has enabled some to en- 
 dure hardships, and to persevere to the present day. 
 But how have they been supported ? Why, to tell 
 the ichole truth, the directors themselves, out of 
 humaniry, and sincere wishes to promote the object 
 they had in view, and rather than break the resolu- 
 tion, and thereby give offence to those who consi- 
 dered the society's funds too sacred to be violated, 
 put their hands into their own pockets to keep those 
 unhappy objects from starving, who had no other 
 source to supply their absolute wants. In many 
 cases I assisted several of my poor brethren, with- 
 out burdening the Missionary Society ; for which 
 purpose [ had received some small donations from 
 a few individuals in the country. 
 
 However, it was often absolutely necessary to dis- 
 pense with that resolution till the time that employ- 
 ment should be found ; but, to the best of my recol- 
 lection, I can remember only two instances in which 
 the society has been relieved from supporting their 
 pensioners, by getting employment for them among 
 Christians. The appointment of a sub-committee, 
 though a good and wise plan, was almost as insuffi- 
 cient a remedy as the fore-mentioned resolution. 
 Notwithstanding their frequent meetings, wise con- 
 sultations, and earnest desires to promote the objects 
 of the mission, their hopes have been frequently 
 disappointed, their hands weakened, and their hearts 
 discouraged ; for whenever a new plan was laid be- 
 fore the Board of Directors, or the periodical report 
 was read, the old question was renewed, " Whetiier 
 any of the society's funds could be applied in a tem- 
 poral relief of Jews, to encourage them in attend- 
 ing on the means of grace, or j)arcnts to send their 
 children to school ?" The frequent discussion of this 
 principle, and the different opinions that prevailed 
 
TO frey's narrative. 
 
 on the subject, led to a resolution that Mr. Alers, 
 one of the directors, should be requested to draw 
 up a plan to remove these different objections and 
 difficulties. Accordingly a inost judicious plan was 
 laid before the directors by that gentleman, the sub- 
 stance of which was, *' That a number of the direc- 
 tors should be chosen to carry on the Jewish mis- 
 sion, as a distinct branch of the Missionary Society. 
 That tliese directors should be at liberty to unite 
 with them a certain number of persons of different 
 denominations. That a certain sum per annum, 
 out of the missionaries' funds, should be allowed by 
 the directors ; and that the public should be asked 
 for donations, subscriptions, and collections, to in- 
 crease the new fund. That one of the sermons of 
 the annual meeting should be preached in behalf of 
 the Jews, <fec. <fec. This plan, as it might have 
 been expected, met with the approbation of several 
 of the directors ; but as this approbation was not 
 general, the plan was laid aside, and a whole year 
 elapsed before any other was proposed.* 
 
 At the opening of this school, or within a few 
 months after, twelve or thirteen children were re- 
 ceived. This charitable institution greatly alarmed 
 the heads of the Jewish people, and led the Rev. 
 Dr. Herschel, the presiding Rabbi, to preach against 
 it in the synagogue, and to warn Jews against it, by 
 sending circular letters throughout the kingdom. 
 
 Abstract of the second exhortation delivered by 
 
 * Having become acquriinted with a very interesting Jewish 
 family, desirous to have tlTcir children inetrncted in the princi- 
 ples of the Christian religion, I took three of them, two boys and 
 a girl, into the family wheie I lodged, and paid for their board 
 and instructed them daily. The circumstance led to timilar 
 applications from other Jews, but it not being in my power to 
 receive more upon my own expense, the Society established a 
 Pr.ee School, in January, 1807. 
 
frey's narrative. 7i 
 
 the Rev. Solomon Herschel, at the great synagogucy 
 Duke's Place, on Saturday, January 10th, A. M» 
 55G7. After a discourse on Jeremiah, 11 : 18, 19 
 —"Blessed be the Lord our God, and the God of 
 our forefathers, one sole, and indivisible, from eter- 
 nity to eternity ! who has not withheld his grace 
 from us since we have been his chosen people, and 
 who has not suffered any thing to escape our vigi- 
 lance over the conservation of our holy religion. As 
 I have had occasion to exercise, on the last holy 
 Sabbath, to forewarn every one of our nation not 
 to send any of their children to the newly establish- 
 ed free-school, instituted by a society of persons who 
 are not of our religion, until we had, by a proper 
 investigation, determined if it be completely free 
 from any possible harm to the welfare of our reli- 
 gion, as hath also been fully stated in a printed ab- 
 stract published for that purpose, and which, I am 
 happy to understand, has had a proper and good 
 effect : now, having since been wholly convinced, 
 through the means of a printed sermon and address, 
 published by the directors of the Missionary Socie 
 ty, viz. that the whole purpose of this seeming kind 
 exertion is but an inviting snare, a decoying experi- 
 ment, to undermine the props of our religion ; and 
 the sole intent of this institution is, at bottom, only 
 to entice innocent Jewish children, during their ear- 
 ly and unsuspecting years, from the observance of 
 the law of Moses, and to eradicate the religion of 
 their fathers and forefathers — on this account I feel 
 myself necessitated to caution the congregation, in 
 general, that no one do send, or allow to be sent, any 
 child, whether male or female, to this or any such 
 school established by strangers to our religion, nor 
 likewise to any Sunday school of that nature. 
 
 "All such persons, therefore, who shall act con- 
 trary to this prohibition, whether male or female. 
 
72 FREY S NARRATIVE, 
 
 will be considered as if they had themselves forsaken 
 their religion, and been baptized; and shall lose all 
 title to the name of Jews, and forfeit all claims on 
 the consTreiration, both in life and deatli. Every one 
 who feareth God is hereby reminded of his duty to 
 warn every one who may be ignorant of these cir- 
 cumstances, and acquaint him thereof, that he may 
 escape the snare laid to entangle him. Thus may 
 we hope to see the days when the name of the only 
 God will be hallowed, and the Lord will be one, and 
 his name one." 
 
 This opposition of the Jews, alas ! had its desired 
 effect. For two full years after the opening of the 
 free school, notwithstanding the pious and zealous 
 exertions of a most respectable committee of ladies, 
 not one child was added to the original number. 
 
 The state of my mind, under these discouraging 
 circumstances, may be better conceived than de- 
 scribed. However, an anxious desire to promote 
 the welfare of my dear brethren, and the hope that 
 some alteration would soon be made in the plan of 
 carrying on the mission to the Jews, enabled me to 
 ersevere in the work in which I liad engaged.* 
 On the 13th of August, 1807, a resolution was 
 passed by the Jewish committee, " That I should be 
 at liberty to unite with me some gentlemen, to have 
 conversation with those Jews who made application, 
 to inquire into their character, to find employment 
 
 * The establishment of this school, however, has baen a 
 means of meliorating the condition of many of my distressed 
 brethren. F'or, to prevent Jews from applying to our society 
 for assistance, they themselves erected an institution by the 
 name of Neve Fedeck, to receive af^ed men and women, 
 and to educate children of both sexes. This iiis'.itution has 
 already been of great use in furnishing instruction to the ri- 
 sing generation, and making them industrious members in 
 society. 
 
73 
 
 tor them, and to report their proceedings from time 
 to time to the Jewish committee/* 
 
 According to this resolution, 1 endeavored to get a 
 few pious Christians to unite with me ; and we met 
 at my house for the first time on the 2d of Septem- 
 ber, 1807. The gentlemen belonging to this com- 
 mittee were Messrs. Heme, Kemp, Longton, Neale, 
 Reed, and Walker, together with Mr. Newth, the 
 master of the free-school, and myself. This was de- 
 nominated an Auxiliary Committee, and which I 
 considered of great importance, and expected that 
 the mission would be much benefited by the humble 
 and zealous exertions of those who composed it. 
 But alas ! its existence was but of short duration ; 
 for at each meeting we became more and more con- 
 vinced of the necessity of some change in the plan 
 of carrying on the Jewish mission. 
 
 In the beginning of September I received a let- 
 ter from a minister in the country, in which he 
 says : — 
 
 " My dear Brother,, 
 
 *' I beg to remind you of the case of Mr. S., 
 whom you saw when here, and to whom you spoke 
 about setting his children into the school estab- 
 lished for the children of the Jews," &c. &c. 
 
 I wrote immediately to know particulars about 
 Mr. S., and to ask whether he was willing to place 
 his children wholly under the patronage of the Mis- 
 sionary Society. 
 
 To this T received the following answer : — 
 
 " My dear Sir, 
 
 "I have just had an interview with Mr. S., and 
 therefore can now inform you of the result of it. 
 
 7 
 
74 frey's narrativk. 
 
 With respect to his circumstances, he has a wife and 
 six children, (all small,) and his wife frequently un- 
 well. He is very poor indeed, and finds it difficult 
 to procure for his family the bare necessaries of life- 
 His eldest daughter is a cripple, and never likely to 
 do any thing towards getting a livelihood. I hardly 
 know a more necessitous family than Mr. S.'s. He 
 has two boys whom he would be very glad to place 
 under the care of the Missionary Society; and he 
 is willing to comply with your proposal. His wife 
 was not a Jewess, but educated in the profession of 
 the Christian religion ; and his children have been 
 all publicly baptized at the parish church. He can- 
 not write, nor even read English. As he is abso- 
 lutely incapable of supporting his children from 
 home, I heartily wish there were an institution for 
 boarding and educating such children gratis. Doubt- 
 less this would be of essential service to their best 
 interests. I think that Charity might exert herself 
 to great advantage here. No doubt there are many 
 Jews in England, in similar situations with that of 
 Mr. S.; and it is likely that the prejudices of some 
 of them would yield to such inducement. Their 
 difficulties in the way of embracing Christianity are 
 many and great ; but still, instead of discouraging, 
 ou'i-ht to excite us to every measure which may have 
 the least tendency to remove these difficulties. If 
 such an institution should succeed in drawing to- 
 gether many Jewish children to receive instruction, 
 a most important object would be obtained ; if but 
 few should be collected thereby, the expense would 
 be proportionably less ; and that some would be sent 
 by their parents, I have Mr. S.'s promise and wish 
 as a proof," &c. &c. 
 
 These letters I read, first to the auxiliary commit- 
 tee, and then laid them before the Jewish commit 
 
prey's narrative. 75 
 
 tee ; but no decisive answer was given on the subject 
 till some months after, which I shall insert in its pro- 
 per place. 
 
 On the 7th of October it was resolved, by the 
 auxiliary committee, " that several of its members 
 should deliver their judgment at the next meeting, 
 on the following three questions, for the purpose of 
 submitting a plan to the .Jewish committee. 
 
 ** First — The practicability of establishing a board- 
 ing school for the Jewish children, including a school 
 of industry. 
 
 " Secondly — The best means of providing em- 
 ployment for the destitute, if a manufactory of any 
 sort could be established. 
 
 '* Thirdly — The expediency of procuring a place 
 of worship for Mr. Frey, in order to raise a 
 church." 
 
 On the 14th of October three papers Were read, 
 relative to the preceding resolutions, which I take 
 leave to insert, that the reader may see the opinions 
 of different persons on the subject, respecting the 
 best method of carrying on a mission among the 
 Jews. 
 
 MR. NE ale's plan. 
 
 *' With respect to the first subject of considera- 
 tion, the committee beg leave to suggest the inade- 
 quacy of the present plan to the accomplishment of 
 the object proposed. It is evidently not intended for 
 the rich, nor can it be supposed that they would 
 avail themselves of it, when they have in their own 
 hands the means of educating their children in a 
 way so much more agreeable to their views. It is 
 to the children of the poor, then, that our attention 
 must be directed, as the appropriate objects of this 
 institution ; but here insuperable obstacles present 
 
76 
 
 themselves. The Jewish poor have no sense of the 
 importance of religious instruction, and very little 
 idea of the value of instruction at all. They have, 
 besides, the opportunity of finding employment for 
 their children while yet young, and can ill afford to 
 spare those earnings, every portion of which is so 
 greatly needed for the maintenance of their families. 
 They would, moreover, hy this step, not only deprive 
 themselves of present benefit, but also of the pros- 
 pect of future advantage, by incurring the displea- 
 sure of their richer brethren, to whom they must 
 look for relief in time of distress. To these obsta- 
 cles may be added, that which is common to all day- 
 schools, the distance at which many reside from the 
 place of instruction. 
 
 " All these difficulties may be obviated by the es- 
 tablishment of a Jewish boarding-school, which, be- 
 sides other advantages, would, by detaching children 
 from their former connections, prevent that danger 
 to which most of them would otherwise be exposed, 
 of having the principles inculcated at school efifec- 
 tually counteracted by the conversation and exam- 
 ple of their parents and others at home. The loss 
 of their earnings would here be more than compen- 
 sated by their board, &c. ; and if to the school of 
 instruction was added a school for industry, where 
 each might learn a trade, whereby to support himself 
 with comfort and credit when he went into the 
 world, it would furnish parents with a powerful mo- 
 tive for placing their cliildren in such a situation. 
 The indifference which they universally manifest to 
 all religious principles would rather operate in favor 
 of an institution of this sort, by lessening the objec- 
 tion they might otherwise feel to have their children 
 educated in the principles of the Christian religion. 
 Enough has been said, we presume, to show the de- 
 sirableness of such an institution ; its practicability 
 
^REV'S NARRATIVE. 77 
 
 aKone remains to be considered ; and here we hope 
 that the difficulty will not be found so great in 
 reality as in appearance. It may be best to begin 
 on a small scale, and afterwards enlarge as circum- 
 stances shall render it necessary. The Philanthropic 
 Society, which affords a very good model for this, 
 though now conducted on such an extensive plan, was 
 at first begun with only one or two children. With 
 respect to funds, there can be no doubt but that, as 
 the sphere of usefulness enlarges, the liberality of 
 the public will, as hitherto, keep pace with it. 
 
 " The best means of providing for the destitute, 
 which was the next subject proposed, seems closely 
 connected with the former ; for if a school of indus- 
 try were established, where trades were taught, 
 grown persons might be instructed in them as well 
 as children. The produce of their labor would les- 
 sen the expense of their maintenance till they were 
 able to provide for themselves. Could this be estfr- 
 blished, it would solve a very difficult question, to 
 which no satisfactory answer has yet been given, viz. 
 What is to be done with those who seem desirous of re- 
 ligious instruction, but give no real evidence of their 
 conversion to God, in case they are out of employ f 
 They cannot obtain it among the Jews without re- 
 nouncing Christianity, and returning to their former 
 m^des of life. This we wish by all means to pre- 
 vent. But how is it to be prevented f Can we find 
 them employment among ourselves? Where this 
 can be done, it is well ; but the frequent failure of 
 the attempt, and that for months together, shows 
 that this expedient cannot be depended on. The 
 difficulty here is almost as great as among their own 
 brethren, though of a different nature. Their for- 
 mer habits in the one case, and their present pro- 
 fession in the other, present an eflfectual bar to both. 
 Unaccustomed not only to any one business in par- ^ 
 
78 
 
 FREY S NARRATIVE. 
 
 ticular, but to those habits of business in general 
 which render labor productive, they rarely furnish 
 a sufficient inducement to any person, who consults 
 his interest, to take them into his employ, or to re- 
 tain them in it. What then is to be done ? Are 
 they to starve f The voice of humanity says- — * No.' 
 Are they to be supported in idleness ? The inspired 
 volume answers this question in the negative ; but 
 at the same time points out the way in which the 
 claims of humanity are to be regarded, by making 
 necessary food the reward of productive labor. The 
 establishment of a manufactory of some sort seems 
 to be the only way in which an end so desirable can 
 be attained, under all the circumstances of the case. 
 
 '* The expediency of procuring a place of worship 
 for Mr. Frey, in order to raise a church, was the 
 last thing proposed for consideration. The desira- 
 bleness of such a measure is too obvious to admit a 
 doubt, especially when the peculiarly awkward situ- 
 ation in which Mr. F. now stands is taken into the 
 account. He is a minister without a people, a pas- 
 tor without a flock ; for no sooner do the fruits of 
 his ministry appear in the conversion of sinners to 
 Christ, than those to whom he has thus been made 
 useful leave him, to join a church under another 
 pastor. In this respect he seems to resemble a poor 
 woman who takes children to nurse, who, after all 
 the care and fatigue inseparably connected with 
 the duties of that office, is sure to lose the objects of 
 her affectionate solicitude as soon as they can go 
 alone. 
 
 " On the contrary, were these young converts 
 formed into a church, under the pastoral care of 
 Mr. Frey, they might be the means of strengthening 
 his hands, and the hands of one another, as well as 
 of inducing others to say, ' We will go with you, 
 for we have heard that God is with you,' " 
 
I&ftfiv's NARRATIVE. 79 
 
 MR. L A N G T O N ' S P I> A N . 
 
 Jetvish Free- School. 
 
 ^' The Missionary Society, in forming this school, 
 could not expect that the rich Jews, or even those in 
 middling circumstances, would send their children ; 
 they must, therefore, have their eyes principally 
 upon the poor ; viz. 
 
 " First — Such as had embraced Christianity, or 
 those who are indifferent to any religion. 
 
 " Secondly — Those who still remain among their 
 own people, but, on account of their poverty, are not 
 able to afford instruction. 
 
 " This school, at present, consists often children 
 belonging to persons of the first class — -such as make 
 some profession of Christianity, and who are partly 
 supported by the society* If there were many fami- 
 lies of this description embracing Christianity, the 
 school might be continued on its present plan ; but, 
 according to present appearances, it does not seem 
 likely that a succession of children will be obtained. 
 
 " With regard to the second — those that make no 
 profession of Christianity — it does not appear pro- 
 bable that any of them will be induced to send their 
 children : 
 
 " First — On account of their natural and strong 
 attachment to their religion. 
 
 '* Secondly — On account of I he restriction they 
 are laid under by their rulers. 
 
 " Thirdly — Because they are under the necessity 
 of making their children, when very young, attend 
 to business, to assist in supporting the family. 
 
 " The advantages of the present plan, even if 
 the Jews were at liberty to act as they please, are 
 not sufficient to meet their situation. Education 
 
B6 prey's narrative. 
 
 alone, however valuable it may be, is not an object 
 of sufficient weight in the esteem of the poor and 
 ignorant, to induce them to embrace it at the ex- 
 pense of any tejnporal advantage, or a little incon- 
 veniency. 
 
 ** If, with education, some pecuniary advantages 
 were connected, it might be the means of bringing 
 several children under instruction. It is proposed, 
 if an institution was formed for providing for Jewish 
 children, taking them entirely ofTthe hands of their 
 parents, it might answer this end. 
 
 " If a plan of this kind were adopted, to board, 
 clothe, educate, and provide situations for them 
 amongst Christians, it would meet the following 
 cases, which the present can only do in a very par- 
 tial way : 
 
 " First — Poor orphan children, left entirely des- 
 titute. 
 
 ** Secondly — The children of several who are 
 very poor, who, for the sake of having them pro- 
 vided for, would not mind the injunction of their 
 rulers. 
 
 " Thirdly — The children of such as embrace 
 Christianity. 
 
 *' FoiLrtlily — The children of foreign Jews, and 
 such as reside in the country. 
 
 " The superior advantages of this plan appear in, 
 
 " First — The greater probability of success in 
 raising a Jewish school. 
 
 " Secondly — In the education being more com- 
 plete in a moral point of view. Being entirely taken 
 from their own people, they would of course attend 
 Christian worship, and in every respect conform to 
 the instructions given them, without the danger of 
 having them counteracted by the objections and ex- 
 amples of their friends. And by the blessing of 
 
, frey's narrative. 81 
 
 God on the means, many, it is to be hoped, would 
 become eminent Christians. 
 
 *' Thirdly — In the bettering or improving their 
 circumstances, if forty or fifty children could be 
 taken every two or three years from that degraded 
 and wretched state of indigence and infamy in 
 which thousands of the Jews are, and be prepared 
 for filling useful stations in life, &c., an important 
 end would be answered." 
 
 UY OWN PLAN. 
 
 To the Jeivish Committee. 
 
 *' With the utmost reluctance I comply with the 
 resolution of the Auxiliary Committee, in present- 
 ing to you my imperfect thoughts upon a subject of 
 the greatest importance. 
 
 •' It has pleased God, in his infinite mercy and 
 wise Providence, to choose you out from all societies 
 in the world to send the glorious Gospel of the 
 blessed God to the children of Abraham residing in 
 this country. The time of its commencement is 
 but short, and the instrument employed exceedingly 
 weak and^feeble ; but your labors have not been in 
 vain in the Lord. Two have already been received 
 members of the church of the living God, and have 
 their conversation as it becomes the Gospel of 
 Christ ! Five others are of that descrrption, that, had 
 they been nominal CJuistians instead of Jews, they 
 would have been received as members into any 
 church without hesitation. Besides these, there are 
 several who regularly attend the means of grace, 
 and give us pleasing hopes to see them in future 
 among the ransomed of the Lord. 
 
 '^ You have indeed met with opposition, but much 
 
82 
 
 less than might have been expected. In one or two 
 instances your hopes have been disappointed ; but 
 this is the experience of every society. 
 
 " Instead of being discouraged, your zeal in- 
 creased, and your endeavors became more exten- 
 sive. Besides the weekly lecture, you opened, in 
 the last year, a free-school for Jewish children. This 
 is a new thing in the world, and has been crowned 
 with pleasing success. The blessings of such an 
 institution none can calculate. In a free-school 
 Luther received his first education, who afterwards 
 became the great reformer, whose praise is in all 
 the churches of Christ; and who can tell what 
 great and glorious work the Almighty may accom- 
 plish by one or more of these twelve children now 
 in your free-school, daily instructed in the religion 
 of Jesus Christ, whose progress is to the astonish- 
 ment of every one that converses with them ?' * Who 
 would despise the day of small things ?' neither God 
 nor angels. The company which no man can num- 
 ber, consisted first, most probably, o? one, the right- 
 eous Abel ; and angels rejoice over one sinner that 
 repents. Besides, who can forbear joining the Lord, 
 saying, ' Go forward,' recollecting that twelve poor 
 fishermen were the whole company of them to whom 
 our blessed Lord said, ' Go into all the world,' &c. ; 
 and under one sermon of Peter's, three thousand 
 were led to cry out, * What shall we do to be saved ?' 
 We congratulate you, therefore, and give praise to 
 the Lord, who hath made you the instruments of 
 rescuing twelve immortal creatures from Jewish 
 prejudices and enmity against the religion of Jesus 
 Christ, in afiording instruction ofthe greatest value; 
 and, above all, instead of blaspheming the Lord of 
 glory, they are now singing his praise from day to 
 day.* 
 
 ■ * After the lapse of more than twenty years , i t affords me pecu- 
 liar pleasure *o know that two of the boys then in the free-schoo]^ 
 
FREv'a NARRATIVE. 83 
 
 " But would you be satisfied with twelve children 
 in the school, while at least fifty or a hundred might 
 share in the same unspeakable blessings ? God for- 
 bid ! But, upon the present plan of the school, 
 however desirous the society may be to see the 
 iiumber of the children increased^, it is not likely 
 that it will meet with success, for the following rea- 
 sons : 
 
 " Firsl — The children of the poor Jews only can 
 be expected. This class of people generally set very 
 little value upon education, whether religious, moral, 
 or civil. 
 
 " Second/^/ — The children, when but eight or nine 
 years old, assist in maintaining the family in one 
 way or other ; which benefit the parents would lose 
 by sending them to the school. 
 
 " Ttdrdly — The repeated prohibitions and threat- 
 enings of the Rabbi and rulers of the synagogue,^ 
 on whom these poor Jews are dependent, are great 
 hinderances to the present school. 
 
 " Fourthly — Some Jews in the country might wish 
 
 to have their children educated, as Mr. S , of 
 
 B , who has made application for this purpose ; 
 
 but this is impracticable upon the present plan. 
 
 " To remove at once all these difficulties, and ob- 
 tain the desirable object, nothing seems necessary 
 but to establish a school upon a larger scale, to board, 
 clothe, and educate the children till a certain age, 
 and then bring them forward into suitable situations 
 among Christians. The establishment of such a 
 school is, therefore, submitted to the most serious 
 c:)nsideration of the committee, and it is lioped will 
 meet with the approbation of the society. 
 
 are now pious and respectable ministers in the Episcopal 
 Church ; anothrr has died triuaipliantly ; and all the rest have 
 become useful members of society. 
 
84 
 
 " Various motives could be mentioned in favor of 
 such an institution, but a few may suffice : 
 
 ** jP/r5/— Many parents who do not value educa- 
 tion, would send their children to such an institution, 
 to be delivered from the painful and almost impos- 
 sible task of providing for their daily necessities. 
 
 *' Secondly — In hopes of seeing their children rich 
 in the world, and of receiving supplies from them 
 in old age. 
 
 *' Thirdly — The influence of the prohibitions and 
 threatening of the Rabbi will, in a great measure, 
 cease as soon as the parents have no more to care 
 for but themselves. 
 
 " Fourthly — The objections of those in the country, 
 and even ^jw the continent, as well as in London, at 
 a distance from the free-school, are removed by such 
 an institution. 
 
 *' Fifthly — The children will not only be taken 
 from the prejudices and bad examples of their pa- 
 rents, but will be continually under the care of the 
 master, enjoy the privileges of family worship and 
 the ordinances of the Lord's day. 
 
 Si/thly — It is also more than probable that the 
 aflfection, love, and care to the children, will bring 
 their parents under the joyful sound of the Gospel 
 of Christ. 
 
 " Seventhly — Poor orphans would find a place of 
 refuge in such an institution. 
 
 *' Eighthly — Those families which are now a great 
 expense to the society, w^ill be able to provide for 
 themselves, when provision is made for their children. 
 
 ** It cannot be reasonably exj^ected that the ex- 
 penses of such an institution would be an objection, 
 as long as it is written, ' Faith, if but as a grain of 
 mustard-seed will overcome mountains of difficul- 
 ties.' By faith, Professor Franck laid the founda- 
 tion of a most expensive orphan-house at Halle, and 
 
85 
 
 was not confounded. By faith and exertions the 
 immortal Whitefield erected spacious tabernacles 
 and an extensive orphan-house. Are the treasures 
 of Him who said, ' The silver is mine, and the gold 
 is mine,' exhausted? or will the people of Britain, 
 so liberal to every institution, withhold their mite 
 from the Jews? 'to whom pertaineth the adoption, 
 the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the 
 law, and the service of God, and the promises ; 
 whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning 
 the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed 
 for evermore. Amen.' " Rom. 9 : 4, 5. 
 
 These plasis being read and considered, it was 
 resolved that the last should be submitted to the 
 Jewish Committee, which I did in a ^e\w days after. 
 At this time another plan was submitted to the 
 Jewish Committee, by the Ladies' Committee, pro- 
 posing the establishment of a school of industry for 
 the girls. Both were taken into consideration, and 
 then laid before the Board of Directors. Here again 
 they were considered and reconsidered, and much 
 discussion ensued, some approving of one and some 
 of the other; while some objected against both, as 
 too expensive ; and finally they were both rejected. 
 But as it was the general opinion that something 
 ought to be done, it was resolved that Mr. Alers 
 should be requested to propose a plan which might 
 meet the ideas of the directors, and promote the ob- 
 jects they had in view. He conjplied with this re- 
 quest ; but the plan which he submitted was similar 
 to his former one, mentioned before, (and, indeed, 
 neither he nor any one else could have produced a 
 better,) and it met, alas ! with a similar fate. 
 
 The Auxiliary Committee, finding their sugges- 
 tions were wholly laid aside and neglected, became 
 discouraged, and never met again ; this was also the 
 case with the Ladies' Committee ; and a considerable 
 
 8 
 
86 Prey's narkativ£. 
 
 time elapsed without the least appearance of any 
 change in the system. However, repeated appli- 
 cations for employment or support, and an anxious 
 desire in many of the directors to promote the ob- 
 ject of the Jewish mission, encouraged me to beg, 
 from time to time, a meeting of the Jewish Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 On February 1 2th, 1808, the following resolutions 
 were passed by the Jewish Committee : 
 
 " First — That the lease of the chapel in Artillery- 
 street should be bought for the use of the Jews. 
 
 " Second — That some rules or regulations respect- 
 ing the school should be laid before the committee 
 at the next meeting. 
 
 *' Third — That Mr. S.'s children w^ere not proper 
 objects for the society, having been already bap- 
 tized," &c. <fcc. 
 
 Those who know how much my heart is set to 
 promote the education of children in general, and 
 especially those of my own nation, will easily per- 
 ceive how much I was grieved by the last of the above 
 resolutions ; but I humbly submitted to the decision 
 of the directors. However, I was much encouraged 
 by the second resolution, viz. that something should 
 be done for the school. The subject being so much 
 upon my mind, I had no rest, neither day nor nights 
 till I had prepared and submitted the following 
 
 " Rules for a free-school of Jewish children. 
 
 " First — That apartments be procured, where a 
 master and mistress may be lodged, and twelve 
 children be boarded, and from forty to fifty children 
 daily instructed. 
 
 *' Second — That twelve children be boarded, 
 clothed, and educated; six out of those already in 
 the school, three boys and three girls ; and six of 
 
8? 
 
 those who shall come first to this present institution, 
 three boys and three girls. 
 
 *' Third— -That in the next year, twelve children 
 be clothed, besides those which are boarded, namely, 
 those six which are at present in the school, and 
 those six who shall come first to the institution. 
 
 *' Fourth— Tlvcit the number of those children to 
 be boarded, and those clothed only, be increased ac- 
 cording- to the increase of the funds. 
 
 " Fifth — -That suitable employment be procured 
 umongst Christians for every child fourteen years 
 old. 
 
 " Sixth — That vacancies amongst those boarding, 
 and amongst those clothed only, be always supplied 
 by the oldest child. 
 
 " Seventh — That no child be admitted into the 
 school under four years. 
 
 " Eighth — That the girls be instructed in reading 
 and catechising, two hours every morning, and two 
 hours every afternoon. 
 
 *' Ninth — That suitable employment be provided 
 for the girls in the school. 
 
 '* Tenth — -That funds be raised to defray the ex- 
 penses of the Jewish Mission, viz. 
 
 1. " The Missionary Society to give two hundred 
 pounds out of their funds. 
 
 2. *' That this institution be made known to the 
 public in various religious publications, in order to 
 solicit donations, subscriptions and collections. 
 
 3. " That a sermon be prea-ched, respecting the 
 Jewish mission, during the annual meeting of the 
 Missionary Society, and that a collection be made 
 for this fund. 
 
 4. " That two or three collection sermons be 
 preached annually in London, in the month of No- 
 vember, 
 
 5* " That all the collections made in future by 
 
88 
 
 Mr. Frey be divided, half for the Missionary Soci- 
 ety, and half for this fund. 
 
 * Eleventh — That this fund be in the hands of Jo- 
 seph Hardcastle, Esq. the Treasurer of the Mis 
 sionary Society. 
 
 " Twelfth — That this mission be carried on by 
 the Missionary Society." 
 
 I greatly longed for the next meeting of the 
 Jewish Committee ; at length it arrived. The direc- 
 tors met, and I was by no means disappointed in 
 my expectation ; for I scarcely remember a more 
 unanimous meeting than I witnessed that day. 
 
 It was resolved upon, that twelve children should 
 be taken into a charity school ; and I consented fo 
 take those children under my inspection, to board 
 and lodge with me at a certain rate ; and three of 
 the gentlemen present and myself were appointed 
 to look out for suitable apartments, which we found 
 on the same day. Thus far all promised well. But 
 alas! this was but as " the morning cloud, and as 
 the early dew," it soon faded away. The Jewish 
 Committee not being invested with sufficient autho- 
 rity to adopt such a measure without the approba- 
 tion of the Board of Directors, submitted their re- 
 solutions to them on the following Monday. The 
 discussion which took place on that evening, (the 
 most painful and discouraging I ever ^vitnessed,) 
 was too long for me pow to remember or relate ; and 
 the painful re-ult was, "that no charity-school 
 should be added to the free-school." Often did my 
 heart exclaim with the prophet — " O that my head 
 were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that 
 I might weep day and night for the poor ignorant 
 childrenof my (lear people." Jer. 9 : \. The chief, 
 if not the only reason assigned for refusing this 
 measure was, that it required more money than 
 could be spared from the fund of the society. I of- 
 
89 
 
 fered to collect all the money which such an institu- 
 tion should require ; but an objection was started, 
 that a fund raised for sujh an institution was likely 
 to injure the other funds of the society, as many 
 persons would merely withdraw their subscriptions 
 from the one and give it to the other. In vain did 
 I urge against this objection, that other institutions, 
 formed since the Missionary Society, such as the 
 Tract Society, the Bible Society, the Female Peni- 
 tentiary, ifcc. had been liberally supported, and had 
 not in the least injured the funds of the Missionary 
 Society ; but even if there should be any reason to 
 apprehend such a consequence, I observed, in the 
 next place, there would be equal reason for appre- 
 hending, that if the public should hear that such an 
 institution as a charity-school was wanted, in order 
 to insure the prosperity of the Jewish Mission, but 
 that the Missionary Society had objected to it, other 
 persons, wholly separate and distinct from the Mis- 
 sionary Society, would most probably establish such 
 a school ; in which event, the funds of the Missiona- 
 ry Society might be injured much more extensively. 
 I had scarcely uttered this sentence, when I was 
 charged with threatening to establish a society in 
 opposition ; and this idea, though wholly destitute 
 of foundation, nothing could afterwards eradicate. 
 
 Greatly discouraged, I left the meeting and went 
 home, mourning over the poor state of my dear 
 brethren, perhaps more than " one that mourneth 
 for his only son ;" nor w as I ever after this anxious 
 to meet the Jewish Committee. I resolved in my 
 own mind to leave the school, as well as all tempo- 
 ral matters, to the directors, and spend my whole 
 time in things spiritual and ministerial, and see whe- 
 ther the mission would prosper more. I therefore 
 proceed to take notice of 
 
 8* 
 
90 frey's narrative. 
 
 My last yearns labors under the patronage of the Mis' 
 sionary Society, 
 
 It has already been observed, that on the 15th of 
 February, 1808, a resolution was passed, that the 
 lease of the chapel in Artillery-street should be pur- 
 chased. This being done, the place was opened for 
 divine service, April 15th, 1808, and I })reachcd 
 there, and catechised the children every Lord's day, 
 besides an evening on Fridays, and a prayer-meet- 
 ing on Tuesday evenings. 
 
 It was the opinion of several of the directors that 
 no other measures ought to be resorted to, for the 
 conversion of the Jews, than to have a regular place 
 to preach in, and that then they would flock to it 
 like doves to their windows. But alas ! this was not 
 the case in Artillery-street. For a whole year to- 
 gether I could not observe ten Jews attending at the 
 chapel, except those i^Gw who had wholly separated 
 themselves from their brethren. At first, a very 
 respectable congregation of Christians attended the 
 place, but having no ordained minister, and the or- 
 dinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper not being 
 administered to them, they declined by degrees : nor 
 was the want of pious, prudent, and zealous mana- 
 gei\s to be overlooked. Things being in that state, 
 and it appearing to me, as well as to many directors, 
 that some more active and systematic measures must 
 be pursued, and several friends having offered to 
 lend their assistance, it was resolved by the Jewish 
 Committee, on the 8th June, 1808, that Messrs, 
 Campion, Cook, Emmerson, Hopkins, Kingsbury, 
 Langton, Smith, and Stevens, should act with me 
 as a committee for letting the seats and superintend- 
 ing the other necessary affairs of the chapel in Artil- 
 lery-street, previous to the formation of a church in 
 that place. 
 
91 
 
 On the 10th of the same month the following 
 gentlemen, viz. Messrs. Campion, Cook, Hopkins, 
 Langton, Smith, Stevens, and myself, met at the 
 ahove chapel, and accepted of the appointment. 
 
 From the above it will be seen, that, amongst 
 others, was Mr. Langton, the Assistant Secretary 
 of the Missionary Society, and Mr. Stevens, a gen- 
 tleman who had not only regularly attended my mi- 
 nistry amongst the Jews from its commencement, 
 but upon many occasions had discovered much 
 anxiety for the object. This committee, named a 
 Chapel Committee, having met a few times to orga- 
 nize a plan and form some rules, soon found them- 
 selves in the same predicament as the Auxiliary 
 Committee before alluded to, and they came, on the 
 8th of July, to the following resolution, viz. " That 
 Messrs. Stevens and Campion should request a 
 meeting with Messrs. Alers and Hardcastle, for the 
 purpose of ascertaining the object of the Missionary 
 Society in appointing this committee, and of the 
 extent of the powers intended to be vested therein, 
 and that they should report the same on Friday 
 next." 
 
 Mr. Langton being considered a connecting link 
 between the two committees, had been requested to 
 be one of the deputation, but he expressly declined 
 it. Mr. Stevens wrote to Mr. Alers, to request an 
 interview for the above purpose. Fending this ap- 
 plication, T received the following letter from Mr, 
 Langton : 
 
 '*Dear Sir, 
 
 " The Chapel Committee should meet as soon as 
 possible, to settle the business respecting the clerk 
 and pew-openers, <fec. <fec. If Tuesday next will 
 suit, I will be with you at any hour; and you can 
 apprise the other gentlemen, whose addresses you 
 
92 FREY'S NARRATIVE* 
 
 know. Do not forget Mr. Wilks' motto — ' If we 
 cannot do all the good we iroidd, let us do all ice can.'' 
 '' Wishing you every blessing, 
 " I remain, <fec. 
 
 " D. Langton. 
 
 «' N. B. Some propositions respecting the in- 
 tended society for visiting and relieving poor Jews 
 might be considered, viz. It would be a good thing 
 to institute a meeting (weekly, once a fortnight, or 
 monthly) for religious conversation with Jews. All 
 that are serious might be invited to attend. Let them 
 propose subjects for discussion ; this would excite 
 attention, and promote a spirit of inquiry, and would 
 be a means of getting into the views of such as 
 attend your ministry. 
 
 '* S. poor fund is another subject for consideration, 
 out of which all casual applicants might be relieved 
 until their character is developed, or employment 
 obtained for them. This fund, I think, might be 
 raised at the chapel, and be at the disposal of the 
 Chapel Committee." 
 
 Having communicated this letter to Mr. Stevens, 
 I received the following answer : 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 " I feel much averse to take any active part in 
 the business of the committee, until we have had a 
 conference with the members of the committee of 
 the Missionary Society. I waited long since upon 
 Mr. Alers, who promised me he would appoint a 
 meeting for that purpose. I have twice written to 
 him, and when I know what authority we are to 
 have, shall be able to decide how far such authority 
 will be sufficient for the object we have in view. 
 
 *' As to any funds for the relief of the poor Jews, 
 
frey's narrative. 93 
 
 we must look, in the first instance, to the effect of 
 your occasional preaching- ; and unless we are to 
 have the exclusive control of that, so far as relates 
 to collections made for the Jews, I am of opinion 
 the Missionary Society will, without materially bene- 
 fiting the general object, totally ruin the separate 
 one. They cannot be united. I am not speaking 
 my own opinion only, but that of many persons, who 
 are much more competent than I am, but with whom 
 I perfectly concur. I presume I shall hear from Mr. 
 Alers before the first Friday in August; and we 
 shall then be able to enter upon the execution of our 
 functions, or to resign altogether. 
 
 "You may at all times rely upon my acquies- 
 cence and exertions for the promotion of any plans, 
 for the conversion of the Jews, which my judgment 
 can any way reconcile with those objects. 
 " Believe me truly yours, 
 
 "I trust, in the best of bonds, 
 
 "Will'm Stevens." 
 
 Instead of a meeting being appointed to receive 
 the above deputation, the Jewish Committee met 
 on the 14th of July, 1808, and passed the following- 
 resolutions : 
 
 " First — That it is the opinion of this committee, 
 the subscription and quarterly or monthly collec- 
 tions of the congregation at Artillery-street, should 
 be applied to the defraying the rent, salaries of the 
 clerk and pew-openers, and other expenses, and the 
 remainder to the use of Mr. Frey, for the support 
 of himself and family. 
 
 " Second — It is also their opinion, that the con- 
 gregation be at liberty to make collections at that 
 place of worship, and to promote subscriptions 
 amongst themselves and others, for the mission to 
 the Jews, in distinction from the other objects of the 
 
94 frey's narrative. 
 
 Missionary Society ; and that the sums so collected 
 and paid to the treasurer of the society, shall be 
 appropriated to that object alone. 
 
 " Third — That it is their opinion, that Mr. Frey 
 should not make public collections for this exclusive 
 object, without the concurrence of the directors of 
 the Missionary Society. 
 
 " Fourth — That it is the wish of this committee, 
 that suitable persons may be selected in the congre- 
 gation, for the purpose of distributing such publica- 
 tions among the Jews as may be provided by this 
 committee. 
 
 " Fifth — That it is also their hope, that the con- 
 gregation will render assistance to the Jewish mis- 
 sion, by endeavoring to provide employment for 
 such Jews who, in consequence of their desire to 
 receive instruction in the Christian religion, may be 
 deprived of their maintenance amongst that people, 
 ■and have no means of supporting themselves and 
 families." 
 
 It appeared very remarkable to the gentlemen 
 who were to compose the deputation, and to most 
 of the others who had attended the Chapel Com- 
 mittee, that all the preceding resolutions were passed 
 directly and pointedly in opposition to the views and 
 objects which they had discussed, and which it was 
 intended should be submitted to the Jewish Com- 
 mittee ; and they certainly felt that they had been 
 treated in the most indelicate manner imaginable 
 by a number of that committee, who, knowing what 
 they intended to suggest, decided, in the first in- 
 stance, upon those very points, without condescend- 
 ing to give them the opportunity to explain their 
 ideas. The natural consequence of these ])roceed- 
 ings was, that several of the gentlemen of the com- 
 mittee, and amongst others, Messrs. Stevens, Cam- 
 pion, and Hopkins, immediately resigned; and I 
 
frey's narrative. ^6 
 
 have the most satisfactory reason for believing that 
 they then rehnquished every idea of having any part 
 whatever in tlie affairs of the Jews. 
 
 From the foregoing resolution, I was more fully 
 convinced than ever tliat the Jewish Committee had 
 either no inclination, or no power, to alter their sys- 
 tem of carrying on the Jewish mission ; and, upon 
 the old plan, I was sure, from the fatal experience 
 I had had, that no good could be done. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, however, a circumstance oc- 
 curred which was wholly unforeseen by me, and as 
 unexpected by the persons concerned. Dr. D. had 
 lately withdrawn himself from his ministerial func- 
 tions in London ; the consequence of which had 
 been, that a society, formed under his auspices, and 
 of which he had been president for a considerable 
 length of time, became dissolved, and several of 
 the subscribers to that institution were desirous of 
 continuing their subscriptions in aid of some other 
 charity. 
 
 Under the discouraging circumstances before al- 
 luded to, the reader will not wonder to find that I 
 readily embraced a proposal made to me by Mr. 
 Stevens and another gentleman, (both of whom had 
 been subscribers to Dr. D.'s society,) namely, to 
 form " A society for visiting and relieving the sick 
 and distressed, and instructing the ignorant, espe- 
 cially such as were of the Jewish nation." Nor did 
 I see any objection which could be made by the 
 Missionary Society to such an institution. 
 
 On the 4th of August, 1808, the above-named 
 gentlemen, with eight others, united together in the 
 formation of the " London Society^^^ for the above- 
 mentioned purposes, and they did me the honor to 
 nominate me as their president. 
 
 As many ill-natured observations had been made 
 upon this subject, it is right for me to state that 
 
96 frey's narrative. 
 
 which can be proved, if necessary, viz. that I ex- 
 pressly objected to this nomination, for several rea- 
 sons, both public and private ; but the gentlemen 
 expressing a strong wish that I should accept of it. 
 in conformity with the plan upon which Dr. Dra- 
 per's society had been constructed, and which had 
 been dissolved only because he had withdrawn, and 
 because they had not been able to obtain any other 
 minister who would accept of the presidency, I felt 
 it my duty to acquiesce. 
 
 From the original title mentioned in the prece- 
 ding page, and plan of the society, and from the re- 
 solutions sent to the Missionary Society, it will be 
 distinctly seen that nothing was farther from the 
 minds of the gentlemen who composed it, than 
 "rivalry," or "opposition" to the^^Missionary So- 
 ciety ; and nothing less anticipated, or desired, than 
 that the weight of the Jewish mission would (as the 
 event has proved) devolve upon them. 
 
 About the same period I received a call from the 
 church of Christ in Artillery-street, signed by sixty- 
 two names, to be their pastor. 
 
 On the Cth of August I received the following 
 letter from Mr. Alers, which was the only intima- 
 tion Mr. vStevens or Mr. Campion ever received of 
 any intended meeting, (no answer having been sent 
 to the letter of the former,) and which, it will be 
 observed, was more than three weeks after the aj)- 
 plication for it, and subsequent to the formation of 
 the new society. 
 
 " Dear Frey, 
 
 *' I have been desirous of appointing a meeting 
 with Mr. Hardcastle, to have the conversation with 
 Mr. Stevens v»'hich he has requested ; but the pres- 
 sure of business has, from time to time, postponed 
 it. Mr. Hardcastle is gone out of town for some 
 
97 
 
 days ; when he returns, we will try to have the 
 meeting. Give my compliments to Mr. Stevens, and 
 tell him how matters stand. 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 '* W. Alers. 
 
 ''August 6tfi, 1808." 
 
 Mr. Stevens and myself, in consequence of this 
 letter, waited upon Mr. Alers, to inform him of the 
 formation of the " London Society," and to explain 
 to him more particularly the nature and design of 
 the institution ; and expressed the earnest desire 
 of its members that it might be carried on in imion 
 and harmony with the Missionary Society. On the 
 next day I sent the following letter to the Rev. G. 
 Burder : 
 
 *' Dear Sir, 
 
 " I take the earliest opportunity to inform you, as 
 Secretary to the Missionary Society, that the church 
 of Christ, Artillery-street, has given me a call to 
 the office of pastor among them. According to a 
 resolution* of the directors, I am at liberty to accept 
 of the invitation but the restrictions and limitations 
 contained in that resolution, I do not fully under- 
 stand. To be connected with the Missionary So- 
 
 * Resolution passed by the Directors of the Missionary So- 
 ciety, June 8th, 1808 : 
 
 Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that Mr. 
 Frey should be ordained, generally, to the Christian ministr}', 
 hut with an especial reference to its exercise to the Jewish 
 •peoples and that, in the event of his receiving an invitation to 
 the pastoral office over the society in Artillery-street, he is at 
 liberty to accept it, subject to such "restrictions and limita- 
 tions" as may preserve his connexion with the Missionary 
 Society inviolate, and may consist with, thede^'ree of attention 
 to his Christian ministry among' the Jews, which the directors 
 and himself consider to he his first and most important 
 object. '^ 
 
 9 
 
98 
 
 ciety, and to be alilvisecl by its directors, I considtir 
 my hii^hest honor and greatest privilege ; and I shall 
 consider myself, as long as I live, to be under the 
 greatest obligations to farther the objects of the 
 Missionary Society ; for, truly, their kindness to me 
 and my family has been exceeding great. But if 
 the directors mean to ' restrain' me from uniting 
 with others, and to * limit^* my exertions for the hcnejit 
 of the Jeics, I shall then be under the painful necessity 
 of leaving the Missionary Society, and accept of th<^ 
 call abovementioned, and be ordained as an inde- 
 pendent minister. I am going to Bedford to-mor- 
 row, and expect to be in town again next Thursday, 
 God willing. 
 
 " I am, sir, yours most sincerely, 
 
 "C. F. Frey. 
 
 " August 18, 1808." 
 
 On the 23d of August, Mr. Alers wrote to Mr. 
 Stevens the following letter : 
 
 "Dear, Sir, 
 
 " A letter from Mr. Frey, in connection with the 
 report of the conversation I had with you last Tues- 
 day evening, came under consideration in the Mis- 
 sionary Society at yesterday's meeting of the di- 
 rectors ; they have, in consequence, appointed Mr. 
 Hardcastle, myself, and two or three other gentle- 
 men, to confer with you and your friends on the sub- 
 ject generally ; and I have accordingly written to 
 Mr. Fearn, your treasurer, to ask if it will be agree- 
 
 * I should rather have used the word " hinder,'''^ instead of 
 ^Uimit" which would perhaps have expressed my idea in a 
 plainer manner; but I had an eye to the words "restrictions 
 and hmitations," used in the precedini^ resolution of the di- 
 rectors. 
 
99 
 
 able for him and his friends to meet us at my house, 
 at half past ten in the forenoon, on Monday next, 
 for that purpose. I hope you will be present. Should 
 it be inconvenient to you or Mr. Fearn, you will 
 please to mention a time when it will suit you. 
 *'I am, dear sir, 
 
 " Your most obedient servant, 
 
 "W. Alers." 
 
 I am informed that BIr. Stevens and Mr. John 
 Pearce attended the appointment, at which several 
 directors of the Missionary Society were present ;* 
 and I understand the result of that meeting was, 
 that the Missionary Society should propose and sub- 
 mit some resolutions to the committee of the London 
 Society, with a view that the latter should be estab- 
 lished upon such a footing as might, in the judgment 
 of the former, enable them to act in union ; but the 
 principal objection then urged by the directors of the 
 Missionary Society was, that in the address of the 
 London Society sufficient mention had not been 
 made of the labors and exertions of the Missionary 
 Society, with reference to the Jews. Mr. Stevens 
 and Mr. Pearce. did not hesitate to point out, as de- 
 hcately as possible, many objections to the system 
 which the Missionary Society had pursued ; whilst 
 they expressed their utmost willingness to adopt any 
 measures they consistently could to remove this 
 objection and comply with the wishes of the Mis- 
 sionary Society, provided the London Society was 
 left at liberty to purs!ie its own plans ; and to this 
 object, and this object alone, it was then understood, 
 the intended resolutions of the Missionary Society 
 were to apply. 
 
 * The Rev. Messrs. Bock, Campbell, Townsend, Wilks, and 
 Messrs, Hardcastle, Abert:, RayVier, T. Pellatt, n.nd Langtou. 
 
100 frey's narrative. 
 
 From the moment that the Missionary Society 
 intimated an unpleasant feeling at the formation of 
 the London Society, and expressed a wish that mea- 
 sures should be adopted for a cordial union, the Lon- 
 don Society felt themselves bound to show so much 
 respect to the Missionary Society as to suspend all 
 their operations, and in fact abstained from distri- 
 buting their plans, or applying to the public ; and 
 they waited patiently till the 20th of September, 
 before they received the following resolutions : 
 
 ''^Resolutions of the Missionary Society, 
 
 *' The formation of a new society, adopting ob- 
 jects which have been already embraced by an in- 
 stitution previously established, aj)plying also to the 
 liberality of the public for support, (and especially if 
 its president shall have seceded from the original 
 society,) has so much the appearance oi rivalry and 
 opposition^ that the impression made by it on the 
 public mind will most probably be prejudicial to both 
 institutions, as well as to the objects which they mutu- 
 ally desire to promote. JNevertheless, the zealous and 
 active endeavors of Christians, although not in direct 
 connection with the original society in promoting the 
 same cause, are to be considered as beneficial, pro- 
 vided they arc carried in a manner which, instead 
 of enfeebling the efforts already made, shall tend to 
 promote union and energy in the prosecution of the 
 great object in view. 
 
 " On these principles the directors of the Mission- 
 ary Society are desirous to act ; and they are of 
 opinion that the new committee, without distracting 
 the public attention by proposing another institution 
 for purposes already adequately provided for, so far 
 as they are practicable, may employ themselves to 
 advantage in carrying into greater effect the measures 
 
itrey's narrative. 10^ 
 
 already adopted by the Missionary Society ; and they 
 particularly recommend to their benevolent attention 
 the following points : 
 
 ^^ First — Visiting and relieving poor Jews in a 
 state of sickness, to whom they can obtain access. 
 
 " Second — The distribution of such religious tracts 
 among them as may he approved, 
 
 •' Third — Conversing with such Jews as may hG 
 desirous of receiving further instruction in the Chris- 
 tian religion ; and in holding meetings for prayer, as 
 frequently as may be convenient. 
 
 " Fo^tri'/^— Providing employment for such Jews 
 as may have been deprived of the means of subsistence, 
 in consequence of their having attended on the Christian 
 ministry ; and in the mean time affording them such 
 relief as may be requisite. 
 
 " In order to carry into eifect these desirable mea- 
 sures, in coincidence v/ith the am.icable princijiles 
 already laid down, the directors propose the follow- 
 ing regulations : 
 
 *' ]. That the funds necessary for these purposes 
 be raised by private subscriptions, and by collections 
 made at the meetinf^ in Artillery-street ; but that 
 
 1 • ■ T 
 
 jiublic collections, at other places of worship in l^on- 
 don or in the country, be not made without the con- 
 sent of the directors of the Missionary Society. 
 Should it be found that the due prosecution of any 
 of the objects before mentioned shall require assist- 
 ance to be afforded to the funds thus raised, the 
 Missionary Society will contribute thereto. 
 
 *' 2. That such funds shall be placed in the hands 
 of a treasurer to be appointed by the new commit- 
 tee, and application be made thereof as may be di- 
 rected by that committee. 
 
 " 3- The printed address and plan, at present pub- 
 lished by the London Society, to receive such alter- 
 ations as may be adapted to convince the public that 
 
102 frey's narrative. 
 
 it is the intention of its members to act in a most 
 friendly alliance with the Missionary Society. 
 
 '* That the new committee he requested to report 
 to the directors of the Missionary Society, every 
 three months, the progress which they make, and 
 the measures which they have adopted, or may have 
 in contemplation, in order to promote the object." 
 
 These resolutions were taken into consideration, 
 October the 13th ; and having been referred to a 
 select committee to prepare an answer, the follow- 
 ing resolutions were prc.-;ented to and approved by 
 the committee of the London Society, October the 
 20th, and transmitted to Mr. Alers a few days af- 
 terwards. 
 
 *' Resolutions of the London Society. 
 
 *' The committee of the London Society have de- 
 layed their re^ily to the resolutions of the Missionary 
 Society, that they might be enabled to give the de- 
 liberate consideration due to the importance of the 
 subject, and to the character of the individuals com- 
 posing the Missionary Society. 
 
 " The committee observe, with grateful pleasure, 
 the friendly disposition expressed towards them by 
 the Missionary Society, and they embrace the op- 
 portunity to declare how sincerely they are desirous 
 of cultivating the good will and assistance of the 
 Missionary Society, by every means consistent with 
 the objects they have in view, and that they will be 
 at all times happy to receive countenance from the 
 society, and advantage from their experience; the 
 committee, therefore, especially regret that the Mis- 
 sionary Society have not specified the alterations 
 which they wish to be made in the address and plan 
 published by the London Society, whereby the com- 
 
103 
 
 mlttee are prevented from exercising any judgment 
 on the subject. 
 
 "The committee are possessed of information 
 which they are not at Hberty to disclose, which in- 
 duces them to consider the present application, on 
 the part of the Missionary Society, as premature ; 
 and they are particularly inclined to that supposi- 
 tion, because, until Mr. Frey separates himself from 
 the Missionary Society, the principal objection, on 
 the part of that society, to the independent exer- 
 tions of the members of the present institution, will 
 not arise ; and the committee therefore submit, that 
 the questions between Mr. Frey and the Missionary 
 Society (with which questions the London Society 
 are not in any wise connected) should be disposed 
 of before the committee can decide upon the line of 
 conduct to be adopted. 
 
 " The members of the committee have long view- 
 ed, with regret, the declining state of the Jewish 
 affairs under the care of the Missionary Society, 
 arising, as they conceive,, from the multiplicity of 
 objects to which the benevolent attention of that 
 society is directed ; and they are compelled to de- 
 clare, that when they had formed themselves into 
 a society, with a view to co-operation, and not of 
 rivalry, they did not anticipate anxiety or impatience 
 on the part of the Missionary Society, at their ex- 
 ertion to the same beneficial end, which had so long 
 and so laudably, although so unsuccessfully, enga- 
 ged the efforts of that society. 
 
 *' The full consideration which the committee have 
 bestowed upon the late communication of the Mis- 
 sionary Society, has not induced them to apprehend 
 an injury to the cause which they have united to sup- 
 port, from the existence of the two societies, and 
 from their independent efforts to the same end ; but 
 they are inclined to hope much good therefrom, for 
 
104 frey's narrative. 
 
 the following reasons, which they submit to the con- 
 sideration of the Missionary Society : 
 
 " That the various objects which divide and dis- 
 tract the attention of the Missionary Society, have 
 prevented them from bestowing that consideration 
 upon the subject which is due to t\\e importance of 
 the cause, and therefore that the Jewish affairs 
 cannot be carried on with the same advantnge by 
 the Missionary Society, as by a society whose atten- 
 tion is undividedly directed to one end. 
 
 *' That the Missionary Society are, in a great 
 measure, confined to the pulpits of the independent 
 connexion, and have not a free access to those of the 
 established church, and of other numerous bodies of 
 Christians who would be willing to contribute their 
 assistance to a society formed for the purposes and 
 upon the principles of the London Society. 
 
 " That many individuals withhold their subscrip- 
 tions simply upon the ground that the Jewish affairs 
 are under the direction of either professed, or by 
 reputation, dissenters. 
 
 •*' That there have been, for some time, two Bible 
 Societies, and that there are now several Missionary 
 Societies, yet experience has not shown that the 
 object they have in view has received injury from 
 that circumstance. 
 
 " That although the committee arc not desirous 
 to impeach the conduct of the Missionary Society, 
 yet that they are of opinion many important objects 
 have been overlooked by that society ; and as they 
 cannot impute that circumstance to want of atten- 
 tion and information, they conclude that there would 
 be a probability that similar measures, suggested by 
 the committee, would not be likely to receive the 
 countenance and adoption of the Missionary Society, 
 and are therefore of opinion, that the exertions of 
 the new society would thereby be impeded. 
 
105 
 
 ^' That though it bo possible that the efforts of 
 the London Society may eventually prove as fruit- 
 less as those of the Missionary Society, and that 
 they may arrive at the same unpleasant conclu- 
 sion, yet having, from a train of circumstances, 
 chiefly induced by the Missionary Society them- 
 selves, been led to the formation of the present in- 
 stitution, they feel bound to persevere, and that they 
 do not perceive the advantage which can arise from 
 identifying themselves with the Missionary Society, 
 who have pursued the same object with so little 
 effect. 
 
 *' That the committee do not perceive that it is 
 inconsistent for Mr. Frey to preside in their society, 
 and retain his relation to the Missionary Society. 
 The committee can perceive an impropriety in two 
 rival houses of commerce employing the same agent, 
 because their objects are inimical; but the committee 
 do not perceive why two or more societies, having 
 the same object in view, may not avail themselves 
 of the information and experience of the same in- 
 dividual. 
 
 *' The committee consider this as an answer to 
 all the objections of the Missionary Society upon 
 this point, except as they refer to the question of 
 making public collections ; v.'ith respect to which, 
 the committee refer to their second observation, 
 and they desire to add, that if Mr. Frey should re- 
 main with the Missionary Society, it will not be dif- 
 ficult to arrange the terms, and the extent to which 
 he shall be at liberty to make such collections for 
 them, which, however, must in that case be de- 
 fined, and not left to the arbitrary discretion of the 
 Missionary Society. 
 
 '' The Missionary Society will perceive, by the 
 address and plan of the London Society, that the 
 four objects recommended to their notice by the 
 
106 frey's narrative. 
 
 Missionary Society, liave not escaped their atten- 
 tion ; but although the committee have not, as yet, 
 and that principally from the respect which they 
 felt themselves bound to pay to the application of 
 the Missionary Society, defined any plan of opera- 
 tion, they are free to confess that their views extend 
 considerably beyond the particulars to which the 
 Missionary Society desire to restrict them, and that 
 it is not their intention to shrink from any promising 
 object which may j)resent itself; and as 7W. one in- 
 dividual had originally any intention to form such a 
 society as the pyrsent^ they consider it within the order 
 of Divine Providence ; and they cannpt but indulge 
 the pleasing prospect of being the honored means 
 of rescuing some individuals at least from the bane- 
 ful effects of Jewish prejudice- With respect to the 
 contributions of the Missionary Society, proposed 
 as an equivalent for collections, the idea necessarily 
 supposes a previous communication of purpose and 
 object, and the approbation of the Missionary So- 
 ciety. In addition to the improbability of obtaining 
 ssich approbation, to which the committee have be- 
 fore alkided, they must observe that such commu- 
 nications will unavoidably create great and continual 
 delay, and thus enfeeble the exertions of the Lon- 
 don Society ; and the committee must be allowed 
 (with the utmost deference) to express their opinion 
 that the dependence of the Jewish Committee upoii 
 the General Committee of the Missionary Society, 
 and the small de^nee of independent action vested 
 in the former, has been one fundamental error in 
 the system pursued by the Missionary Society, and 
 has been a material obstruction to the good which 
 might otherwise have been expected. 
 
 " The committee are fearful that the Missi.onary 
 Society may consider some of the expressions as 
 intrusive and impertinent ; they, however, have 
 
frey's narrative. 107 
 
 avoided all animadversions upon the conduct and 
 system pursued by the Missionary Society, as fur as 
 was consistent with an anxious desire to explain 
 fully and candidly to the Missionary Society the 
 motives by which tliey were actuated. 
 
 " The London and Missionary Societies have but 
 one common object ; and the committee will always 
 desire to preserve the strictest harmony and friend- 
 ship with the Missionary Society, and to refrain in 
 public from any thing tending to throw imputation 
 upon that respectable body, or their laudable en- 
 deavors, that so the great end they pursue ma}' be 
 promoted, and not obstructed by their joint exer- 
 tions ; and the committee will be happy to take into 
 consideration any alterations which may occur to 
 the Missionary Society, as necessary to show the 
 public that nothing is farther from the intention of 
 the committee than ' hostility and rivalry' to the 
 Missionary Society." 
 
 These resolutions of the London Society soon 
 produced a summons for me to meet the directors 
 of the Missionary Society, to take into considera 
 tion my letter of the 18th of August. I went and 
 informed them, that since I had sent that letter, se- 
 veral circumstances had transpired, which, most 
 likely, would supersede the necessity of their taking 
 that letter into consideration ; of which circumstances 
 I hoped to give them information in a few days. On 
 the 14tli of November I informed the directors that 
 I was now able to make that communication to 
 them ; in answer to which, 1 was directed to make 
 it by letter addressed to the Rev. John Townsend, 
 the Chairman of the Jewish Committee. Accord- 
 ingly I wrote a letter, submitted it to several of the 
 directors, and made such alterations as they sug- 
 gested, and then sent it as follows 
 
108 
 
 " To the Rev. John Townsend. 
 
 "Dear Sir, 
 
 *' Having been informed by Mr. Burder, that my 
 intended communication to the Missionary Society 
 is to be made to you, as the Chairnian of the Com- 
 mittee of Examination, I take the liberty of stating 
 to you the following particulars : 
 
 " It is now seven years since the Missionary So- 
 ciety expressed their vvi?h to promote the conversion 
 of my poor brethren the Jews, by establishing a 
 mission for that purpose. This, their benevolent 
 wish, has been more fully expressed within the last 
 three years, by their frequent addresses, both from 
 the pulpit and from the press. 
 
 " When this laudable design was first proposed 
 to me, my heart leaped for joy, my mouth was filled 
 with praise, and my whole soul was devoted to, the 
 work ; and I can now humbly appeal to the Searcher 
 of hearts, that all my private and public exertions 
 since, have been with a single eye to promote the 
 spiritual welfare of my brethren according to the 
 flesh. 
 
 " From the joint endeavors of the Missionary 
 Society and myself, it might have been expected 
 that some happy eflects would have been produced 
 before this time ; but, alas ! we may adopt Isaiah's 
 lamentation, ' Who has believed our report, and to 
 whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ?" W^e have 
 labored in vain, we have spent our strength for 
 naught.' The natural inquiry will be, what is the 
 cause of our disappointment? Notwithstanding the 
 Gospel has been preached three years, and is now 
 preached four times a week, professedly to the Jews, 
 yet there are not five of them that attend regularly : 
 and though a free-school has been opened for nearly 
 
frey's narrative. 109 
 
 two years, yet there are but few children that re- 
 ceive instruction. Is it not of the utmost impor- 
 tance, dear sir, that this cause should be first found 
 out, and then to employ those means by which it 
 may be eradicated ? This has occupied much of 
 my time, and I am fully convinced that it is infi- 
 delity and the yi?ar of men. The former is generally 
 to be found amongst those Jews who have received 
 education, /. e. are able to read and write, and are 
 in some measure prosperous in the world. These 
 are careless in matters of religion, and must be 
 roused by suitable tracts, and, if possible, to enter 
 with them into controversy. 
 /" The latter, which is the fear of men, is more 
 prevalent amongst the poor and ignorant, (nor are 
 the former altogether free from it,) which form, by 
 far, the greatest part of the Jews in England ; nay, 
 I may say, amongst the Jewish nation at large. It 
 is chiefly amongst this class of Jews we must look 
 for success at first, and there is no doubt but, after- 
 wards, some of the rich, the wise, and the mighty, 
 will listen to the joyful sound. 
 
 *' That many of my dear brethren have been pre- 
 vented from hearing the glorious Gospel, and from 
 sending their children to the school, solely from the 
 fear of men, is so evident, that it would be highly 
 unnecessary to adduce proofs in this letter. It is of 
 greater importance to point out means by which 
 they arc likely to be delivered from this destructive 
 evil. 
 
 " Here I would first observe, as I have often 
 done, that I abhor the idea of giving money to any 
 JeiVy irhatever be his professio7i. Whenever 1 begged 
 for them, it was because there was no other pro- 
 vision made. But the plan to be adopted is this : 
 That young men and women, boys and girls, be 
 bound apprentices j that employment be found for 
 
 10 
 
no 
 
 others ; and that a charity-school be added to th£» 
 free-school. 
 
 ** This, dear sir, has been my sentiment from the 
 beginning, and has been greatly strengthened by 
 thesi; three years' painful experience. About twelve 
 mmitlis after the free-school was opened, without 
 the addition of a single child, I laid a similar plan 
 before the directors. It was taken into frequent 
 consideration, and at last approved of by the Jewish 
 Committee, l)ut it was rejected or deferred by the 
 Board of Directors. Greatly disappointed, and 
 much discouraged, I left the meeting that evening, 
 and resolved that, in future, I would only take care 
 of the spiritual part of the mission, and leave the 
 temporal affairs to the management of the direc- 
 tors. But, alas ! a considerable time has elapsed 
 without the least appearance of [uobability that 
 such a plan would be adopted by the Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 *' But, of late, my hopes revived, and I am much 
 encouraged at finding several most res{>ectable per- 
 sons in the established church, not only approve of 
 the plan mentioned in the former part of this letter, 
 but are likewise willing to exert themselves to raise 
 a fund for that purpose. But you will please to ob- 
 serve, that they could by no means unite with the 
 mission to the .Tews, except it be loholly separated 
 from the mUsion to the heathen^ and that a society be 
 formed from among the directors of the Missionary 
 Society, and others whom they may think proper to 
 associate with themselves, having for its object the 
 conversion of the Jews to the Christian faith. That 
 the society be empowered to solicit j)econiary assist- 
 ance from the public, and apply the same to the 
 aforementioned plan, and other means that may be 
 pointed out and approved by the committee. 
 
 ♦* These things, dear sir, I have taken the liberty 
 
rXEY 8 NARRATIVE. 
 
 Ill 
 
 of Stating to you, and hope they will be taken into 
 the serious consideration of the directors. 
 
 " Should the Missionary Society be pleased to con- 
 sent to this, there would be no need of the London 
 Society. The mission would, most probably, receive 
 great assistance from the establishment : and with 
 respect to myself, I would most gladly continue as a 
 missionary to the Jews. But if this is declined, I 
 cannot see of what use I can be to the Jewish mis- 
 sion, on the plan on which it has been hiiherio con- 
 ducted. 
 
 **It is my most sincere wish, and most earnest 
 prayer, that such a society may be formed, that I may 
 have an opportunity of employing, under the patron- 
 age of the Missionary Society, my time, talents, and 
 strength, that God may be pleased to give me, in 
 promoting the conversion of my poor unbelieving 
 brethren of the house of Israel. 
 
 ** Please to pardon every imperfection in this let- 
 ter, and believe me to be, 
 
 " Dear sir, your most willing, 
 
 "And obedient servant, 
 
 "C- F. Frey. 
 
 '«Abt;«n6cr28, 1808." 
 
 This letter was considered by th« directors, both 
 in my presence and absence ; and in answer to it, I 
 was informed by a note from the assistant secretary, 
 **that the directors had raised my salary to two hun- 
 dred pounds a year ; and that they had passed tho 
 following: resolution : 
 
 "imo/ Dec. 1808. 
 ** Resolved^ That the directors are earnestly de- 
 sirous of persevering, with increased activity, in all 
 legitimate methods of instructing the Jews in tho 
 
112 frey's narrative. 
 
 knowledge of the Christian religion. They will also 
 continue to afford all suitable relief to those Jews 
 who shall appear to have suffered by their embracing 
 Christianity : but they are of opinion that the pro- 
 position submitted by Mr. Frey, which respects the 
 taking of2)oor children from their parents^ in order to 
 maintain them in a charity-school^ and to educate them 
 as Christians, is ineligihle; especially as there is al- 
 ready a free-school, supported by the Missionary 
 Society, for the instruction of all those Jewish chil- 
 dren who are disposed to attend." 
 
 To this resolution I wrote the following letter : 
 
 ** To the Rev, G. Burdery Secretary to the Missionary 
 
 Society, 
 "Dear Sir, 
 
 *'I am utterly at a loss for w^ords to express the 
 extreme surprise and anguish of mind which I felt 
 when I read the two resolutions of the directors of 
 the Missionary Society, which I received on the 20th 
 of December last. To be informed that it pleased 
 the directors to raise my salary to two hundred pounds 
 per annum, without mentioning a single change in 
 the system, astonishes me above measure. I should 
 have thought the directors would have entertained 
 a more favorable opinion of my principles, than to 
 suspect that a pecuniary motive was the chief, or ra- 
 ther the only one, by which I was actuated in send- 
 ing to them my letter of the 28th of November, or 
 in my other proceedings since August last. I am 
 not aware that any part of my conduct justifies such 
 an idea; although it be my duty to provide for my 
 family, yet far be it from me to sacrifice my conscience 
 for the sake of corruptible things, such as gold or 
 silver. I have already stated that, upon the present 
 plan of carrying on the Jewish mission, I cannot see 
 
113 
 
 of what particular use I can be to that mission ; con- 
 sequently, 1 think it unjusL in me to receive support 
 from public contributions, with the professed design 
 of promoting the conversion of the Jews, whilst I 
 am fully convinced that the object cannot reasona- 
 bly be expected to be obtained. Upon tJiis principle, 
 and for this reason alone, 1 considered it, from the 
 moment I received the above-mentioned resolutions, 
 not only justifiable, but also my duty, to leave the 
 Missionary Society, however painful to my own 
 mind, and distressing to the circumstances of my 
 dear family. To this effect I wrote a letter imme- 
 diately, but deferred sending it, in consideration that 
 I would do nothing rashly, and especially as I cannot 
 find that the directors have given me any answer to 
 the material and principal points which I humbly 
 submitted to their serious consideration ; I therefore 
 thought it would be more consistent for me to re- 
 quest of them a plain and final answer to the parti- 
 culars just alluded to. 
 
 " With the highest regard, 
 
 " I remain, dear sir, 
 '* Your humble and obedient servant, 
 
 "C. F. Frey. 
 
 '*Jan. 3, 1809." 
 
 A few days after I had sent this letter, I was sum- 
 moned to attend a meeting of the directors, which I 
 obeyed. The result of this meeting was, that I sent 
 another, the concluding letter, as follows : 
 
 " To the Rev, G, Burder, Secretary to the Missionary/ 
 Society, 
 
 "Dear Sir, 
 
 ** With much pleasure T assure you that the sus- 
 picion expressed in my last letter is wholly removed 
 10* 
 
114 frey's narrative. 
 
 by the kind explanation of the chairman at the last 
 meeting ; I consider, therefore, the late resolution 
 of the directors, respecting my salary, an additional 
 proof of their good wishes to me and my family. But 
 as the chairman was also so kind as to inform me, 
 in answer to the request of my last letter, that the 
 whole phm, submitted to the directors November the 
 28th, has been considered by them, but could not be 
 adopted, I am under the painful necessity of repeat- 
 ing, that I cannot see of what particular use I can 
 be to the Jewish mission upon the present plan. 
 That upon this principle, and for this reason alone, 
 1 think it unjust in me to continue any longer as a 
 missionary to the Jews under the patronage of the 
 Missionary Society, and to be supported by the pub- 
 lic money, with the professed design of promoting 
 the conversion of the Jews, while I am fully con- 
 vinced that the object cannot reasonably be expected 
 to be obtained without employing oihcr means than 
 have been used hitherto. I therefore take the ear- 
 liest opportunity to inform you, that, from the next 
 quarter day, I shall consider my connection with the 
 Missionary Society, as their missionary, dissolved. 
 While I am communicating to you this most impor- 
 tant, and, to me, most distressing intelligence, I 
 earnestly entreat, and most humbly beg of you, and 
 every one of the directors, to believe me, as a man, 
 as a Christian, and as a servant of Christ, that no 
 words whatever are capable of expressing my affec- 
 tionate regard for the directors, and the desire of my 
 heart for the prosperity of the objects of the Mis- 
 sionary Society. I assure you, dear sir, once more, 
 that I do not leave the society out of any disrespect 
 to its directors, whether considered collectively or 
 individually ; most sincerely and affectionately do I 
 esteem and highly regard every one of them ; and 
 should it ever be in my power to promote the objects 
 
frey's narrative. 11& 
 
 of the Missionary Society, by making collections for 
 them, or in any other way, I shall greatly rejoice to 
 embrace every such opportunity, to show that I am 
 sensible of the obligations under which I lie, and the 
 gratitude which I owe them for the innumerable and 
 incalculable benefits conferred upon me and my 
 family. 
 
 *' Now, may the blessing of the new covenant rest 
 upon you and upon every one of the directors ; may 
 infinite wisdom direct all the affairs of the society ; 
 and may the pleasure of Jehovah prosper in your 
 hands, is, and, I humbly hope, ever shall be, the 
 sincere wish and fervent prayer of, 
 
 *' Dear sir, 
 
 '' Your ever willing servant in the 
 
 "Gospel of our Lord and Savior, 
 
 "C. F. Frey. 
 
 "Jan, 18, 1809." 
 
 In pursuance of the same spirit with which the 
 London Society had originally set out, the commit- 
 tee resolved to wait a reasonable time before they 
 resumed their operations, and particularly until the 
 questions between myself and the Missionary So- 
 ciety were entirely at rest; and I here solemnly 
 protest that, at the time I quitted the Missionary 
 Society, I had not the least idea of making any 
 pecuniary engagement with the London Society ; 
 nor do I believe that any of the gentlemen who at 
 that time composed the committee, had the most 
 distant expectations of the extraordinary success 
 which has since crowned their exertions. It having, 
 however, pleased God to put it into the hearts of 
 many respectable individuals (who had for a long 
 time been anxious that the Jewish mission should be 
 carried on upon a more extended system) to unite 
 with them, and not having received any answer to 
 
116 FREY^S NARRATIVE. 
 
 their resolutions sent to the Missionary Society, and 
 having been informed that I had sent in my resigna- 
 tion, they resolved, on the Jirst of March^ 1809, 
 " that the society, formed on the 4th of August, 
 1808, for the purposes of visiting and relieving the 
 sick and distressed, and instructing the ignorant, 
 especially such as are of the Jewish nation, should 
 henceforth be called the ^^ London Society for pro- 
 moling Christianity ainong the Jews^ I fully con- 
 curred with this resolution, with the exception, that 
 I would not engage in any active measures until I 
 had fulfilled ray engagement with the Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 On the 26th of February, 1809, I received from 
 Mr. Burder the following letter : 
 
 "Hatton Garden, Feb. 28, 1809. 
 *'SlR, 
 
 ** It is my duty to inform you, that yesterday the 
 following resolution was passed by the directors of 
 the Missionary Society : 
 
 '■^Resolved, That, as the connection of Mr. Frey 
 with the Missionary Society will cease on Lady- 
 day next, the committee for the Jews will provide 
 preachers for the following Sabbath, (viz. March 
 26,) and that the secretary do inform Mr. Frey of 
 this resolution. 
 
 "I am, sir, yours, &c. 
 
 "Geo. Burder, Sec." 
 
 On Friday, the 24th of March, I preached my last 
 sermon in Artillery-street chapel, from John, 13 : 7, 
 *' Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou 
 knowest not now : but thou shalt know hereafter." 
 
 Thus, after seven years' labor under the patron- 
 age of the Missionary Society, our connection was 
 
frey's narrative. 117 
 
 dissolved, much to the regret of both parties. The 
 path of duty, however, is the path of safety, and 
 will ever meet with the approbation and blessing of 
 the God of Providence. The Missionary Society 
 having given up the Jewish mission, bended their 
 united zeal and exertions wholly to the cause of the 
 heathen, with great success. The field of missions, 
 and the number of the missionaries, have been 
 greatly increased ; and the annual income of the 
 society^ which at my separation was £8,000, has 
 since risen to upwards of jG 20,000. And with re- 
 spect to myself, though, on leaving the Missionary 
 Society, I had no immediate prospect of usefulness 
 to my Jewish brethren, and had already made ar- 
 rangements to support my family by teaching the 
 Hebrew language, yet the Lord very soon stirred 
 up a number of pious and respectable persons, who 
 united in the formation of a distinct society for the 
 benefit of the Jews. An account of its proceedings 
 from Aug. 1808, till May, 1816, will be found in the 
 following chapter. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE LONDON SOCIETY FOR 
 PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE JEWS. 
 
 The synagogue of the Jews, once rich in faith, 
 watered with the benedictions of Heaven, fruitful in 
 prophets and saints, adorned with the services of 
 religion and the presence of Jehovah, has been, 
 since the crucifixion of the Son of God, cursed with 
 i?]ifidelity, parched like the withered tops of the 
 mountains of Gilboa, barren and desolate as the 
 
U8 
 
 land of their ancient residence, whose naked rocks 
 seem to declare to all the world the hard-heartedness 
 and unprofitableness of its old possessors. When 
 the " fruitful field " thus became a " forest," the 
 " wilderness " at the same time became a " fruit- 
 ful field." A church was planted in the Gentile 
 world, and tlie Spirit was poured out upon it from on 
 high. In that " wilderness did waters break out, 
 and streams in that desert." There was faith sown, 
 and holiness was the universal product. "The wil- 
 derness and the solitary place were glad, and the 
 desert rejoiced, and blossomed as the rose. It blos- 
 somed abundantly, and rejoiced even \vith joy and 
 singing ; the glory of Lebanon was given unto it, 
 the excellency of Carmel and Sharon ;" the privi- 
 leges and honors of the synagogue were conferred 
 upon the church; and the nations now "saw the 
 glory of Jehovah and the excellency of God;" spi- 
 ritual increase, health, and plenty ; spiritual peace, 
 joy, and happiness, appeared in beauteous and love- 
 ly procession, and the blessing of Jesus was upon 
 this his new inheritance, in every way. 
 
 [mpressed with a high sense of the importance 
 of the privileges derived from the Jews by the Gen- 
 tile church, which are so eloquently described by 
 the late venerable and pious Bishop Home, and 
 deeply commiserating the spiritual and moral de- 
 gradation of the descendants of a people once so 
 highly beloved, but now under the visible displea- 
 sure of Jeiiovah, a small number of individuals, 
 on the 4th day of August, 1808, formed themselves 
 into a society, under the title of the London So::iety, 
 &c. &c. as stated above. 
 
 But a variety of circumstances took place, conse- 
 quent upon the formation of the above little society, 
 which ended in the separation of Mr. Frey from the 
 Missionary Society, and led to a material acquisi- 
 
119 
 
 tion of strength and respectability to those who 
 thought with him upon the subject of the Jewish 
 mission ; the result of which was, that on the 1st of 
 March, 1809, Mr. Frey and his friends came to the 
 determination that the above-mentioned society 
 should thenceforth be called The London Society for 
 promoting Christianity among the Jeirs ; and the fol- 
 lowing address was immediately published and cir- 
 culated : 
 
 The conversion of the Jews to Christianity, whe- 
 ther it be considered with regard to the glory of 
 Jehovah — their own degraded and guihy state — or 
 with reference to that happy influence upon the 
 Christian church, and the world at large, which the 
 Holy Scriptures encourage us to anticipate, is a 
 most desirable object. 
 
 The certainty of its accomplishment, and that such 
 effects will flow therefrom, no one vviio believes in 
 the Bible can doubt for a single moment. 
 
 It is true, we cannot point out the exact time 
 when ALL Israel shall be saved, yet it is certain 
 that a remnant is to be called in our day ; and who 
 knows how large that remnant may be ? The ap- 
 proi)riate means to obtain the proposed end must 
 be learned from Scripture and concurrent circum- 
 stances. 
 
 It is granted that the preaching of the Gospel is 
 the first and greatest instrument in the conversion 
 of sinners ; yet those who are best acquainted with 
 the situation of the Jews, will freely acknowledge 
 that, in promoting their convcvsion, other means are 
 (humanly speaking) absolutely necessary. Who 
 can reasonably ex])ect that a Jew will either attend 
 upon the preaching of the Gospel, or send a child to 
 a day-school to receive Christian education, while 
 the old law, (John, 9 : 22,) " That if any man did 
 
120 
 
 confess that Jesus was the Christ, he shouhl be put 
 out of the synagogue," is more rigidly observed 
 than ever. The word of God assures us, that the 
 fear of man, on account of this law, prevented 
 many of the pharisees, of the rulers, and of the 
 rich, from making an opet^ profession, notwithstand- 
 ing their conviction of the truth of Christ's Messiah- 
 ship. The united testimony of history* and expe- 
 
 * The following fiCt is extracted from the v/ell-anthenticated 
 narrative of Solomon Duitch, a learned rabbi, and teacher of 
 several synagogues in Germany, ^Yho having traveled for 
 seven years from place to place, under doubts as to the truths 
 of Christianity, at length openly confessed himself a disciple 
 of Christ, and lived and died in Holland as a minister of the 
 everlasting Gospel. The Rev. Mr. Vos, with whom I became 
 personally acquainted in London, had been his fellow-student 
 at the university of Utrecht, and they frequently afterwards, 
 in the exercise ot their ministry, exchanged pulpits with each 
 other. 
 
 " In the year 1762, October 21, I arrived at one of the chief 
 cities of Saxony, which, for particular reasons, I shall not 
 mention. The rabbi of the city behaved in the most friendly 
 manner to me. The 24l!1 November I had resid so far of ray 
 Bible as the 53d chapter of Isaiah, which I took now, for the 
 first time, under my f)roper consideration. The Lord was pleased 
 to open the eyes of my understanding plainly to comprehend 
 that the prophet spake here of the Messiah, who was to suffer 
 death for our sins. But Satan endeavored to raise in me 
 many doubts against that explanation. ' Wherefore I resolved 
 to converse with my friend (the above-mentioned rabbi) 
 about the contents of this chapter: neither could I find rest 
 within me till I actually went to him. I had scarcely intro- 
 duced my desire, when he looked steadflistly in m}'- iiico, and 
 made sign^ with his eyes to be silent, immediately repeating 
 something out of the Talmud. In the evening his wile and 
 children went to the play-house, leaving us to ourselves. They 
 were scarcely out of sight, before he took me into another 
 room, which he locked upon us. This put me into a terrible 
 fright, imagining for certain that he had received some intel- 
 ligence of my case, and would now seek to make me answer- 
 able for my conduct with my life. But I was poon freed from 
 my fears, when, with tears in his eyes, he spake tlius to me : 
 " O, Mr. Solomon, my beloved and faithful brother 1 I will 
 
121 
 
 i ience, since the times of the apostles, clearly evi- 
 dences that the fear of man is still a great snare, 
 
 disclose' all the secrets of my heart unto you ; hut it is under 
 the express condition that you keep the secret ; for if the least 
 word should get vent by you among the Jews, I shall, for my 
 own security, charge you with what I shall confess to you, 
 and make you the author of it; in which case, it is easy to 
 comprehend what a persecution you will be exposed to. This 
 presupposed, I will now no longer withhold from you the 
 secrets of my heart. Did you not desire me to explain to 
 you the 53d of Isaiah?' Having answeied in the affirmative, 
 he went into another room, and brought from thence a Ger- 
 man Bible, ont of which he read to me, with the greatest 
 reverence and devotion, the 26th chapter of Matthew, and 
 then addressed mc thus: 'My beloved friend, you see here, 
 m the 53d ol' Isaiah, the clearest prophecy of the Messiah, 
 who should be scorned and despised, and even suffer death ; 
 and for what? for his own trespasses? O no ! it was for our 
 iniquities, and for our trespasses ; which you will clearly per- 
 ceive, and must be allowed by many of our rabbis. But in 
 that chapter which I have read to you out of the German 
 book, is contained the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah ^ 
 Jesus of Nazareth is the true Messiah ; but, alas ! what an 
 unhappy thing is that to us ! Our forefathers, who lived in 
 his days, would not receive nor acknowledge him as the true 
 Messiah and Savior ; and, should you asic me why they did 
 not, I could answer you a great deal on that head ; but 1 am 
 sorry our time is too short to give a full insight into the ex- 
 treme blindness and prejudices of our forefathers in general, 
 in those days: their poor and unhappy offspring, followino' 
 their example, have continued in their blind ways, and have 
 led us on as bhnd leaders to this very day. O what shall I 
 poor wretched creature, now do or undertake? I see clearly 
 the beams of the sun shining into my understanding, but can- 
 not possibly rise out of the dark cloud. How could I leave 
 my wife, whom I love as myself? and how could I abandon 
 my children, who are of my own flesh and blood ? O, my 
 heart, my fatherly heart, cannot bear the thought of it ! Be- 
 sides, by what means could I get my bread? 1 cannot labor, 
 having learnt no business, and to seek my support from cha- 
 rity is revolting against my nature ; besides this, I am afraid 
 of being turned off by the Christians, who, without doubt, 
 would mistrust my sincerity, after they have so often been 
 deceived by false and inconstant proselytes. What shall I do, 
 miserable as I am !' Having related to him all the ways in 
 
 11 
 
1S2 Frey's narrative. 
 
 especially to the poor and ignorant among the Jews, 
 and which class constitute by far the greatest part 
 of that unhappy nation. To remove this apparently 
 insurmountable obstacle, is one great design of the 
 London Society. 
 
 The means by which they humbly hope to accom- 
 plish this most desirable object are such as these : 
 To establish a school, that they may p.e able 
 
 TO RECEIVE CHILDREN WHOLLY FROxM THEIR PA- 
 RENTS, AND BESTOW UPON THEM EDUCATION, 
 
 BOARD, AND CLOTHING ; to connect with this a day- 
 school, out of which vacancies in the former may be 
 filled up ; to put out girls and boys as apprentices ; 
 to find employment, if possible, for those who arc 
 able to work ; to visit and relieve the sick ; to dis- 
 tribute tracts, &c. <fcc. 
 
 It is not, however, the intention of the London 
 Society to confine themselves to any particular me- 
 thod of accomplishing the great object they have in 
 view, but they will embrace and adopt any plan 
 which may api>ear favorable to this purpose, as cir- 
 cumstances shall arise. 
 
 Among other ideas which present themselves, the 
 London Society cannot but refer to the prejudice of 
 education, which may be considered as the main 
 obstacle opposed to them ; it is well known that this 
 exists and operates in the minds of the more re- 
 spectable and better informed Jews, to a sufticient 
 extent to prevent them from attending to, and em- 
 bracing the doctrines of Christianity, although they 
 
 which the Lord had led me from the begimiing, he fell down 
 on his knees and shed a flood of tears. It is impossible lor me 
 to describe the anxiety of his soul ; he prayed with a broken 
 and contrite heart before God, that he might m pity look down 
 upon him, and grant him the same grace as to me ; to deny 
 himself, and unloose his heart from all temporal concerns, ena- 
 blino- him to rely and trust in him alone."— /Sfee 'S'. Dmtch's 
 Narrative, London edition, 1771, 'pa^e 33. 
 
123 
 
 have discernment enough to ridicule the absurdity 
 of rabbinical reveries, and are living in the open 
 and daily violation of the law of Moses. The state 
 of this description of persons is truly awful ; and 
 the London Society cannot but lament, with aston- 
 ishment, that the advocates of Christianity, in and 
 out of the established church, have paid so little 
 attention to the subject as to leave the Jews in pos- 
 session of a modern and well written publication, 
 (highly popular among the Hebrew nation at large,) 
 without the slightest attempt to expose its errors. 
 There is every reason to believe, that among the 
 <jlass of individuals above alluded to, there are many 
 whose minds are sufficiently enlightened by educa- 
 Uon to receive and imbibe the truths of Christianity, 
 were they forcibly and affectionately appealed to. 
 
 It is therefore in the contemplation of the Lon- 
 don Society to endeavor to excite a spirit of inquiry 
 among those who may be considered as the heads 
 of the Jewish people ; and by so doing they have 
 considerable expectation of removing the greatest 
 difficulty they have to encounter with the lower 
 orders, viz. "the fear of man," above alluded to 
 and illustrated. 
 
 To carry designs of such magnitude into effect, 
 considerable funds will become requisite. The com- 
 mittee, therefore, solicit the aid of a liberal public. 
 
 The field of labor is most extensive, (more than 
 nine millions of the lost sheep of the house of Israel 
 are scattered among the nations of the earth, without 
 a shepherd, perishing for want of food, whilst in our 
 Father's house there is bread enough and to spare,) 
 and the committee trust the harvest will be abun- 
 dant. The success of the society must depend 
 (under the blessing of God) upon the exertions of 
 the committee, and those exertions must necessarily 
 be regulated by the state of the funds 
 
124 trey's narrative. 
 
 The obligations of Christians, of every denomina- 
 tion, to promote the conversion of the Jews by their 
 various gifts and talents, are more than could be 
 mentioned in this short address; nor do the com- 
 mittee think it altogether necessary to use argu- 
 ments to recommend the institution. The liberality 
 of the public to support other institutions, and the 
 fervent prayers of Christians for their success, lead 
 the committee to hope that they shall meet with 
 similar encouragement. Although the committee 
 rejoices in every institution that aims to promote 
 the glory of God and the welfare of men, yet they 
 think themselves justified in saying, that few are of 
 such importance as that which they now submit to 
 the public, through the instrumentality of which, 
 they humbly hope, many individuals may become 
 useful members of society, and, by the blessing of 
 God, be rescued from eternal misery, who would 
 otherwise have become the subjects of prostitution, 
 or perhaps have forfeited their lives to the offended 
 laws of the country ; thus, too, (and which is not of 
 trivial consideration in times like those vi^e live in,) 
 the mass of national iniquity may be proportionably 
 diminisheJ ; the ignorant will be instructed, immor- 
 tal souls saved, and the conversion of the Gentiles 
 promoted. The committee, therefore, conclude 
 with the words of the apostle, *' We are great 
 debtors to the children of Israel, for unto them 
 were committed the oracles of God, Rom. 3:2; 
 and unto them pertaineth the adoption, and the 
 glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, 
 and the service of God, and the promises ; whose 
 are the fathers, and of whom (as concerning the 
 flesh) Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for 
 ever. Amen.'' Rom. 9:4, 5. 
 
 The preaching of the Gospel being the great 
 
^•REY S NARRATIVE. 
 
 125 
 
 aieans in the conversion of sinners, the London 
 Society made it their first concern to obtain for me 
 a place of worship. 
 
 Accordingly, on the 2Gth of March, 1809, the 
 first Sabbath after I had left the Missionary Society, 
 I commenced an evening lecture, under their pa- 
 tronage, at the Rev. Mr. Beck's meeting-house, 
 Bury-street, St. Mary-Axe. 
 
 Among the crowded congregation that attended 
 these lectures, hundreds of my Jewish brethren 
 were patient and attentive hearers. 
 
 The lecture, however, was not long continued in 
 that place, a more extensive field of usefulness 
 having presented itself. The large building situated 
 in Church street, Spitalfields, occupied for many 
 years as a French Protestant Church, being to let, 
 the London Society bought the lease of the same, 
 and denominated it " the Jews' Chapelt 
 
 In this place have been three services every Sab- 
 hath ; the morning and the afternoon being usually 
 supplied by different ministers, and I preached the 
 lecture in the evening to the Jews, delivered a lec- 
 ture on Wednesday evening, and gave an exhorta- 
 tion at the prayer-meeting on Friday evening. The 
 attendance on my ministry has been noticed by the 
 society in their annual reports, of which the follow- 
 ing is an extract : 
 
 "The lectures to the Jews, by Mr. Frey, which 
 form so important and prominent a feature in the 
 operations of the society, have been continued at 
 the Jews' chapel, and of them it is not saying too 
 much to observe, that subjects have been so judi- 
 ciously selected, and so admirably treated by him, 
 especially in the elucidation and application of the 
 doctrines and discipline of the Jews, in exposing the 
 fallacious reasonings of the Hebrew doctors, and in 
 enforcing the grand truths of Christianity, that these 
 11* 
 
126 frey's narrative. 
 
 discourses will long be remembered with delight and 
 satisfaction by those who have heard them. Your 
 committee regret that Mr. Frey's diffidence has led 
 him (perhaps somewhat too pertinaciously) to resist 
 their repeated applications to prepare several of 
 these lectures for the press. It has been highly 
 gratifying to the committee to observe the interest 
 which has beqn excited in the minds of the Jews. 
 Great numbers have attended the chapel, and have 
 behaved with much becoming decorum ; and what 
 is a matter of no small importance, the same indi- 
 viduals have been frequently observed to attend 
 successive lectures with apparent seriousness, and 
 on some occasions to use their Bibles, and mark the 
 proof texts brought forward to their notice. There 
 is now a respectable congregation of Jews and 
 Christians, who constantly attend divine service at 
 the chapel, which, if it be maintained on its present 
 footing, will continue to be a place of worship to 
 which Jews may always resort, and obtain a know- 
 ledge of Christian doctrines." — Fourth Be2)ort, Lon- 
 don Society, 
 
 In addition to my ministerial labors in this chapel, 
 I preached generally twice on the Lord's day, and 
 frequently in the week evenings, in different congre- 
 gations. I also visited the schools of the society, 
 catechised the children, and instructed the adults. 
 For three or four months every year, I traveled 
 and preached daily to collect for the society. I also 
 assisted in the translation of the New Testament 
 into Hebrew, the printing and publishing of tracts 
 in the Hebrew, German, and English languages. 
 Thus I continued my labors until I was prevented 
 by the change of the constitution of the society, of 
 which the committee have thus expressed them- 
 selves : 
 
 *' The late arrangements, whereby the future 
 
frey's narrative. 127 
 
 management o f the society was placed in the hand 
 of members of the established church, and the rules 
 then adopted, which provide that public worship, in 
 the future operations of the society, shall be con- 
 ducted according to the formularies and disciplines 
 of that church, have rendered it necessary for your 
 committee to discontinue the lectures, at the above 
 chapel, by Mr. Frey. 
 
 " The sphere of usefulness in which Mr. Frey 
 may hereafter be called to act with the greatest 
 benefit to the cause of his Jewish brethren, is a 
 point which as yet the committee do not fcej them- 
 selves competent to determine. But they are of 
 opinion that, under all the circumstances of his 
 peculiar case, the prosecution of his studies, with a 
 view to ordination, and his presence in London for 
 the purpose of assisting the operations of the society, 
 are highly expedient. 
 
 " The improved condition of the society at home, 
 with the enlarged patronage within the establish- 
 ment, which the late arrangements enable us to 
 anticipate with confidence, and the increasing dis- 
 position of the Jews on the continent to inquire into 
 the truth of Christianity, may, at no very distant 
 period, mark out for him the path of obvious and 
 positive duty ; and in the meantime, the suspen- 
 sion of his ministerial labors will, we are persuaded, 
 lead, under the blessing of God, to their more effi- 
 cient renewal, ajid prepare him for carrying forward 
 a work, the commencement of which has been dis- 
 tinguished by a degree of success which can be 
 attributed only to the blessing of that Almighty 
 Being who worketh all things according to the coun- 
 sel of his own will. 
 
 " Adverting again to the circumstance of the 
 Jews' chapel having, for the present, been shut up, 
 your committee are of opinion that important ad- 
 
128 frey's narrative. 
 
 vantages will, in the meantime, result from the 
 whole of the converted Jews being collected in one 
 place of worsliip. 
 
 ** The difficulties in which the society was, until 
 the present moment, known to he involved, may 
 have inspired the unbelieving Jews with a hope that 
 this institution, like every former attempt which has 
 been made to shake the prejudices of that people, 
 will fall to the ground; but as it has already, in a 
 great measure, emerged from its embarrassments, 
 and is likely, with the divine blessing, to proceed in 
 its course with increasing energy, we may confi- 
 dently hope that the existence of so considerable 
 a number of converted Jews, collected in one con- 
 gregation, under the patronage of the established 
 church, cannot fail powerfully to attract, and ulti- 
 mately to command, the attention of the Jewish 
 nation. 
 
 J *' It further affords to your committee the greatest 
 satisfaction to state, that though they have for the 
 present been disappointed in their views of obtain- 
 ing ordination for Mr. Frey, yet there are several 
 other adult Jews now in this country, of promising 
 talents and piety, who are receiving instruction with 
 a view to ordination. There are also three Jewish 
 youths educating for the same end, under the pa- 
 tronage of the society ; if these youths should mani- 
 fest decided tokens of piety, it may be hoped they 
 will, with the divine blessing, become instruments 
 of usefulne-s to the Jews. It may also be expected 
 that boys of promising piety and talents shall here- 
 after be selected from the school, to be educated for 
 the same end. Upon the whole, therefore, your 
 committee humbly trust that you will be furnished, 
 in due time, with instruments, not only to carry on 
 the Jewish mission, but greatly to enlarge it, and 
 
129 
 
 this as soon as your pecuniary means shall enable 
 you to do so." — Seventh Report London Society. 
 
 The origin, nature, and effects of this change are 
 contained in the following reports : 
 
 CHANGE OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE LONDON 
 SOCIETY. 
 
 A report read at an exlraordinary general mectingy 
 February 28, 1815, icith the ntiu rules and regula- 
 iious passed at that meeting, and confirmed by ano- 
 ther general meeting, March 14:j 1815. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 28th of February, an extraor- 
 dinary general meeting? of the London Society for 
 promoting Christianity amongst the Jews was held 
 at Free Masons' Tavern : 
 
 Thomas Babington, Esq. M. P. iii the chair, 
 
 Thomas Babington, Esq. M.P. having taken the 
 chair, the meeting was opened with prayer, by the 
 Rev. Basil Woodd. 
 
 The following report was afterwards read by the 
 Rev. C. S. Hawtrey, officiating minister of the 
 Episcopal Jews' chapel : 
 
 " Your committee having deemed it necessary, 
 according to the 8th general rule of the society, to 
 call an extraordinary general meeting, beg leave to 
 submit the following report of the reasons which 
 have led to this iDeasure : 
 
 *' It appears, that on the first formation of this so- 
 ciety, it consisted of Christians of various denomi- 
 nations, without any reference to their respective 
 differences of sentiment ; and in the earlier stage of 
 its progress it was stated in its reports that the ex- 
 ertions of the institution, as far as they were of a 
 spiritual nature, were to be confined to the simple 
 
130 frey's narrative. 
 
 object of convincing the Jews of the Messiahship of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ ; leaving tlie Jewish converts 
 to decide for themselves what external communion 
 of Christians they would join.* 
 
 ** It is evident, that so long as the operations of 
 the society were limited strictly to the above object, 
 it was possible for them to proceed in their course 
 without coming upon disputed ground, involving in 
 it the points of difference between Christians; and 
 thus far, all truly pious Christians could most cor- 
 dially act together, without offering violence to their 
 strictest and most conscientious views of duty. 
 
 ** The society having, very soon after its original 
 formation, become possessed of a large place of wor- 
 ship in Spitalfields, since called the Jews' chapel, it 
 was opened for the Jews ; sprmons were there deli- 
 vered by dissenting ministers of various denomina- 
 tions, and lectures on the evidences of Christianity 
 were preached by Mr. J. S. C. F. Frey. 
 
 ** By the divine blessing on the use of these 
 means, a small congregation of converted Jews was 
 collected ; but as the society was not then possessed 
 of an Episcopal place of worship, your committee, 
 anxious to conduct the institution on the principles 
 of strict impartiality, and to avoid giving occasion 
 of offence to the conscientious members of the esta- 
 blished church who were subscribers to the insti- 
 tution, did not then think it advisable that the Jews' 
 chapel should be permitted to assume the form of a 
 dissenting church ; and the sacrament of the Lord's 
 
 ' '^ It is the object of the London Society for promoting Chris- 
 tianity amontrst the Jews, to limit themselves to the eimple ob- 
 ject of convincing their Jewish brethren that Jesus is the Mes- 
 siah, the Savior ol'the world ; leaving them, when thus instructed, 
 to search the Scriptures, and judge lor themselves respecting all 
 inferior points on which Christians themselves are not agreed, 
 — IViird Report of the London iSocieiy, foge 13. 
 
FRfiv's NARRATIVE, 131' 
 
 Supper has consequently never been administered 
 there. 
 
 *' But it having pleased God, as above mentioned, 
 very early to bless the efforts of the institution, in 
 convincing some of the children of Israel that Jesus 
 Christ is the Messiah, it consequently became neces- 
 sary that the ordinance of baptism should be admi- 
 nistered to them. A part of the converts accordingly 
 received baptism in the Church of England, agree- 
 ably to the rites of that church ; and others were 
 baptized at the Jews' chapel in Spitalfields, by a 
 minister of the Presbyterian and National Church of 
 Scotland, and according to the forms of that national 
 church. The baptism of the converts from year to 
 year, has continued to be conducted in the same 
 manner, with the exception of last year only.* 
 
 " At the same time that sermons and lectures, as 
 above mentioned, were preached in the chapel of the 
 society, your committee embraced every opportunity 
 of procuring aid from the talents and piety of the 
 clergy of the established church, by soliciting them 
 to preach occasional lectures to the Jews in [)laces 
 of w^orship connected with the church of England, 
 In pursuance of the same general plan, and with the 
 design of connecting the institution more nearly 
 with its friends of the establishment, and of procu- 
 ring for it more general support in that quarter, your 
 committee obtained a lease of a piece of ground at 
 Bcthnal Green, where a large chapel for the Jews 
 has been erected, and opened under a license from 
 the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of London. This 
 chapel is under the ministerial charge of the Rev. 
 
 * The Rev. Dr. Nicol, ofthe Scotch church, who liad baptized 
 the Jews at the Jews' chapel in the former years, being particu- 
 larly engaged, the ordinance was, in this instance, administered 
 by the Rev. Mr. Arundel, of Whitby. 
 
132 FREY S NARRATIVE. 
 
 Mr. Havvthrcy, a regular clergyman of the Church 
 of England. 
 
 " In prosecuting these various measures, it was 
 the ardent desire of your committee to conciliate the 
 minds of all pious persons, both in the establishment 
 and amongst the dissenters. It was their view to 
 establish in the Episcoj)al chapel a mission to the 
 Jews, conducted by the clergy of the established 
 church ; and that a similar mission should be formed 
 in the Jews' chapel, where the Rev. Mr. Frey should 
 officiate as the regular minister, after receiving or- 
 dination ;* and that in this chapel, pious and learned 
 dissenting ministers should have opportunities af- 
 forded them of preaching to the Jews. It was thus 
 the endeavor of your committee to unite both the 
 church and the dissenters in the great work of evan- 
 gelizing the Jews. 
 
 "Your committee must now lay before you the 
 serious difficulties which have been experienced by 
 them, in carrying on the institution upon the above 
 principle. 
 
 " Although the society has met with much cordial 
 and zealous aid from its friends among the dissent- 
 ers, and the dissenting members of it have, with a 
 catholic spirit of liberality which reflects upon them 
 very high honor, willingly concurred in the measures 
 connected with the erection of the Episcopal chapel, 
 yet it is well known that the society has never been 
 
 * Intended ordinaiion of the Rev. Mr. Frey. — The Com- 
 mittee of the London Society have resolved that the Rev. Mr. 
 Frey shall be ordained at the Jews' chapel, as " Minister cfthe 
 Gospel to the Jews f'' and that he shall in future regularly 
 preach at that chapel on Sunday mornings and evenings, and 
 instruct the Jewish children and adults in the afternoons. He is 
 also to deliver a lecture on Wednesday evenings, and to attend 
 vhe prayer-meeting on Friday evenings. — Jewish Repository, 
 January^ 1815. 
 
trey's narrative. 133 
 
 supported by the dissenters generally, or in the same 
 degree as they have aided missions to the heathen. 
 
 *' With respect to the support given to the society 
 by the established church, your committee have long 
 been aware that many conscientious men in that 
 church have declined to support the institution, upon 
 the alledged ground of its connection with the dissent- 
 ers in matters of discipline ; and especially because 
 the Jews' chapel was considered as a dissenting 
 place of worship. The extent of this obstacle was 
 not, however, known to your committee till very 
 lately. It was discovered in consequence of their 
 attempts to remedy the financial difficulties under 
 which the society labored. These difficulties it is 
 now the painful duty of your committee to lay before 
 you. 
 
 "In the last annual report, your committee called 
 your attention to the considerable debt which had 
 been contracted by the society ; it is with the greatest 
 concern they must now add, that the gross amount 
 of debt at this time appears to exceed the sum of 
 c€ 7,500;* besides what is still due for the building 
 contract of the Episcopal chapel, amounting at least 
 to <£ 5,000 more. It is true that there is a large pro- 
 perty, and a considerable sum due to the society, to 
 set off against these debts ; but as that property is 
 not convertible into money, and a part of the sums 
 due to you are believed not to be recoverable, no im- 
 mediate relief can be expected from these sources. 
 Your committee are therefore reduced to the pain- 
 
 * In the last report of the society the debts were stated as 
 
 follows: I. s. d. 
 
 Due by the printing account, . . . 2,878 7 3 
 
 General debt, 2,676 6 1 
 
 5,554 13 4 
 
 The increaseof the debt, therefore, is about £2,000. 
 12 
 
134 frey's narrative. 
 
 ful necessity of stating, that unless the greatest 
 efforts and exertions are made, the society cannot 
 prosecute its great objects. 
 
 " Pressed on all sides by financial difficulties, 
 which have been so great that actions were brought 
 for some of the debts, and others threatened, your 
 committee attempted to meet these exigencies by 
 efforts to obtain a more enlarged support; but they 
 found insuperable obstacles to this design, arising 
 from the unwillingness of many excellent persons in 
 the church establishment to co-operate with the so- 
 ciety, as long as it was conducted on the principle 
 of the union of churchmen and dissenters, in mat- 
 ters affecting church discipline. It was in this way 
 that the whole extent of the practical difficulty aris- 
 ing from the above cause was ascertained. 
 
 "Your committee, without any delay, set them- 
 i^elves to consider the best mode of removing the 
 above objection ; and after very carefully consider- 
 ing a variety of plans, they, upon the 27th of De- 
 cember last, passed the following resolutions : 
 
 ^^ Resolved, 1. That the spiritual concerns of the 
 society connected with the chapels, the schools, and 
 the education of missionaries, be henceforth sepa- 
 rately conducted by the churchmen and dissenters 
 respectively. 
 
 "2. That the Episcopal chapel and school be a 
 distinct concern in the hands of the churchmen. 
 
 " 3. That the Jews' chapel and school be a distinct 
 concern in the hands of the dissenters. 
 
 *' 4. That the Hebrew New Testament, the print- 
 ing office, the manufactories, and female asylum, be 
 a distinct and separate concern, forming one com- 
 mon centre of union to all parties. 
 
 *'5. That a sum (say <£C,000) be advanced, two- 
 thirds by the church committee, and one-third by the 
 dissenting committee, for liquidating the debts of 
 
iPrey's narrative. 135 
 
 the society; and that the Episcopal chapel shall be 
 a security for the larger sum, and the other assets 
 of the society for the smaller sum. 
 
 ''6. That the three distinct concerns have each 
 its own particular committee, consisting of twelve 
 persons; but that six of the two chapel committees 
 be also members of the committee of the general 
 concern; so that the committee of the general con- 
 cern consist, in fact, of twenty-four persons. 
 
 " 7. That the three committees have a quarterly 
 meeting together, to state to each other their re- 
 spective proceedings. 
 
 " 8. That the proceedings of all the three com- 
 mittees be comprised in one report, and be read to- 
 gether annually, at the same time and place. 
 
 "It is observable that the above resolutions con- 
 sist of two parts ; the one relating to the general 
 management of the society, the other to its pecuni- 
 ary concerns. Your committee would offer a few 
 observations on each of them ; premising that nei- 
 ther of the two parts has been carried into execu- 
 tion. 
 
 " With respect to the part of these resolutions 
 first mentioned, it must be acknowledged that every 
 praise is due to the gentlemen who framed them. 
 They were evidently dictated by a desire ' to pre- 
 serve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.' 
 But there is reason to believe that they have not 
 satisfied those who objected to the union of the prin- 
 ciples of the church and dissent in one institution. 
 The execution of these resolutions would also have 
 been attended with practical difficulties of no com- 
 mon magnitude ; for they involve in them the yet 
 untried and anomalous expedient of subjecting the 
 different parts of one and the same institution to the 
 management of three distinct and independent com- 
 mittees, without any common controlling powder, ex- 
 
136 frey's narrative. 
 
 cepting that of a general meeting of the society. It 
 is much to be feared that such an arrangement, 
 without mentioning the evils of dividing the schools, 
 would have been pregnant with the seeds of unholy 
 emulation and dissension. 
 
 *' For the above reasons, it is the matured opinion 
 of your committee, that the execution of this part 
 of the resolutions referred to would have been found 
 inexpedient and impracticable. 
 
 " The other part of the resolutions provided for 
 the raising of a sum of money by way of a loan; 
 £4,000 to be advanced by the churchmen, and 
 £2,000 by the dissenters. It has been said, in re- 
 ference to this measure, that it would have been 
 better if no distinction had been made between the 
 parties, and that the money had been raised in com- 
 mon. In reply to this, your committee briefly ob- 
 serve, that any friends of the society, who should 
 have advanced the larger sum, had a just claim to 
 decide on what terms they would lend it ; and that, 
 as churchmen, it was more accordant with their 
 sense of propriety to lend it on the security of the 
 church property. 
 
 ** At a subsequent meeting of the committee, held 
 on the 31st of January, it appeared that the portion 
 allotted to the dissenters had not been raised by 
 them ; and it was stated by the church members, 
 that though their share of the proffered loan was 
 ready, yet they could not advance it until the dis- 
 senters should evince a disposition to fulfill their part 
 of the stipulation. A very long conversation took 
 place in consequence, and it was determined that 
 the church and dissenting members of the committee 
 should form separate sub-committees, which should 
 meet and see what could be done among their re- 
 spective friends to remove the difficulty, and report 
 to the next general meeting of the committee. 
 
137 
 
 **The sub-committee of dissenters having met, 
 resolved to call a general meeting of the dissenting 
 members in and near London. This meeting took 
 place on Tuesday, the 14th of February, and cer- 
 tain resolutions were then passed, expressive of their 
 design to withdraw from the management of the so- 
 ciety, and leave it in the hands of their brethren of 
 the established church. The resolutions of both 
 these meetings of dissenters will now be read to the 
 present meeting, 
 
 ** At a siih- committee meeting of Dissenters, held at the 
 London Society House , Feb, 6, 1815, 
 
 ** Mr. Lindeman in the chair, 
 
 *' Resolved, That as the debts of the society have 
 been incurred by the committee at large, it appears 
 to this committee that any exertions to discharge 
 the same, either by loan or subscription, ought to be 
 made by the committee at large, without respect to 
 religious denomination. 
 
 " That it is expedient to call a general meeting of 
 such dissenters as are subscribers to this society, to 
 take into consideration the present state of the so- 
 ciety. 
 
 " That this meeting be held at the New London 
 Tavern, in Cheapslde, on Tuesday, the 14th instant, 
 at 5 o'clock in the evening;. 
 
 'O 
 
 *^ At a meeting of the Dissenters in London, who are 
 subscribers to the London Society for 'promoting 
 Christianity amongst the Jews, held at the New 
 London Tavern, Cheapside, Feb, 14, 1815, 
 
 Joseph Fox, Esq. in the chair. 
 *' Resolved, 1. That it affords to the present meet- 
 ing the most heartfelt satisfaction, to contemplate 
 the success which it has pleased Divine Providence 
 
 12* 
 
138 trey's narrative. 
 
 to confer upon the efforts made for the conversion 
 of Israel since the establishment of this society. 
 
 *' 2. That as the present exigencies of this society, 
 and the exertions which will be required for its future 
 prosperity, call for greater pecuniary assistance, and 
 inci^ascd personal attendance, it appears to this 
 meeting, that from the numerous engagements of 
 dissenters in London, together with the various in- 
 stitutions belonging to themselves, it will not be in 
 their power to contribute more support to the society 
 than they have done hitherto. 
 
 " 3. That as it appears that many zealous mem- 
 bers of the established church have expressed their 
 conscientious objections to unite with this society 
 while its affairs are managed by a committee con- 
 sisting of persons of diflerent religious denomina- 
 tions, and have intimated their willingness to sup- 
 port it, if carried on exclusively by churchmen, this 
 meeting embraces this opportunity of proving that 
 they never, as dissenters, had any other design but 
 the conversion of the Jews to Christianity ; and as 
 it is probable that the assets are nearly sufficient 
 to cover the debts, they therefore cannot feel the 
 smallest objection to withdraw in favor of such of 
 their brethren of the established church who testify 
 a lively zeal in this grand cause, possessing also 
 sufficient means for promoting it. 
 
 "4. That this meeting feels itself called upon to 
 express the high sense they entertain of the faithful 
 and zealous exertions of the Rev. Mr. Frey during 
 the continuance of this society, not only in publish- 
 ing to his brethren of the house of Israel the truth 
 as it is in Jesus, but also for his unwearied labors in 
 traveling through aH parts of England, Scotland, 
 and Ireland, to make known to Christians in gene- 
 ral the design and objects of the society, whereby 
 
prey's narrative." 139 
 
 those funds have been procured which were con- 
 stantly found to be so necessary to its existence. 
 " Joseph Fox, Chairman. 
 
 *'5. That the cordial thanks of this meeting be 
 given to Joseph Fox, Esq. for his able conduct in 
 the chair. 
 
 " The said resolutions of the dissenting members 
 having been taken into consideration at a very nu- 
 merous meeting of the General Committee, held for 
 the purpose on the 17th instant, the subject was 
 discussed with a degree of Christian temper, for- 
 bearance, and love, which is seldom witnessed. 
 Your committee at length came to the determina- 
 tion of receiving the resolutions, and submitting 
 them to a general meeting of the society, with such 
 new rules and regulations as might be necessary in 
 consequence of our dissenting brethren having with- 
 drawn from the management. It only now remains 
 that your committee should offer a fe\w short re- 
 marks, and lay before you the rules and regulations 
 which may be necessary, should the general meeting 
 acquiesce in what has been proposed by the dissent- 
 ing members. 
 
 '* Your committee would remark, in the first 
 place, that the pecuniary situation of the society is 
 distressing in a high degree, and that it most urgent- 
 ly requires the application of a remedy without the 
 least delay. No expedient for conducting the affairs 
 of the institution, which does not provide for raising 
 a large sum of money, can be efiectual. 
 
 *' Enough has probably been said, to show the 
 impracticability of continuing the principle of united 
 operation in the management of this institution to 
 the extent which has been attempted ; and as the 
 resolutions of the dissenting members of the society, 
 now submitted to this meeting, seem calculated to 
 
140" 
 
 remove the difficulty, by effecting a separation in a 
 manner the most agreeable to the feelings of Chris- 
 tian kindness and charity, your committee offer to 
 your consideration the propriety of adopting the 
 following resolution : 
 
 " Resolved^ That this meeting is most deeply 
 sensible of, and most cordially and affectionately 
 acknowledges the Zealand liberality with which the 
 efforts of the society have been aided and supported 
 by Christians of various denominations throughout 
 the United Kingdom, from its original foundation. 
 The present meeting most deeply regrets the diffi- 
 culties which have arisen with respect to the union 
 of the members of the established church, and other 
 Christians, in the management of the society in 
 matters of church order and discipline ; and also 
 that the execution of the rules proposed on the 27th 
 of December last, has not appeared practicable. 
 Under circumstances of such diiliculty as the society 
 is now placed in, unity of design, and principle, and 
 operation, is peculiarly and indispensably necessary 
 for its future management. And as the dissenting 
 members have, with a spirit most truly conciliatory, 
 offered to leave the management of the institution 
 in the hands of their brethren of the established 
 church, this meeting do, with the same spirit of 
 Christian meekness and charity, ap})rove and accept 
 the offer ; and the members of it who are of the 
 established church, most earnestly beseech their dis- 
 senting brethren still to favor them with their pecu- 
 niary support, and, above all, to aid them with their 
 prayers, that they may be enabled, with the blessing 
 of God, to extricate the society from the state of 
 difficulty in which it is now placed, and to pursue 
 the great design for which it was instituted, with 
 renewed efforts of Christian faith, wisdom, and zeal, 
 
FRBV's NARRATIVE. 141 
 
 to the glory of their common Lord, in the salvation 
 of Israel. 
 
 " The motion that the above resolution be adopted, 
 having been put and seconded, the meeting was ad- 
 dressed by several gentlemen, some of them of the 
 established church, and some of them dissenters, 
 on the subject of the resolution. The dissenting 
 gentlemen expressed their determination, though 
 they had withdrawn from the management, still to 
 continue their aid to the institution, both by their 
 influence and example, and they thus evinced them- 
 selves to be actuated by principles of the most ex- 
 alted Christian philanthropy and liberality, which we 
 trust will be both felt and imitated in every part of 
 the kingdom. Perhaps the history of the Christian 
 church presents few examples of a point of so much 
 difficulty and delicacy having been decided with 
 such a happy union of those sentiments which most 
 highly adorn the Christian character. The resolu- 
 tion passed unanimously. It was then 
 
 ^^ Resolved i That the following rules be added to 
 the present rules and regulations of the London 
 Society : 
 
 " 1. That the children under the charge of the 
 society shall be instructed in the principles, and ac- 
 cording to the formularies, of the united church of 
 England and Ireland. 
 
 *' 2. That public worship, in the future operations 
 of this society, shall be conducted in strict confor- 
 mity to the liturgy and formularies of the church of 
 England, as by law established. 
 
 " 3. That if, at any time, a Jew, professing faith 
 in Christ, and seeking for the patronage of this 
 society, should entertain conscientious scruples in 
 respect of conformity to the rites of the church of 
 England, he sliall not thereby be deprived of, or 
 precluded from, temporal aid from this society, if 
 
142 
 
 he shall in other respects be deemed a fit and pro- 
 per object of the patronage of this society. 
 
 " That the following alterations be made in the 
 existing rules of the society : 
 
 *'4th Rale. — Instead of a committee of thirty- 
 six members to be chosen, twenty-seven from the 
 old committee, viz. those who shall have most fre- 
 quently attended, and nine from the general body 
 — a committee of twenty-four members shall be 
 chosen, eighteen from the old committee, and six 
 from the general body ; the said committee to be 
 composed of laymen. All clergymen who are mem- 
 bers of the society, or its auxiliary societies, shall 
 have a title to attend its committees, and vote ; and 
 all presidents and secretaries of auxiliary societies, 
 and all country directors, shall be, ex officio, mem- 
 bers of the committee. 
 
 *' 6th Rule. — Instead of the present rule, the fol- 
 lowing one is adopted : 
 
 ." The committee shall elect, at their first meeting 
 in every year, three auditors, who shall be members 
 of the society ; and shall, from time to time, appoint 
 visiters in the school ; and also such sub-commit- 
 tees as they consider necessary for the despatch of 
 business. 
 
 " 12th Rule. — Instead of the present rule, the 
 following one is adopted : 
 
 *' Two anniversary sermons shall be preached, at 
 such times and at such places of worship, con- 
 nected with the church of England, as the committee 
 may think proper ; the committee to appoint the 
 preachers." 
 
trey's narrative. 143 
 
 A LETTER FROM MR. JAMES MILLAR TO SIR THOMAS 
 BARING, BART. 
 
 Great Cambridge-slreet, Huckney-Road, May 19, 1815. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I beg leave to address you as the President of the 
 London Society for promoting Christianity among 
 the Jews, and to request you will oblige me, by ten- 
 dering to the committee my resignation of the office 
 of Assistant Secretary. 
 
 It will be understood, that on the change of the 
 constitution of the society, I did not feel that satis- 
 faction which I formerly had, and which had en- 
 couraged me to remain at my post, under difficulties 
 and inconveniences such as, 1 am inclined to think, 
 were unknown to any officer of any other religious 
 institution. At the same time I hope to be dis- 
 tinctly understood as having no difficulty in my mind 
 as to acting with members of the Church of Eng- 
 land : or that if the society had originally stood on 
 its present basis, it w ould have presented to me any 
 difficulty at all. Allow me further to remark, most 
 particularly, that I entertain the highest opinion of 
 the genuine piety of those gentlemen into whose 
 hands the management of the society is now com- 
 mitted. 
 
 In retiring from an active concern in the affairs 
 of the London Society, I beg leave to assure you, 
 sir, and the gentlemen of the committee, that I en- 
 tertain an unalterable regard for the objects of the 
 society, and a firm belief that the unchangeable pro- 
 mises of God are engaged in the ultimate success 
 of these objects. I shall, therefore, feel it my duty 
 to render any service to the cause in my power. 
 
 I beg leave also to express my sincere acknowledg- 
 
144 
 
 ments for the candid manner in which I have been 
 treated by the committee, even on occasions when 
 (however great may have been their kindness) I am 
 sensible they may have discovered defects or failings 
 in me. 
 
 With the most sincere personal respect for the 
 gentlemen who compose the committee, and you, 
 sir, in particular, 
 
 I am, sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 James Millar. 
 
 Resolution of the General Committee of the 27th 
 June, 1815. 
 
 Resolved unanimously, That this committee, consi- 
 dering that Mr. James Millar has been, for nearly 
 four years, a faithful servant, and a steadfast and 
 zealous friend of the London Society, are desirous 
 of offering to him a testimony, both of the high 
 value they put upon his past services, and of their 
 personal regard for him, and that, for this pur- 
 pose, they request that he will allow his name to 
 be placed upon the list of their honorary life 
 members. 
 
 My ministerial labors having ceased, I still con- 
 tinued with the society, and endeavored, to the best 
 of my abilities, to be useful to the cause, the edu- 
 cation of missionaries to the Jews, until May, 1816, 
 when my connection was dissolved. But several 
 members of the board agreed to allow me an an- 
 nuity of one hundred pounds for the first year, and 
 fifty pounds for the next ten years, and which has 
 been regularly paid through my friend, James Mil- 
 lar, Esq. In consulting with my friends what plan 
 to pursue, some proposed the formation of a new 
 
145 
 
 society upon the old principles of union, and wished 
 me to unite with them, but I could not bear the idea 
 of opposition. Others wished me to settle in a con- 
 gregation, but I had ever objected to becoming a 
 regular minister in a Christian congregation, and 
 thereby lose sight of the work of a missionary to 
 my Jewish brethren. I could have rather chosen 
 to go to Germany ; but there I should have met with 
 the same difficulty of obtaining ordination, and with- 
 out it I could not have been admitted into their 
 j)ulpits. Under these circumstances it was thought 
 best to remove to this country, where, though in- 
 habited by few of my Jewish brethren, yet the har- 
 vest is truly great, and the laborers comparatively 
 few. Accordingly, July the 23d, I left London with 
 my family, and embarked on board the brig Factor, 
 Capt. Malcomb. Our passage, in the whole, through 
 mercy, was safe and pleasant. We had mostly con- 
 trary wind, and several heavy gales and boisterous 
 storms. But, owing to the almost unparalleled atten- 
 tion of the captain, not the least damage was sus- 
 tained in any respect whatever. By the kind per- 
 mission of Capt. Malcomb, we met morning and 
 evening for family worship, when I had an oppor- 
 tunity of reading and expounding the sacred Scrip- 
 tures ; and on Sundays, as often as the weather would 
 permit, we had a sermon on deck ; and as soon as 
 we had obtained a sight of the land, we all met to 
 give thanks to the Lord, and I delivered a discourse 
 from John, 3:8, " The wind bloweth where it 
 listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst 
 not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth ; so 
 is every one that is born of the Spirit." May the 
 bread thus scattered upon the face of the waters be 
 gathered again after many days. Early on Monday 
 morning, September 8th, we observed the light- 
 house, and in the afternoon we passed Sandy-Hook, 
 
 13 
 
146 
 
 and came to anchor in the bay. At night the wind 
 began to blow from the northeast most violently, 
 and continued so for several days, and we were pre- 
 vented from getting into the harbor till the loth, (the 
 very day on which 1 set my foot on the British shore 
 in 1801.) It being the Lord's day, I went imme- 
 diately to church, and returned thanks to the God 
 of providence for his past mercies, and earnestly 
 implored a continuance of his gracious presence, 
 assistance, and blessing, for the future. 
 
 Having delivered my letters of introduction to 
 several ministers, and submitted to them other pa- 
 pers and testimonials,* I was received by them most 
 
 * Several reports, as false in their nature as pernicious in 
 their effects, havinir been industriously circulated respecting 
 myselt'and Mrs. Frey, I think it necessary to introduce, on the 
 present occasion, at least a few testimonials. 
 
 Go&port, July 3, 1816. 
 
 The departure of your friend immediately after our lecture 
 hours, prevents me from writing to you at large. I have only 
 time to offer my best wishes for the temporal and spiritual 
 prosperity of 3^ou and Mrs. Frey, and your family. The in- 
 cloi-ed papers will, I hope, be of service to you. I shall be 
 happy to hear from you before (you leave the country, ami 
 when you are settled in America ; and with earnest prayers I 
 remain, 
 
 Dear sir, 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 DAVID BOGUE. 
 
 The Rev. C F. Frey, of the seed of Abraham, was a student 
 of the seminary at Gosport, upwards of three years. I believe 
 him to be a true disciple of Christ; I consider him \vell qua- 
 lified to teach the Hebrew tongue in any of the schools or 
 colleges of the United States ; and I cordially recommend 
 him to the kindness and patronage of the friends of religion in 
 America. 
 
 DAVID BOGUE. 
 
 Gosport, July 3, 1816. 
 
frey's narrative. 147 
 
 affectionately, and kindly invited by the different de- 
 nominations to preach. On Sunday evening, Sept. 
 
 London "JliUj 15, 1816. 
 1 have been well acquainted with the Rev. Mr. Frey, for 
 many years, and admire him as a man of very respectable at- 
 tainments in theology, particularly in biblical knowledge, and 
 acquaintance with the Hebrew Scriptures. I also esteem 
 and love him for his piety; his talents lor preaching are of no 
 common order. Therefore I cordially recommend Mr. Frey to 
 the friendly attention and influence of ministers and private gen- 
 tlemen in America. 
 
 GEORGE GERMENT, D. D. 
 
 We. the midersigned, being clergymen of the established 
 church of England, do certify that we believe the Rev. Chris- 
 tian Frederick Frey, the bearer of this document, late preacher 
 at the Jews' chapel, Spitalfields, London, from a personal ac- 
 quaintance with him, to be a truly Christian character, and to 
 be actuated by a sincere zeal to promote the glory of God our 
 Savior, and the extension of the Gospel; and as such, cordially 
 recommend him to the patronage aed regard of our Christian 
 brethren in America, 
 
 THOMAS SANDERS, M. A. 
 
 lol 
 GEORGE WAY, B. A. 
 
 Merton College, Oxford. 
 ' Dated Siansted Park, near Chichester, Sussex, July \A,\^\Q. 
 
 In addition to the testimonials of my brother, the Rev. Geo, 
 Way, and tlie Rev. Mr. Sanders, minister of my chapel at Stan- 
 sted Park, in the county of Sussex, I, Lewis Way, do hereby 
 certify, that having known the said C. F. Frey intimately, and 
 been connected with him for upwards of three years in the con- 
 cerns of the Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, 
 do believe him to be an honest man, and a sincere Christian ; 
 and I can, from myovv^n knowledge, conscientiously recommend 
 him to the notice and protection of my brethren of the church 
 of Christ in any part of the world, either for the purpose of in- 
 struction in Hebrew, or for the extension of the knowledge of 
 the Gospel in a ministerial or any other capacity. 
 
 Witness my hand, this 8th day of Julv, 1816. 
 
 LEWIS WAY. 
 
 That Mrs. Frey's moral character was unimpeached at the 
 iime we left London, is evident from her being a most active 
 
148 prey's narrative. 
 
 22, I delivered my first sermon in Dr. Romeyn's 
 church, to a crowded and most attentive congrega- 
 tion, from Job, 19 : 25, '' I know that my Redeemer 
 liveth." Blessed truth ! Jesus, my Savior, not only 
 died for my offences, but also rose for my justifica- 
 tion ; nay, he also is at the right hand of God, ever 
 living to make intercession for us. To him I look 
 for wisdom, grace, and strength, equal to my day ; 
 
 member of the ladies' society, from her connection and corres- 
 pondence with some most respectable and pious ladies in Lon- 
 don, and particularly from the following certificate of the church 
 where she has been a member upwards often years: 
 
 This is to certify, that Mrs. Hannah Frey has been a mem- 
 ber of the Church of Christ, assembling in Hoxton Academy 
 Chapel, London, for some years, and having been converted 
 from among God's ancient people, the Jews, we commend her 
 to the affectionate care of the Lord's people in America. Done 
 at the church meeting, this 17lh day of July, 1816. 
 
 JAMES KEMP, } p. _^^^ 
 EDW. MASON, 5 ^eaconb. 
 
 Hoxton Academy Chapel, London, 
 
 Extract from the Register of Baptisms. 
 
 Mrs. Hannah Frey, (then Hannah Cohen,) was baptized 
 at Hoxton Academy Chapel, on the 18th day of September, 
 1806, by the Rev. R. Simpsoj), A. M. tutor of Hoxton Aca- 
 demy. 
 
 John, son of Joseph Samuel C. F. Frey, and Hannah Frey, 
 Steward St., born Sept. 6, 1807. Baptized Oct. 4, 1807. Rev. 
 J. Atkinson. 
 
 Rebekah, daughter of J. S. C. F. Frey, and Hannah Frey, 
 born March 17, 1809, Baptized April 16, 1809. Rev. T. 
 Thomas. 
 
 Sarah, daughter of J. S. C. F. Frey, and Hannali Frey, 
 born October 22, 1810. Baptized November 25, 1810, by the 
 Rev. Mr. Hunt. . 
 
 Esther, daughter of J. S. C. F. Frey, and Hannah Frey, 
 born June 21, 1812. Baptized July 20, 1812, by the Rev. B. 
 Ray son. 
 
 The above are true extracts, 
 
 EDW. MASON, 
 
 Deacon and Registrar. 
 
FREY S NARRATIVE. 
 
 149 
 
 and after I have done and suffered his will on earth, 
 I humbly hope to join the song of Moses and of the 
 Lamb in the kingdom above, for ever and ever. 
 Amen. Hallelujah. 
 
 Thus ended my narrative, published soon after 
 my arrival in this country. I shall now add a brief 
 account of my labors up to the present time. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 LABORS IN THIS COUNTRY. 
 
 From the pilot that came on board, we learned 
 that the Rev. Dr. Mason had gone to England on 
 account of ill health. This information was very 
 painful and discouraging, as he was the principal 
 person to whom my letters of introduction were di- 
 rected, and to whom I looked for patronage and ad- 
 vice. Like good old Jacob, I was ready to conclude, 
 "all these things are against me ;" but I soon dis- 
 covered, like him, that instead of being injurious, it 
 was of considerable use to me. In the first place, it 
 gave me an opportunity of supplying his pulpit regu- 
 larly for some time; and in the second place, it ena- 
 bled him to ascertain my standing at the time I left 
 England, and to know the correctness of my testi- 
 monials, as will appear hereafter. Some time after 
 my arrival, it was proposed to me, by three gentle- 
 men, to attempt the formation of an independent or 
 congregational church. As I was always connected 
 in England with that denomination, I could see no 
 objection. Accordingly I commenced, in June, 1817, 
 to preach in a school-house in Mulberry-street. 
 But this place proved by far too small, although it 
 was twice enlarged. The congregation purchased 
 
 13* 
 
150 FREY'S NARRATIVE. 
 
 a place of worship in Pearl-street, which had lately 
 been occupied by the Universalists, but, this also be- 
 in^ too small for the multitude that flocked to hear 
 " the glorious Gospel of the blessed God," they 
 erected a house of worship in Vandewater-street. 
 
 I had not preached long in the school-house before 
 a church was formed, and they gave me a call to 
 become their pastor. But, as rumors unfavorable 
 to my character had been whispered about, I refused 
 to accept of a call until the return of Dr. Mason 
 from Europe, to testify respecting my character. 
 Soon after his arrival, a committee was appointed 
 by the church, vvho waited on the doctor, and pre- 
 sented a letter from the church, containing several 
 queries respecting my character. The doctor hav- 
 ing been informed by the oflicers of his church that 
 I was supplying his pulpit, and requested to investi- 
 gate the reports in circulation, informed the commit- 
 tee, and also the church, by letter, that he had made 
 diligent inquiry, and could testify that the reports 
 were vile slanders, and my testimonials correct and 
 true. The churcli, by a unanimous vote, having ex- 
 pressed their perfect satisfaction, I accepted their 
 call, and was ordained as their pastor, on Wednesday, 
 April 15th, 1818, by the Westchester and Morris 
 County Presbytery.* At my examination for ordi- 
 nation, the presbytery not only carefully examined 
 my credentials and testimonials, but also appointed 
 the Rev. Stephen Grover, and Gen. Wm. Gould, of 
 Caldwell, N. J. (both are still living) as a committee 
 to wait on the Rev. Dr. Romeyn, and other clergy- 
 men, to make inquiry into my character and stand- 
 ing since I came to New- York. Having received 
 perfect satisfaction, my ordination was agreed to by 
 
 * The government of the churches are strictly independeiU, 
 or congrega*,iona!. 
 
frey's narrative. I5i 
 
 a unanimous vote, as appears by a copy of their mi^ 
 nutes, now before me. 
 
 In 1820, several circumstances occurred which 
 3ed the congregation and myself to dissolve our con- 
 nection with that body, and to apply to the New- 
 York Presbytery for admission. But, lest there 
 should yet remain some i)rejudice against my cha- 
 racter, I requested of the presbytery the appoint- 
 ment of a committee to examine my testimonials, 
 and to write to England for further information. 
 This being done, and satisfactory answers received, 
 I was admitted a member of that respectable body 
 in October, 1821. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ORIGIN AiND PROGRESS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY 
 FOR MELIORATING THE CONDITION OF THE 
 JEWS. 
 
 Soon after my arrival in this country, I received 
 a letter from D. Marc, one of my converted Jewish 
 brethren, proposing the establishment of a " Chris- 
 tian Jewish Settlements^ in this country. From this 
 letter 1 give the following extract, which, I believe, 
 will be read with considerable interest : 
 
 " From the time it has pleased God to call me 
 from darkness into his marvellous light, next to the 
 care of the salvation of my own soul, was the sal- 
 vation of my people, and kindred, that occupied my 
 heart most. My prayer was for my soul, and my re- 
 quest for my people. By mature consideration, I soon 
 saw that we could not reasonably expect an extensive 
 spread of Christianity among the Jews, at least not 
 a great number of true converts, until Christians 
 establish, or form, a Christian Jewish settlement. 
 
152 FRET'S NARRATIVE. 
 
 " There are many difficulties in the way of a Jew, 
 by which the very first idea in favor of Christianity 
 is arrested in its progress. Some of these difficul- 
 ties are, 
 
 '*!. The ungodly lives of nominal Christians. 
 
 '*2. The want of kindness among many who arc 
 true and sincere Christians, but whose heart the 
 Lord has not vet stirred up to compassion towards 
 this afflicted nation. 
 
 "3. The dreadful idea to separate from a na- 
 tion, whose distinct and lasting existence, as a pecu- 
 liar people, God had so clearly promised, saying, 
 * Though I make a full end of all nations whither 
 I have scattered thee, yet will I not make an end of 
 thee.' Jer. 30:11. 
 
 "4. That brotherly love which he enjoys among 
 his own people, but which he no where else observes 
 in such a degree. 
 
 "5. The mere idea of going among Christians 
 excites in him a timidity indescribable. 
 
 "6. The greatest difficulty lies in the way of the 
 poor. Where is he to seek for help and assistance 
 in time of need? He stands alone in the world ; he 
 is forsaken by his Jewish brethren ; and to apply to 
 Christians — the very thought is painful to his feel- 
 ings ; and from their past conduct to Jews, he is 
 apprehensive to be looked upon, nay, even treated 
 as a self-interested hypocrite. 
 
 "All these difficulties might be removed by form- 
 ing a Christian Jewish settlement. Such a colony 
 ought to be established upon plans well matured, 
 with all possible precaution and Christian prudence. 
 The advantages of such an institution are many : 
 
 "1. It would excite the attention of the Jews 
 in every part of the world. 
 
 '*2. It would be the most suitable to carry on a 
 friendly correspondence with the Jews on the sub- 
 
frey's narrative. 153 
 
 ject of Christianity, especially, if it should contain a 
 number of pious and learned men. 
 
 " 3. It would be of great use to those Jews among 
 the Roman Catholics, Mahometans, and Heathens, 
 who, through the multitude of superstitions and 
 errors mixed with the truth, and the numerous 
 sects among Christians, are at a loss both] how to 
 judge of the truth of Christianity, and which sect or 
 denomination they are to join. 
 
 "In Germany, and in most places in Europe, the 
 nature of the governments, and especially the pre- 
 judice of the people, is very unfavorable to the for- 
 mation of such a colony, whilst America possesses 
 every advantage for such an institution. 
 
 "In that extensive country, there must yet be 
 much ground uncultivated and uninhabited. There, 
 where, every year, colonies of poor people meet with 
 assistance and encouragement, might not a similar 
 favor be shown to Abraham's seed, every where 
 else oppressed and persecuted ? / aak^ now, whether 
 you would be loUling to form a society of proper per- 
 sons to assist in this undertaking ? The assistance 
 necessary would be, 
 
 "J. To select and procure a proper place for a 
 settlement for 200 families. 
 
 "2. To facilitate, as much as possible, their pas- 
 sage from Europe in American vessels. 
 
 "3. To assist them, in case of necessity, during 
 the first year. 
 
 "This subject needs no farther recommendation 
 to the true Christian ; nor will any be required by 
 the philanthropist, who considers the barbarity and 
 cruelty with which the Jews are oppressed in most 
 parts of the world. Nor can it be doubted that, 
 after so long and bitter a persecution, they would be 
 most faithful and zealous adherents to a country of 
 so liberal a constitution as that of the United States. 
 
154 frey's narrative. 
 
 "Assistance may be expected from the London 
 Society, as well as from other Christian countries, 
 especially in Germany, where many true Christians, 
 and persons of great influence, are ready to assist, 
 with all their power, to promote this object." 
 
 Although I was much pleased with this proposi- 
 tion, and had but little doubt of its success, yet 
 having already met with so much ill-will, opposition, 
 and trouble, in my former eflbrts to promote the 
 salvation of my brethren, and having but lately 
 come to this country, I did not communicate the 
 contents of this letter to any person, but pondered 
 it much in my heart, and spread it frequently before 
 the Lord. However, the subject was pressed upon 
 me by several other letters, the last of which closed 
 with these words : "I now call heaven and earth 
 to witness that I have laid before you a plan calcu- 
 lated to promote the salvation of our Jewish breth- 
 ren, and which requires nothing but your exertions, 
 which, if you refuse, remember that the blood of 
 our brethren will be found on the skirt of your gar- 
 ment." After this solemn and awful exhortation I 
 could no longer rest. Immediately I translated his 
 first letter, and resolved to lay it before "the Board 
 of Trustees of the Society, instituted in Morris 
 county, N. J., for promoting learning and religion," 
 of which I was a trustee. On the 17th of April, 
 1819, in my way to meet the board, on entering 
 Newark, I\vas overtaken by a most awful thunder- 
 storm. Having taken shelter in the house of the 
 Rev. Dr. Griffin, I informed him of the object I had 
 in view in visiting New-Jersey, and read the letter 
 of Mr. Marc, after which we had a long and very 
 interesting conversation on the present and future 
 state of my Jewish brethren. The doctor, who is 
 well known to take a deep interest in all benevolent 
 institutions, manifested a peculiar sympathy towards 
 
frey'^ narrative:. - 155 
 
 the wandering sheep of Israel, greatly encouraged 
 my heart, and became one of the first and warmest 
 advocates of this institution. At the meeting of the 
 board I was authorized to invite Mr. Marc to come 
 to this country, at our expense, to act as agent in 
 executing the plan suggested by him. Having com- 
 municated to him this resolution, and received for 
 answer that he could not accept of this invitation 
 on account of his previous engagements with the 
 London Society, the Rev. Stephen Grover, of Cauld- 
 well, together with myself, were appointed a com- 
 mittee to consult with ministers and other gentlemen, 
 and especially with the late Dr. Boudinot, on the 
 expediency of forming a society for the purpose of 
 colonizing and evangelizing the Jews. 
 
 In pursuance of this appointment, Mr. Grover 
 being prevented from accompanying me, I proceeded 
 alone to Burlington. In my way thither I called on 
 the late Dr. Livingston, and consulted with him on 
 the subject, who, after full and mature considera- 
 tion, drew up and signed the following : "Having 
 
 understood, by a letter from Mr. , a Christian 
 
 Jew, as well as by letters from James Millar, Esq. 
 of London, that an ardent wish prevails among 
 some Christian Jews in Germany to emigrate to the 
 United States, for the express purpose of forming 
 a settlement ; to obtain, without interruption, instruc- 
 tion for themselves ; and to promote more effectually 
 the Christian religion among the Jews; we, whose 
 names are underwritten, do hereby certify, that as 
 far as the object is at present comprehended by us, 
 we most cordially approve of the same." Thus 
 encouraged, I went on my way rejoicing, and at 
 Princeton I called on the Rev. Drs. Green, Alexan- 
 der, and Miller, who, after fervent prayer, and much 
 serious deliberation, signed the preceding para- 
 graph, I now proceeded to Burlington, where I was 
 
156 FREY S NARRATIVE, 
 
 received by the late venerable Dr. Boudinot with 
 the greatest cordiality and friendship. Having sub- 
 mitted to him the proposed object and plan, together 
 with various documents on the subject, and con- 
 versed much about the state of the dispersed in Ju- 
 dah and the long-lost tribes of Israel, he communi- 
 cated to me his opinion in the following letter : 
 
 Burlington, JVore>»^er 26, 1819. 
 
 *'Rev. and Dear Sir, 
 
 *' I have carefully attended to the important sub- 
 ject of our last evening's conversation. It is only 
 to a part of your plan, that is of minor consequence, 
 to which I have at present any objection.. As I have 
 but a few minutes to express my opinion in writing, 
 your own memory will furnish you with particulars. 
 My present design is to express, in as short a man- 
 ner as possible, my cordial acquiescence in the 
 whole of your designs, if pursued with caution in 
 the detail. My w ish would be to revive, as soon as 
 convenient, the late society for evangelizing the 
 Jews, established in New- York a few years since — 
 that they should apply, without further explanation, 
 for a charter of incorporation, to the legislature, at 
 their next session ; afterwards a plan of further pro- 
 ceedings, and the appointnient of the proper officers, 
 may then take place, and every proper measure 
 pursued for the effecting so useful and essential a 
 business to the church of Christ ; and may he bless 
 you in all you do, agreeably to his rich promises in 
 the Gospel. 
 
 *' I have the honor to be, with every sentiment of 
 respect and esteem, 
 
 " Rev. and dear sir, 
 
 " Yours in our common Lord, 
 
 ^' ELIAS BOUDINOT. 
 
 " Rev. J. S, C. F. Frey^' 
 
FREY S NARRATIVE. 157 
 
 With great thankfulness to the God of Provi- 
 clence, I now returned to New- York, and called on 
 most of the ministers of different denominations, 
 and invited them to attend a meeting for the pur- 
 pose of taking into consideration the expediency of 
 forming a society for colonizing and evangelizing 
 the Jews. They all promised to attend ; and on the 
 day appointed they fulfilled their promise, I believe, 
 without exception. At this meeting, after a full 
 discussion of the subject, it was resolved to have 
 another meeting, and that every minister present 
 was to bring with him two lay members of his con- 
 gregation. Accordingly a large meeting took place, 
 when it was unanimously resolved, that it is expe- 
 dient to form a society for colonizing and evange- 
 lizing the Jews ; and at the next meeting, held on 
 the 8th of February, 1820, the society was actually 
 formed, a constitution adopted, officers chosen, and 
 I was appointed to apply to the legislature for a 
 charter. Accordingly I went to Albany, where, at 
 first, I met with considerable discouragement, owing 
 to the nature of the application being novel in its 
 kind, and radically different from other societies. 
 However, having given public notice that I intended 
 preaching a sermon on the past and present state of 
 the Jews, a large assembly was collected, and a great 
 interest excited. The very next day the subject was 
 introduced into both houses, and referred to a com- 
 mittee. Whilst the subject was in the hands of the 
 committee, some objections were made against the 
 words " colonizing and evangelizing.^^ I agreed to 
 the proposal of erasing both words out of the title, 
 and substituting the word " meliorating," and under 
 this title the society was incorporated by an act 
 passed on the 14th day of April, 1820. 
 
 The original title of the society, viz. " The Ame- 
 rican Society for colonizing and evangelizing the 
 
 14 
 
158 FREYS NARRATIVE/ 
 
 Jews," was much better than the present,' for it 
 explained at once the object and design of the insti- 
 tution. The former was the means to accomplish 
 the latter. The Jews were to be gathered into s 
 colony, that there they might have an opportunity 
 of earning their bread by their own industry, and 
 at the same time be instructed and established in 
 the doctrines and principles of Cliristianity. But 
 although the legislature, at the time of granting an 
 act of incorporation, thought it proper to alter the 
 iitle, yet the original intention and piirjwse of the 
 society js still the saine^ as is evident from the second 
 article of the constitution, which reads thus: 
 
 " The object of this society is to invite and receive, 
 from any part of the world, such Jews as do already 
 profess the Christian religion, or are desirous to re- 
 ceive Christian instruction, to form them into a set- 
 tlement, and to furnish them wiih the ordinances of 
 the Gospel, and with such employment in the settle- 
 ment as shall be assigned them ; but no one shall 
 be received unless he comes well recommended for 
 morals and industry, and without charge to this 
 society ; and both his reception and continuance in 
 the settlement shall be at all times at the discretiori 
 of the directors." 
 
 Although the society was now incorporated, yet 
 two full years passed by without any attempt made 
 to promote its noble object. The members of the 
 board became very much discouraged, and for two 
 or three successive monthly meetings we could not 
 get a quorum. One day, whilst writing a letter to 
 Germany, to propose, as the last dying effort, the 
 formation of a society to furnish the inquiring Jew 
 with testimonials, a friend entered my study with 
 the pleasing, important, and seasonable intelligence, 
 that God had raised up a nobleman in Germany, 
 who had established an asylum as a nursery to our 
 
169 
 
 settlement, and that his agent had arrived at Bos- 
 ton, with desjiatches to our society, for co-operation. 
 I need not tell you, nor is it possible to describe, the 
 joy and gratitude of my heart. I laid down my pen, 
 and patiently, or rather with impatience, waited the 
 arrival of Mr. Jadoimiicky. In a few days he arrived. 
 The board was convened. The agent produced his 
 credentials, and delivered several documents ex- 
 pressive of the wish of Count Von der Recke. The 
 meeting was very full ; tears of joy were seen to 
 steal down the cheeks of some of the venerable 
 fathers present ; and the language of all was, " Now, 
 in the name of the Lord, let us go forward." But 
 what was to be done ? Hitherto no assistance had 
 been solicited. The subject was altogether new, 
 radically different from all other benevolent institu- 
 tions ; the public needed much information, which 
 could not easily be communicated by mere addresses 
 from the press. An agent was wanted to ti*avel 
 through the country. Gladly would I have gone, 
 but I was then under a promise to my congregation 
 to solicit aid for them in the New-England states. 
 This caused another delay of twelve months. Hav- 
 ing fulfilled my engagement, by mutual application 
 to the presbytery, my pastoral connexion with the 
 church was dissolved in Sept. 1822, and I engaged 
 as agent to the society. In my first tour to the south, 
 during six months I traveled 2,305 miles by land, 
 preached 196 times, collected about 4,600 dollars, 
 and formed 51 auxiliary societies. 
 
 Thus I continued traveiin<]^ as ao;ent for several 
 years, collecting many thousand dollars, and formed 
 more than four hundred auxiliary societies. The 
 question has often been asked, in a variety of ways, 
 and from different motives, "What has Mr. Frey 
 done with all the money he has collected i"' With 
 pleasure I take this opportunity of replying I have 
 
160 frey's narrative. 
 
 done with the money as every agent ought to do, I 
 delivered it to the treasurer, and received my re- 
 ceipt. That this is the case, will appear, first, from 
 the following general certificate : 
 
 "It is hereby certified that the accounts of the 
 Rev. C. F. Frey, as agent of the American Society 
 for meliorating the condition of the Jews, were au- 
 dited and settled to the entire satisfaction of the 
 board, on his ceasing to be their agent. 
 " By order of the Board, 
 
 " W. F. Piatt, Rec Sec. 
 
 " Neic-York, March Ulh, 1829." 
 
 And, secondly, from the treasurer's account, pub- 
 lished monthly in Israel's Advocate, containing a list 
 of all collections made, or money received by me 
 and delivered to the treasurer, a copy of which pub- 
 lication was sent to every congregation where I had 
 preached and collected. But if the question be ask- 
 ed, what have the board done with the money .'' I 
 reply, with deep regret, the board will have to give 
 an awful account of it, if not to man, yet certainly 
 unto God. As a director of the board, I have this 
 testimony of my conscience, that my name is on re- 
 cord as protesting against their proceedings for the 
 last two years of my attendance. 
 
 In 1826, finding that there were more than 
 $16,000 in the treasury, and nothing done for meli- 
 orating the condition of the Jews, I could neither 
 seethe necessity nor the justice of my continuing 
 any longer agent, and eat the bread of idleness. [ 
 therefore resigned my agency and returned to my 
 ministerial labors. 
 
■5fi4Ev'S NARRATIVE. 161 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 HIS CHANGE OF VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT OF BAPTISM* 
 
 It having been contemplated by a number of re- 
 spectable citizens to form a settlement at Yorkville, 
 I removed thither with my family, opened a school, 
 and preached regularly on the Lord's day, and week 
 ijvenings. During my residence at this place, an 
 important change took place in my views on the sub- 
 ject of baptism. The circumstances which led to it 
 are as follows : At the christening of one of my 
 children, together with others, the minister exhort- 
 ed us *'to bring up our children in the nurture and 
 admonition of the Lord." This scriptural, solemn, 
 and affectionate exhortation was enforced by ob- 
 serving, " These children are now members of the 
 churchy adopted into the fa7nily of God,'''' <fct;. &c. 
 These declarations were forcibly impressed upon my 
 mind, as if I had never heard them before. They 
 appeared to me, at that moment, inconsistent with 
 the doctrine of perseverance. I resolved, therefore, 
 not to present another child of my own, nor to bap- 
 tize the children of any other, before I had tho- 
 roughly investigated the subject. 
 
 In June, 1827, the Lord blessed me with another 
 chihl, and immediately my resolution to investigate 
 the subject of baptism, before I could present ano- 
 ther child, came to my recollection. Accordingly 
 I gave myself to reading, meditation, and prayer. 
 After carefully comparing the best books, on both 
 sides of the question, with the word of God, I came 
 to the full conviction that believers are the only sub- 
 jects of baptism., and that immersion is the only scrip- 
 
162 frey's narrative 
 
 tural mode. I now felt it my duty to obey the com 
 mand of my Lord and Savior to be baptized, i. e. 
 immersed. Therefore, without conferring with flesh 
 and blood, or fearing the consequences, I proposed 
 myself as a candidate to the Baptist Church, Mul- 
 berry-street, New- York, inider the pastoral care of 
 the Rev. A. Maclay, by whom I was baptized on 
 Lord's day, Aug. 28th, 1827. The arguments which 
 produced the change have been published in essays, 
 the third edition of which is now before the public. 
 Having received a call from the Baptist church at 
 Newark, N. J., I removed thither in January, 1828, 
 continuing to exercise the pastoral office until April, 
 1830, when I accepted a call from the church at 
 Sing-Sing, in this state. Here I continued two years. 
 Hitherto the Lord has continued to me a far greater 
 measure of health than falls to the lot of most men. 
 Hence I have been enabled to travel, labor, and 
 preach for more than thirty years, almost without 
 interruption. Besides my stated labors since 1 have 
 joined the Baptist denomination, I have spent, every 
 year, a portion of time in visiting the churches, and 
 preaching daily the glorious Gospel of the blessed 
 God. In the first journey I spent six weeks in the 
 eastern part of the New-England states. The next 
 year I traveled for three months in the states of 
 New- Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of 
 Columbia, and Virginia. My next tour has been 
 through the states of New- York, Vermont, and part 
 of Massachusetts, for five months. Last year I went 
 as far as New-Orleans, through the states of Virginia, 
 North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, 
 and back through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, 
 and Ohio ; about 8,000 miles in eight months, visit- 
 ing two hundred and seventy-six churches, and 
 j)reaching about three hundred times. Since my ar- 
 rival in this country in 1816, I have been enabled 
 
yftEv's NARRATIVE, 163 
 
 to preach four thousand four hundred and seventeen 
 times ; and I have reason to hope my labors have 
 not been in vain in the Lord. 
 
 Thus, hke Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I have 
 moved about from place to place, having no conti- 
 nuing city here ; but I humbly hope and trust I am 
 traveling to a better country, even an heavenly. 
 May my future days be more holy, more humble, 
 and more useful ; and the glory shall be to the 
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one Jehovah, now 
 and for ever. 
 
 ELDER C. F. FREY. 
 
 The following is a most complete vindication of 
 brother C. F. Frey frotn the aspersions cast upon 
 him at the West ; some of which were uttered in our 
 hearing, and at once resisted. Few who heard them, 
 we imagine, gave them credence ; still it will be 
 gratifying to them to read a refutation, removing 
 
 every vestige of doubt. The confident Mr. S , 
 
 of H , will become modest after perusing this 
 
 statement; and if he thinks of the ninth command- 
 ment in the fear of his Maker, he will hardly feel 
 acquitted without some confessions to the worthy 
 individual he has slandered, — N. Y. Baptist Re- 
 gister. 
 
 To the Editor of the Baptist Register. 
 
 Dear Sir — Having been called upon for infor- 
 mation in relation to certain reports which have been 
 put in circulation respecting our esteemed brother, 
 C. F. Frey, we desire to make known to the public, 
 through the medium of your paper, what we believe 
 
164 
 
 to be unquestionable facts, which show that these 
 reports are totally and absolutely untrue. 
 
 The reports to which we refer are in substance 
 as follows : 
 
 1. That Mr. Frey, when he came to this country, 
 had absconded from England with £3,000 sterling 
 of money collected by him for the London Society 
 for promoting Christianity among the Jews. 
 
 2. That he embezzled the money collected by him 
 for the American Society for meliorating the condi- 
 condition of the Jews. 
 
 3. That, in consequence of this, he had been ex- 
 communicated from the New- York Presbytery, and 
 therefore became a Baptist. 
 
 1. With respect to the first of these rej)orts, we 
 have to say, tlnyit when 3Ir. Frey came to this coun- 
 try, he brought from men of the first standing in 
 England, the most satisfactory testimonials of the 
 uprightness of his deportment, and the excellency 
 of his character as a Christian, and as a Christian 
 minister. 
 
 When Mr. Frey's connection with the society in 
 London for promoting Christianity among the Jews 
 was dissolved, a number of gentlemen belonging to 
 the committee of management (among whom were 
 Sir Thomas Baring, Rev. Lewis Way, and Rev. 
 Charles Simeon) settled upon him an annuity of 
 XlOO for the first year, and £50 for the next ten 
 years, which has been regularly paid through the 
 medium of James Millar, Esq. the secretary of the 
 society. 
 
 Shortly after Mr. Frey arrived in this country, his 
 credentials having been examined, ho was appointed 
 to supply the pulpit of the Rev. John M. Mason, 
 D. D. who was then on a visit to Europe. As some 
 insinuations unfavorable to Mr. F.'s character were 
 circulated, Dr. Mason was requested to inquire into 
 
166 
 
 the subject. Having done so, he addressed a letter 
 to the church that had just been formed under the 
 pastoral care of Mr. Frey, stating iinreservedli/, thett 
 the charges aofainst Mr. F. were unfounded, and his 
 reputation unblemished. 
 
 Mr. Frey and his congregation applied, subse- 
 quently, to be admitted into connection with the 
 New- York Presbytery. At his request a committee 
 was appointed to examine his credentials, and to 
 write for further information to the following per- 
 sons, viz. the Rev. David Bogue, D. D. professor 
 in the missionary seminary where Mr. F. had stu- 
 died four years ; the Rev. Geo. Burder, secretary of 
 the Missionary Society, with which Mr. Frey was 
 connected from 1801 to 1809 ; the Rev. Dr. Waugh, 
 one of the original directors, and at the time a di- 
 rector of that society; and the directors of the Lon- 
 don Society for promoting Christianity among the 
 Jews, under which Mr. F. was employed from 1809 
 to 1816 — the period of his emigration to this coun- 
 try. From these quarters, and from James Millar, 
 Esq. whom we have already named, the most satis- 
 factory answers were received, fully attesting the 
 purity and rectitude of Mr. Frey's hfe. 
 
 2. In regard to the second report — after Mr. Frey 
 had completed his agency for the American Society 
 for meliorating the condition of the Jews, his ac- 
 counts were examined, audited, and approved, by a 
 respectable and competent committee. On the books 
 of that society their correctness is recorded and cer- 
 tified ; and since Mr. Frey became a Baptist, the 
 Board of Directors (of which one of the undersigned 
 was then, and had been for several years, a mem- 
 ber) unanimously voted him a certificate, amply at- 
 testing the industry and faithfulness with which he 
 had transacted the business confided to his hands. 
 
 3. As to the third report — when Mr» Frey pro- 
 
166 frey's narrative. 
 
 posed himself for ba}3tism and union with the Baptist 
 church of Christ in Mulberry-street, New- York, a 
 committee of two deacons was appointed to inquire 
 respecting his character and standing in the presby- 
 tery with which he stood connected. They waited 
 on the Rev. Samuel H. Cox, D. D. who was under- 
 stood to be one of its members, and the reply which 
 that gentleman politely and promptly returned, was 
 perfectly satisfactory. He assured them that Mr. 
 Frey was a member, in regular and good standing, 
 in the same presbytery with himself. 
 
 To these statements we forbear to add any re- 
 marks. We esteemed it our duty to vindicate the 
 name of our brother from an undeserved reproach ; 
 the motives of its authors we have no wish to ex- 
 pose or censure. To evince his integrity and inno- 
 cence, v/e think, enough has been said ; on them we 
 seek to pass no judgment. 
 
 Archibald Maclay, 
 
 Pastor of the Baptist Church, Mulberry-street, New-York. 
 
 Charles G. Sommers, 
 
 Pastor of the South Baptist Church, New-York. 
 
 Spencer H. Cone, 
 
 Pastor of the Oliver-street Baptist Church, New-York. 
 
 D. Dunbar, 
 
 Pastor of the North Beriah Baptist Church, New-York. 
 New- York, Dec. 6, 183 L 
 
appendix:. 
 
 In my frequent travels, both in Britain and in this country, I 
 have almost in every place been asked a variety of questions 
 relative to the Jewjg. Desirous to diffuse information to those 
 also with whom I have no opportunity of personal conversation^ 
 I thought it might be acceptable to answer the most common 
 and interesting of such inquiries in an appendix in this edition 
 of my Narrative. These queries relate either 
 
 To the Jews, called in Scripture, " The dispersed in Judah," 
 i. e. scattered among all civilized nations. 
 
 1. Do the present Jews know to which tribe they belong 7 
 
 I answer in the negative^ for their genealogies are totally lost. 
 No Jew, therefore, can tell to what tribe he belongs, except the 
 posterity of the tribe of Levi, divided into Levites and priests, 
 or descendants of the family of Aaron. This distinction, how- 
 ever, is kept up, not by genealogy, but by certain ceremonies. 
 Whenever the Law is read in the synagogue, the first person 
 called up to stand at the right hand of the reader, and pro- 
 nounce a blessing, is a priest, or cohen ; the next is a Leviie^ 
 and the rest are called Israelites. Again ; every first-born 
 male must be redeemed ; i, e. the parent pays to the priest about 
 the value of five shekels, or five dollars. No priest dares enter 
 the house containing a dead body ; nor defile himself by attend- 
 ing a funeral. That the distinction of tribes by genealogies was 
 to cease after the coming of the Messiah, was foretold in the 
 famous prophecy concerning Sh'doh. See Gen. 49 : 9, 10. The 
 word shevet, translated sceptre, literally signifies a rvd or staff] 
 and is used figuratively as a sign of authority of a lesser or greater 
 magnitude ; viz. as a judge, ruler, or king. See 2 Sam. 7 : 7. 
 Compare with 1 Chron. 17 : 6; Psalm 45: 6. In this place the 
 word shevet should by no means have been translated sceptre ; for 
 it could not, with any sort of propriety, be said that " the seep- 
 
168 APPENDIX 
 
 tre should not depart from Judah," when Judah had no sceptre, 
 nor was to have any for many generations afterwards. Besides, 
 if it had been designed to express royal authority, the objection 
 of the Jew would be unanswerable when he saith, " The royal 
 sceptre has departed from Judah at the Babylonish captivity, five 
 hundred years before the birth of Christ, and therefore he could 
 not be that Shiloh, or Messiah." 1 am, then, inclined to think, 
 that the plain meaning of the word in this passage, is a tribe. 
 or a distinct family, as it evidently is used in verse 28th of this 
 chapter. The patriarch Jacob, just before his death, was en- 
 dowed with the spirit of prophecy, constituted each of his sons 
 a tribe, or the head, judge, or ruler, of a large family, and fore- 
 told the most remarkable circumstances that should befall each 
 of them. Judah was singled out as the most honorable amongst 
 his brethren, (see verse 9, 10,) because, however the other tribes 
 might be scattered or mixed, Judah should remain a distinct 
 tribe or family, each of them to be known by his genealogy, 
 until Shiloh, i. e. the Messiah, should have come. 
 
 Hence the tribe of Judah was preserved, in a remarkable 
 manner, as a distinct tribe, until after the birth of Jesus Christ, 
 and his descent from Judah had been established beyond con- 
 tradiction. The providence of God watched over this tribe 
 particularly. It was numbered apart in David's time, 1 Sam. 
 24 : 9 ; and the prophets were very careful of the genealogy of 
 this tribe, even in the times of the captivity, as appears from 
 Ezra and Nehemiah. But, soon after the death of Jesus, Jeru- 
 salem was destroyed, and the tribe of Judah was dispersed, and 
 their genealogies confounded and lost, in such a manner, that 
 there is now not a family, even not the house of David, that 
 know for a certainty, or can prove their line of descent. 
 
 How striking a proof that the Messiah must have come long 
 ago, and that in Jesus of Nazareth, blessed be his name, this 
 prediction has received its accomplishment ! He came for whom 
 was ordered the distinction of tribes and genealogies, to mark 
 his descent from the family of David, the tribe of Judah, and 
 the seed of Abraham, in whom all the families of the earth 
 were to be blessed, and having finished their design and desti- 
 nation, they exist no more. 
 
 2. Another question is, Do the Jews now any where oflfer up 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 169 
 
 sacrifices. This also is to be answered in the negative. Since 
 the destruction of Jerusalem, and the temple, by Titus, the Jews 
 no where have offered up any sacrifices, because God himself 
 had restricted them to that place. See Deut. 1 2 : 10-14. That 
 sacrifices were to cease after the death of the Messiah, and that 
 the children of Israel were to remain without them for a long 
 time, was also foretold by the prophets. See Dan. 9 : 27, and 
 Hosea, 3 : 4. ~ For the same reason the Jews use no passover- 
 lamb, but have substituted one of their cakes of unleavened 
 bread. 
 
 3. Another question, still more frequently proposed, relates to 
 the restoration of Israel. It is asked, " Will the Jews ever 
 literally return to their own land, or are the prophecies to be 
 fulfilled in a spiritual sense ? If they return to their own land, 
 will it be before or after their conversion ? Is the time of their 
 restoration near at hand, or afar off?" To answer these ques- 
 tions in a manner as it might and ought to be done, would fill a 
 volume of considerable size. My own opinion on the subject 
 may be seen in the Prospectus at the end of this Appendix, 
 under the article, the Second Advent of Christ. But to assist 
 the reader in searching the Scriptures for himself, and form his 
 own answers, I would furnish him with an extract from a very 
 ancient and scarce work. 
 
 I. The Jews shall be gathered from all parts of the earth 
 where they are now scattered, and brought home into their own 
 land. See Isaiah, 11:11; 27:12, 13; 43:5, 6; 49:11,12; 
 60 : 4. Compare Jer. 3:18; 16 : 14, 15 ; 23 : 3 ; 30 : 10 ; 31 : 7, 
 8 ; 32 : 37. Also, Hosea, 9 : 10, 11. Zeph. 3 : 10. Zech. 8 : 7, 
 8 ; 10 : 8-10. 
 
 II. They shall be carried by the Gentiles unto their place, 
 who shall join themselves with the Jews, and become the Lord's 
 people. Isaiah, 49 : 22; 14 : 12 ; GO : 9; 66 : 19, 20; 2 : 2-4. 
 Compare Jer. 3 : 17 ; 16 : 19. Ezek. 47 : 22, 23. Micah, 5 : 3. 
 Zech. 2: 11; 8: 20-23. 
 
 III. Great miracles shall be wrought when Israel is restored 5 
 as fi'merly, when they were brought out of Egypt, viz. 
 
 1. Drying up the river Euphrates. Isaiah, 11 : 15, 16. Zech. 
 10 : 11. Rev. 16 : 12. Hosea, 2 : 15. Micah, 7 : 15. 
 
 2. Causing rivers to flow in desert places. Isaiah, 40 : 17-19; 
 48 : 20, 21 ; 43 : 9, 20. 
 
 15 
 
170 APPENDIX. 
 
 3. Giving them prophets. Isaiah, 66 : 18-21. Hosea, 12 : 9, 10. 
 
 4. The Lord Christ shall appear at the head of them. Isaiah, 
 53 : 8 ; 52 : 12; 58 : 8. Hosea, 1 : 10, 11. Micah, 2 : 12, 13. 
 
 IV. Tlie Jews being restored, and converted to the faith of 
 Christ, shall be formed into a state, and have judges and coun- 
 sellors over. them, as formerly: the Lord Christ himself being 
 their King, who shall then be acknowledged King over all the 
 earth. Isaiah, 1 : 26j 60 : 17. Compare Jer. 23 : 4; 30 ; 8, 9, 
 21. Hosea, 3 : 5. Ezek. 34 : 23, 24 ; 37 : 24, 25. Isaiah, 54 : 5. 
 Obad. 5 : 21. Zech. 14 : 5, 9. Psalm 22 : 27, 28. 
 
 V. They shall have the victory over all tlieir enemies, and 
 all kings and nations of the earth shall submit unto them. Isaiah, 
 11 : 13, 14; 41 : 14-16; 49 : 23; 60 : 12 ; 25 : 10-12. Joel, 
 3 : 7, 8, 19, 20. Obad. 5 : 17, 18. Micah, 4 : 6-8, 12, 13 ; 5 : 5-7 ; 
 7:16,17. Zech. 2: 13; 9: 13-15; 10:5, 6; 12:6. Numb. 
 24 : 17. Isaiah, 49 : 23 ; 60 : 10-16 ; 66 : 19, 20. 
 
 VI. The Jews restored shall live peaceably, without being 
 divided into two nations, or contending with one another any 
 more. Isaiah, 11 : 13, 14 ; 14 : 1, 2. Jer. 3 : 11 ; 1:4. Ezek. 
 37:21,22. Hosea, 1 : 11. 
 
 1. They shall be very numerous, and multiply greatly. Isaiah? 
 27: 6; 44 : 3, 4; 49 : 18-21 ; 54 : 1-3; 61 : 9. Jer. 23 : 3; 
 30 : 18-20; 31 : 27. Ezek. 19; 34 : 11 ; 36^ 38, 39. 
 
 2. They shall have great peace, safety, and outward temporal 
 prosperity. Isaiah, 32 : 16-18 ; 33 : 24; 44 : 13-17; 60 : 18, 
 21. Jer. 23 : 3-6 ; 30 : 10 ; 32 : 34-41 ; 33 : 6-9; 50 : 19, 20. 
 Joel, 3 : 17, 18. Micah, 7 : 18-20. Zeph. 3 : 13. Zech. 3 : 9, 10. 
 
 3. They shall be very glorious, and a blessing in the whole 
 earth. Isaiah, 19 : 24, 25; 61 : 9.' Jer. 33 : 9. Ezek. 34 : 26. 
 Zeph. 2 : 19, 20. Zech. 8:13. 
 
 VII. The land of Judea shall be made eminently fruitful ; 
 like a paradise, or the garden of God. Isaiah, 29 : 17; 35 : 1, 
 2,7,9; 51:3,10:54: 11-13; 55:12,13; 60:17; 65:17,25. 
 Ezek. 34 : 26, 27 ; 36 : 27. Joel, 3 : 18. Amos, 9 : 13, 14. 
 
 VIII. Jerusalem shall be rebuilt, and after the full restoration 
 of the Jews, shall never be destroyed, nor infested with enemies 
 any more. Isaiah, 52 : 1 ; 26 : 1 ; 60 : 18 ; 33 : 6. Joel, 3 : 17. 
 Obad. 5 : 17. Zech. 14 : 10, 11. Jer. 31 : 38-40. Ezek. 38 : 11. 
 
 IX. A little before the time of the Jews' call and conversion, 
 there shall be great wars, confusion and desolation, throughout 
 
APPENDIX. 171 
 
 all the earth. Isaiah, 34. Joel, 31 : 10. Zeph. 3 : 8, 9. Ezek. 
 28 : 25, 26. Hag. 2 : 21-23. Jer. 30 : 7-10. 2 Chro. 15 : 3-7. 
 
 The next sort of queries relate to the Ten Tribes, called the 
 " Outcast,'''' i. e. a people cast out of the knowledge and memory 
 of men. Concerning these tribes it is often asked, "Are they 
 still in existence ? Where are they to be found? Will they ever 
 return to the land of Canaan? In answering these queries, it 
 will be proper to attend to the last first. That the ten tribes 
 will return again to the land of promise, as well as the Jews, is 
 evident from many passages of Scripture mentioned in the pre- 
 ceding extract. Let the reader seriously consider the following 
 gracious promises : Ezek. 36, from verse 23 to 36. Here not 
 only their conversion to God is foretold, but also their dwelling in 
 their own land, the land which God '•'■gave to their fathers ;^^ 
 that they should build cities, and enjoy great outward prosperity. 
 In the next chapter, the return of the lohole house of Israel is 
 represented in the beautiful similitude of the resurrection of a 
 great multitude oi" dry bones; the re-union of Judah and Israel 
 is predicted by the miraculous union of the two sticks in the 
 hand of the prophet. Who, after reading and praying over 
 these two chapters, can doubt whether the Jews, and the ten 
 tribes, shall be re-established in Palestine? This vision of the 
 prophet has never yet received a pnwiory, or partial fulfillment. 
 The whole of it remains to be accomplished. None of those 
 written on the second stick, in the hand of the prophet, have 
 ever yet been recovered. The whole passage is intimately con- 
 nected with the battle of that great day which introduces the 
 miltennium, as appears in the two following chapters. Here 
 the house of Israel enter again upon their everlasting posses- 
 sion of the land of promise, which God engaged to our father 
 Abraham. 
 
 Another passage, much to the subject in hand, is Isaiah, 
 11 : 11-16. On this passage, the late Mr. Scott (with whom I 
 have often conversed on the subject of the Jews) says : " For 
 the Lord w^ill then remove all obstacles by the same powerful 
 interposition that he vouchsafed in behalf of Israel, when he 
 separated the tongue, or bay of the Red Sea, and destroyed that 
 hinderance to the departure of Israel ; and with a mighty wind 
 he will so separate the waters of the river Euphrates, in all its 
 streams, that mm may pass over it dry-shod. Thus an high- 
 
172 APPENDIX. 
 
 way shall be made for Israel's return, as there was for their an 
 cestors to pass from Egypt into Canaan." And the learned 
 Bishop Lowth saith, " This part of the chapter foretells the glo- 
 rious times of the church, which shall be ushered in by the res- 
 toration of the Jewish nation, when they shall embrace the 
 Gospel, and be restored to their own country. This remarkable 
 scene of Providence is plainly foretold by most of the prophets? 
 and by St. Paul." The future return of the ten tribes to the 
 land of Canaan being established, there can remain no further 
 doubt respecting their distinct existence somewhere. It remains, 
 therefore, to attend only to the more difficult question, viz. 
 WJiere are they most likely to be found ? As it appears from 
 many predictions, and especially from Ezekiel, 37th chapter, 
 that they are a very g^reat multitude, we seek in vain for them 
 in any of the known parts of the world. Is it, therefore, not 
 more than probable that the great body of them arc in the iii- 
 ierior of Africa, a country which none has ever been able to 
 penetrate, notwithstanding the many attempts which have been 
 made. This opinion, however, is not designed to contradict tlie 
 opinions of those learned men who have considered the Afghans^ 
 the henai Israel, or black Jews in Cochin China, and the Abori- 
 gines in this country, to be of the ten tribes. The reader will 
 be much pleased and instructed by perusing the elaborate work 
 of the late venerable Dr. Boudinot ; " Tlie Star in the West;^ 
 and the " View of the Hebrews,''^ by the Rev. Ethan Smith, 
 
PROSPE CTUS. 
 
 The author of this Narrative intends publishing JOSEPH 
 AND BENJAMIN, or a Series of Letters, in three parts. 
 
 OBSERVATION. 
 
 The subjects of these letters are the result of more than 
 twenty years' close investigation, during which time the 
 author had access, in London, to large libraries and the best of 
 Jewish writings ; and the substance of these letters constituted, 
 for a number of years, his lectures to the Jews. The great and 
 important object in view is to show that the doctrines of the 
 Christian religion are not " the inventions of modern hireling 
 priests," but are contained in the Old Testament, and were 
 known and believed before the coming of Christ, by the saints 
 made wise unto salvation. The greatest part of the work is 
 ready for the press, and has been submitted to several judicious 
 persons of different denominations, who have highly approved 
 of it, and warmly recommended it to the public. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PART L 
 
 Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. 
 
 1. The necessitii of a Mediator— in 15 letters. Subjects — 
 Divine Revelation 5 the character of God ; man's state of inno- 
 cency ; his fallen condition. 
 
 2. Messiah must have come — in 6 letters. Subjects — The 
 appointment of a Mediator; Jacob's prediction concerning 
 Shiloh; Haggai's Desire of all nations; Daniel's seventy 
 weeks ; Jewish evasions. 
 
 3. Jesus of Naz^areth is the promised Messiah — in 19 let- 
 ters. Subjects — Predictions fulfilled respecting the time and 
 circumstances of his birth, his character, his miracles, his pro- 
 phetic office ; his priestly office ; origin and design of sacri- 
 fices; his sufferings, death, and burial ; his resurrection and as^ 
 pension ; his kingly office. 
 
174 PROSPECTUS. 
 
 4. T^e second advent of the Messiah— m 12 letters. ■ Sub- 
 jects—The return of the Jewish nation to their own land, in an 
 unconverted state ; the destruction of the eastern anti-christ ; 
 Jerusalem and the temple rebuilt, and Judaism re-established ; 
 the converted Jews carried to Palestine ; Jerusalem besieged 
 by the western anti-christ ; the personal appearance of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ ; the battle of Temageddon ; the conversion 
 of the Jewish nation; the first resurrection; the ten tribes of 
 Israel are re-united with Judah ; Satan bound for a thousand 
 years, and the personal reign of Christ on the earth. 
 
 5. Messiah the Judge of the World— in 4 letters. Subjects 
 — The general resurrection ; the judgment day ; Heaven ; 
 Hell. 
 
 PART n. 
 
 Jesus Christ the Son of God. 
 
 1. Messiah was to be a Divine Person — in 6 letters. Sub- 
 jects — The trinity in unity; the angel of Jehovah was a divine 
 person ; this angel was expected to be the Messiah. 
 
 2. Jesus of Nazareth is tridy God — in 5 letters. Subjects — 
 He answers to the divine angel ; he has every criterion of the 
 true God. 
 
 PART III. 
 
 The importance of the Divinity of Christ. 
 
 1. Consequences if he he not tridy God — in 6 letters. Sub- 
 jects — He could not have been the promised Messiah, but a 
 vile deceiver ; the Jews could not be blamed for putting to 
 death a blasphemer ; the Mosaic dispensation is not abrogated, 
 and no atonement made ; the New Testament and the Chris- 
 tian religion are a " cunningly devised fable ;" the most learned 
 and pious Christians in former ages have been, and those now 
 living are, gross idolaters; into this fatal error they have been 
 led simply by believing the Scriptures ; but who can believe 
 that a revelation, w^hose chief end is to rescue men from idolatry, 
 and to bring them baclt to the l<nowledge and service of God, 
 which was propagated by men the most exemplary for piety 
 and uprightness, and which has produced effects the most 
 
PROSPECTUS. 175 
 
 blessed and glorious, should lead men into such fatal and abo- 
 minable errors ? 
 
 2. Consequences if he he truly God—'m 8 letters. Subjects 
 — God is love, and Jesus Christ has furnished us with a most 
 perfect example ; sin appears an abomination, and love and 
 obedience are our most reasonable duty; the rejecters of 
 Christ's divinity are in a most awful condition ; penitent sin- 
 ners have the greatest encouragement to flee to Jesus ; believers 
 in Christ may rejoice evermore in their Savior God ; the 
 friends and promoters of Zion's welfare may take encourage- 
 ment from the certainty of ffnal and complete success in the 
 cause of a divine Redeemer. 
 
 N. B. Conditions will be published hereafter. 
 
 RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
 From Presbyterian Ministers in Neio- York. 
 
 The subjects embraced in the work entitled " Joseph and 
 Benjamin," proposed to be published by the Rev. Joseph 
 Samuel C. F. Frey, are, in themselves, so deeply important, 
 and so catholic in their character, that all who have any right- 
 eous claim to the character and hopes of a Christian, will re- 
 joice in every prudent and proper effort to explain, defend, and 
 establish them. 
 
 Mr. Frey's previous character as a Jew ; his acquaintance 
 with the Hebrew language, customs and traditions; his present 
 character as a Christian minister, and his necessarily constant 
 and thorough investigation of the themes he proposes to discuss, 
 peculiarly qualify him lor this work. In the hope that God 
 the Savior will be glorified through its influence, the subscri- 
 bers cordially recommend the proposed publication to the pa- 
 tronage of the Christian public. 
 
 Alexander McLeod, D. D. | Robert McCartee, 
 Stephen N. Rowan, D. D. I Joseph McElroy, 
 Samdel H. Cox, D. D. | Benjamin H. Rice. 
 
 NeW'York, Feb. 9th, 1830. 
 
176 PROSPECTUS. 
 
 From Ministers in the Dutch Reformed Church, New- Yorh 
 
 We shall be much gratified in seeing the contemplated work 
 of the Rev. Mr. Frcy before the public, and cordially concur in 
 the above recommendation. 
 
 John Knox, D. D. I N. J. Marselus, 
 
 H. B. Brownlee.D. D. Eli Baldwin. 
 
 Froin Baptist Ministers in New- York. 
 
 "We, the undersigned, do gladly avail ourselves of this oppor- 
 tunity to express our entire confidence in the judgment and 
 ability of our beloved and respected brother Elder C. F. Frey, 
 for furnishing the Christian public with the interesting work 
 proposed for publication in the above prospectus. 
 
 Mr. Frey's profound knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures ; 
 his intimate acquaintance with the best Jewish writings ; his 
 free access, for many years, to the most valuable and exten" 
 sive libraries in Europe, and his general character as an able 
 minister of the New Testament, fully justify the belief that his 
 " Joseph and Benjamin^'''' will contain matter of no ordinary 
 interest to the advocates of Bible Christianity. The judicious 
 arrangement exhibited in the above table of contents needs no 
 commendation from us, and we are assured by those wdio have 
 perused the manuscript, that his method of discussion, as well 
 as the matter itself, amply sustains the expectatoin excited. 
 
 We therefore cheerfully recommend the work to the patron- 
 age of all the friends of Zion, as a most reasonable antidote to 
 those erroneous and pernicious principles so extensively propa- 
 gated in the present day. 
 
 Archibald McClay, 
 
 D. Dunbar 
 
 Jacob H. Brouner. 
 
 Spencer H. Cone, 
 Ch. G. Sommers. 
 
Princeton Theological Semmary-Speer Library 
 
 1 1012 01039 8024