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The Great Controversy 1888
because he pretended to be the Messiah, the Jewish tribunal sentenced
him to death.” “Why, then,” rejoined the questioner, “why is Jerusalem
destroyed? and why are we in captivity?” “Alas, alas!” answered his
father, “because the Jews murdered the prophets.” The thought that
was at once suggested to the child, “Perhaps Jesus of Nazareth was
also a prophet, and the Jews killed him when he was innocent.” So
strong was this feeling, that though forbidden to enter a Christian
church, he would often linger outside to listen to the preaching.
When only seven years old, he was boasting to an aged Christian
neighbor of the future triumph of Israel at the advent of the Messiah,
when the old man said kindly, “Dear boy, I will tell you who the
real Messiah was: he was Jesus of Nazareth, whom your ancestors
crucified, as they slew the prophets of old. Go home and read the fifty-
third chapter of Isaiah, and you will be convinced that Jesus Christ
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is the Son of God.” Conviction at once fastened upon him. He went
home and read the scripture, wondering to see how perfectly it had
been fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. Were the words of the Christian
true? The boy asked of his father an explanation of the prophecy, but
was met with a silence so stern that he never again dared to refer to
the subject. This however only increased his desire to know more of
the Christian religion.
The knowledge he sought was studiously kept from him in his
Jewish home; but when only eleven years old, he left his father’s
house, and went out into the world to gain for himself an education,
to choose his religion and his life-work. He found a home for a time
with kinsmen, but was soon driven from them as an apostate, and
alone and penniless he had to make his own way among strangers. He
went from place to place, studying diligently, and maintaining himself
by teaching Hebrew. Through the influence of a Catholic instructor,
he was led to accept the Romish faith, and formed the purpose of
becoming a missionary to his own people. With this object he went, a
few years later, to pursue his studies in the College of the Propaganda
at Rome. Here his habit of independent thought and candid speech
brought upon him the imputation of heresy. He openly attacked the
abuses of the church, and urged the necessity of reform. Though at
first treated with special favor by the papal dignitaries, he was after
a time removed from Rome. Under the surveillance of the church he
went from place to place, until it became evident that he could never