rom time to time felt a desire to fill up Brother Ball's place as a
missionary to the Jews, (about which, however, I did not seriously think,
because Dr. Tholuck daily expected a letter from London, finally to settle
the particulars respecting my going to Bucharest); and whilst I thus
greatly delighted in the study of Hebrew: I called in the evening of Nov.
17th on Dr. Tholuck. In the course of conversation he asked me, whether I
had ever had a desire to be a missionary to the Jews, as I might be
connected with the London Missionary Society, for promoting Christianity
among them, for which he was an agent. I was struck with the question, and
told him what had passed in my mind, but added that it was not proper to
think anything about that, as I was going to Bucharest: to which he agreed.

When I came home, however, these few words were like fire within me. The
next morning I felt all desire for going to Bucharest gone, which appeared
to me very wrong and fleshly, and I therefore entreated the Lord, to
restore to me the former desire for labouring on that missionary station.
He graciously did so almost immediately. My earnestness in studying
Hebrew, and my peculiar love for it, however, continued. About this time I
had an offer of becoming tutor to the sons of a pious Gentleman of title,
which I did not accept on account of my purpose of going to Bucharest, and
if that should come to nothing, on account of my desire of being a
missionary to the Jews.

About ten days after, Dr. Tholuck received a letter from the Continental
Society, stating, that, on account of the war between the Turks and
Russians, it appeared well to the committee, for the time being to give up
the thought of sending a minister to Bucharest, as it was the seat of war
between the two armies. Dr. Tholuck then asked me again, what I now
thought about being a missionary to the Jews. My reply was, that I could
not then give an answer, but that I would let him know, after I had
prayerfully considered the matter. After prayer and consideration, and
consulting with experienced brethren, in order that they might probe my
heart as to my motives, I came to this conclusion, that, though I could
not say with certainty it was the will of God that I should be a
missionary to the Jews, yet, that I ought to offer myself to the
committee, leaving it with the Lord to do with me afterwards, as it might
seem good in His sight. Accordingly Dr. Tholuck wrote, about the beginn