October, till the 11th of November, when we went together to Mens, to the dedication of a temple. During his stay here, I made him literally travel by mountain and valley, by day, and by night, through wind, snow and ice; he crossed with me, the famous Col d'Orsiére; where I certainly did not expect to find quite so much snow; it was however, four or five feet deep, and there was no track to be seen. We had ten guides; most of them robust chamois-hunters. We were six hours in ascending the Col; and four in descending it; that is to say, a passage which may be performed in four or five hours, now took us a day. It was of course very cold, but the weather fortunately was clear and calm. The poor Captain, not used to such a quantity of snow, could scarcely get on, and was overcome with fatigue; I was really in fear for him, but he is robust and courageous.

'He has seen all our churches, and almost all our villages, and will carry away a pretty just idea of the Alps. He seems particularly fond of Freyssinières, though he has only seen it buried in snow. The character of the inhabitants pleases him much, though he of course dislikes their uncleanliness and idleness. I remained at Mens twelve days, during the time of the dedication. The pastors from the department of the Low Alps were prevented from coming, with the exception of an old man from Chatinon, by the snow which had fallen.

I spent a short time at Grenoble; and then went back to Champsaur, and Freyssinières, with four young men from St. Laurent, who will attend my school this year. We had great difficulty in reaching Dormilleuse, where we are almost blocked up by continual falls of snow; its depth is almost the height of a man; and in some places the frequent fall of enormous avalanches have increased it to five-andtwenty feet. From the 1st of November we have not had a fine day till last Thursday, of which I took

advantage, and went to Guillestre, coming here on Saturday. The road is better than at Dormilleuse, and if the fine weather lasts, the snow will be sufficiently hardened for me to return without risk.'

Alas! who could foresee that this would be the last winter that Neff would spend with his pupils at his dear Dormilleuse; and how will our hearts grieve, to see at the head of the following chapter this melancholy announcement," Return of Neff to Geneva." Yet so it is. Let us then read with redoubled interest and attention the few records that yet remain of his life. The missionary now rests from his labours, and his works have followed him.

CHAPTER X.

From January 1, till the return of Neff to Geneva, June 15, 1827.

IT is indeed too true. This chapter brings our dear missionary back to Geneva. Scarcely had he begun his work, than he was obliged to abandon it. His heart bled at the separation from his people, and his affections constantly reverted to Dormilleuse even at the hour of death. But we will not anticipate events by these sad reflections, but will return to his labours at present so full of energy and activity.

The following letter does not in any way refer to the affairs of the High Alps. It is a theological, and rather controversial letter; such as unfortunately Neff was often obliged to write. We shall refrain from commenting upon it: the letter will speak for itself better than we could do; whatever remarks we may make, will be simply with a view of explaining what appears to us to have been the writer's real meaning. The reader must in all things judge for himself.

To M. le Pastor Térisse at Nyons.

Dormilleuse, Jan. 10, 1827. 'DEAR BROTHER IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

'It is always a gratification to me to hear from

those whom I know and esteem in your parts, and particularly to find that some, whom I had left far from the kingdom of God, have through grace been brought in. Your letter, therefore, would have doubly pleased me, had not other parts of its contents been of a painful nature. I am, however, gratefully sensible of the confidence and candour you show towards me; for it is very seldom that people suspend their judgment till they have heard both sides. If you were nearer to our friend Olivier the elder, he could show you a letter I wrote to him at his request. Fivaz could also tell you precisely my sentiments on the subject; and I should be obliged to you to ask him, if you have an opportunity, for I can now express myself but very imperfectly.

'It is most likely that the report you mention, arose in consequence of a conversation with Messrs. N. and N. I believe I did say to them that I was an Arminian; neither is it the first time I have assumed a name, of which as I understand and use it, I am not ashamed. Dreading and disliking extremes, I yet often feel myself compelled to take an opposite side, with those who on any subject are inclined to exaggerate; and I am an Arminian among you, because the greatest part of you are too ultra Calvinist. If, on the contrary, you were ultra Arminian, I should be a Calvinist. I certainly believe decidedly in predestination; nevertheless, it appears to me that it is impossible to square and systematise all the doctrines in question, without running a risk of distorting and mutilating the Scriptures; the Arminian and Calvinist being both equally able, apparently, victoriously to establish their system by the Bible. I think it a great want of sense in men to attempt boldly to decide the question. In many passages of the Bible I see predestination plainly and decidedly taught; but when I find a multitude of other passages in the Sacred Volume expressed as though this doctrine did

not exist, I feel myself authorized to act in a similar manner, wherever I judge it necessary; and I cannot approve of those who make it an essential article of faith, and who, by insisting upon it, in season and out of season, make it a stumbling-block to many souls. I cannot but grieve to see how boldly and daringly some will maintain this doctrine, and I grieve still more to observe the dry scholastic theology which has in consequence taken the place, with some, of the pure and simple piety of the little child. These excesses, and their lamentable results, have made me very cautious in maintaining this doctrine. In some places, and especially among you, it has been made so repulsive, that I have been obliged for a time at least, to keep it in the shade, in order to win to the Gospel those minds which had been alarmed and prejudiced by men too exclusive in their ideas. I again repeat, however, I do acknowledge it to be a scriptural doctrine, but rather experimental than dogmatical, and to be felt rather than understood.

'It appears to me that there is much less necessity for us pretended Arminians to justify ourselves, than for those who by their want of discernment and discretion in setting forth the doctrines of salvation, have created such a prejudice against the Gospel, and have placed their brethren in a painful and perplexing situation.

'On subjects which tend to edification, and which concern the kingdom of God, I shall alway be delighted to converse with you; but I trust no one will ever deserve the reproach which you seem to cast upon some people, of having an almost popish respect for my opinions. Truly, I should be the last man to make such pretensions. Would to God the opinions of others had been as little respected as mine. Much that has happened to Switzerland might then have been spared, and perhaps the affairs of the kingdom of God might have prospered better.