Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 112

1850.

Letter from B. J Bettelheim

راح

country and religion; honor and duty bid us to hold fast our confi- dence, and our faint hope firm to the end, and stand, a brave phalanx of soldiers of the cross, as long as we are helped and supported by God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And now men of Israel, help! Remember, a son of Abraham, I have become a Gibeonite to help the Gentiles to an inheritance in the Ca- naan of God. For what am I doing here but hewing wood and draw- ing water, the first rough and menial service, by which the unshapely block is torn from the quarry of nature, to be subjected gradually to the sinoothing tools of civilization and religion. Behold, I, and the children which God has given me, aud the wife of my youth, life, and substance, and comfort, all we are and have, are laid upon the altar of God for the Gentiles' sake; will not a Gentile brother, whom grace has brought into the commonwealth of Israel, feel it his duty to come over and help us, and assist the elder brother in his toils and hardships en- dured forthe gentiles' sake? Spread your skirts over this widowed Ruth, who has left father and mother and the land of her nativity, and is come unto a people not known heretofore, a nation meted out and trodden under foot, for no other reason than the glory of God, and the advance- ment of his kingdom of righteousness and truth. Do at least send us letters of comfort and advice. Perhaps our stay here is, for reasons unknown to ine, inadmissible; perhaps the due time of relief has not yet come for these outskirts of the world; who knows but our's is a case similar to Ezekiel's, when the Lord directed him, "Prepare thy stuff for removing; it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house."

My dear brother, I need not ask you to excuse my length; I ani tired of it myself, but could not cut it shorter. Oue of old said he had not time to be short; as for me I have not ability to write a short let- ter, if I have to say much. To say much and concisely is the gift of good writers, and I must be thankful for getting through my matter anyhow.

Believe me,

Your's in the bonds of the Gospel,

B. J. BETTELHEIM.

P. S. Since the preceding was written, information has been received from Dr. Bettelheim up to Dec. 28th, 1849, at which time he and his family were in good health. The same system of watching his motions whenever he goes abroad is kept up by the spies; and even when Mrs. Bettelheim goes out with him to make a diversion in his favor, by drawing part of their attention of herself, their number is increased, in order to prevent either of them quietly addressing the people. Speaking of the hindrances they put in the way of going out on the Sabbath, the recurrence of which they are well aware of, he says: "They make preparations the day before, doubling the guard and look-

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VOL. XIX. NO. 11.