Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/183

Rh Lopez, an opulent gentleman among the Jews, celebrated as well for humanity, as for mercantile knowledge, met me at the door of the state-house, and, pressing my hand, said: "God Almighty be with you, sir, and bless and preserve you wherever you go, giving you good success always." He would have added; but his overflowing heart evidently denied him utterance. The Jews were generally pleased. They declared, they had never before heard so much in favour of Christianity. Poor hearts! they would see the things, which belong to their peace, if the appointed time of the Father were come; in this their day they are hidden from their eyes: but the day of the Lord cometh, when whatever is hidden shall be revealed.

I was solicited to take up my abode at Newport, and assured, if I would so do, a place of public worship should be erected for my accommodation. These good people learned, that I had been necessitated to part with my horse, for the purpose of defraying the expenses, attendant upon re-printing specimens of apostolic preaching, selected from the writings of Mr. Relly; and they insisted upon purchasing me another. Nor was this all; they helped me on my way, contributing abundantly, by private gratuities, to the relief of my necessities. Mr. Ward, secretary to the then province of Rhode-Island, with many others, were, upon this my second visit, added to the number of my friends. A member of Dr. S's church informed me, it was affirmed, I had absolutely said, all men should be saved. I assured him, I had never said, all men should be saved; I had said, Jesus was and is the Saviour of all men; and that, in the fulness of time, he would gather together all things into ,—bringing in his antient people, the Jews, and with them the fulness of the Gentiles,—causing all flesh to come and worship before him,—and making of Jew and Gentile new man, so making peace; and that all the kingdoms of the world should become the kingdoms of God and of His Christ. I publicly invited any individual in Newport, who had aught to say against the testimony I delivered, to meet me in an open manner, the bible in his hand; and if the arguments he should produce were more consistent with the sacred writings, I would upon the spot, in the most unreserved manner, acknowledge and renounce my errors.

Quitting Newport, I took passage for East-Greenwich. A fellow passenger told me, he had been informed I had said: Our sins were laid upon the Devil; and that there was nothing for us to do; and he wished to know, if I believed either the one or the other? Certainly not, I replied; it was not the Devil, but the Redeemer, on whom the