CHAPTER XII.

From the 1st of January 1828, to the departure of Neff to Plombières, June 14th of the same year.

From Emily B.

'January 12, 1828. 'Not knowing, my dear Sir, whether you would see our friend M., who might have given you some information respecting us, I shall take upon myself to do so; feeling sure it will give you pleasure. But how can I better begin, than by recounting God's benefits to us? Each day our merciful God gives us fresh proofs of his goodness; among the most encouraging of which, is the gradual decrease of prejudice.

'Last Sunday, some women went to the house of Louis A, and said to him, 'Come, Louis, play to us. While others please themselves by going to the re-unions; let us amuse ourselves in our way.' 'Play to you?' said he, 'No, indeed, I now read my Bible with my family, and endeavour to profit by it. And as for you, you would do well to go to the reunions yourselves.'

'I had the gratification of being present at the dedication of the temple of Saint Jean d'Hèran ; where the congregation was almost more than even that large temple would hold. In the evening our

friend Vermier held a re-union. He spent a few days in Mens, which was a great blessing to us all.

'A week after, I went to the dedication of the temple of Trèmini, where the congregation was also very numerous. We had the re-unions, and in the evening, a good paraphrastic lecture by M. Morlet. From Trèmini I went to La Lèe, to the house of my cousin, where I spent a week. There was a re-union every evening, well attended both by Romanists and Protestants. I trust the good seed will not all be cast on the high road. My cousin's mother is well disposed. You see the Lord abundantly blesses our country; whichever way we turn, we see traces of his mercy. I forgot to tell you that Stephen Matthew arrived yesterday from your mountains; and delighted us all by the account of his journey. You will, I hope soon have his journal.'

Many letters from Verdier and Mentaire,' says Neff; confirm the good news Emily gives me. These hamlets, pleasantly situated at the foot of Mount Chatel, in a well-watered, verdant, and shady little valley, were the favourite objects of my walks in the environs of Mens in 1822. This lovely retreat seemed destined for the residence of true piety alone; and the humble mossy huts seemed almost a fit abode for the Good Shepherd. Long, however, did the inhabitants remain deaf to his voice. But at length in the early part of 1825, the revival began, and has ever since been much gaining ground.

'M. Dumont, in a letter full of joy and gratitude to God, confirms in general the details that others give me, and particularly mentions the good hopes he has of Trèmini, and La Lèe, remarking that the Christian death of an old man and a little girl, have produced a salutary effect on many persons. He also speaks very highly of Vernier, and seems to have been himself strengthened by his visit.

'Among all the letters I have received, 1 have been particularly struck with one, of which I read a good deal without discovering the writer. The little Paris Magazine, called 'L'ami de la jeunesse,' contained about two years ago, an interesting account of the formation of a little Protestant congregation at Chazalet, among the glaciers of La Goare, between Briançon, and Saint Jean de Maurienne. This flock formed part of my parish; but owing to its great distance, I could seldom visit it; and when my health began to decline, I was obliged to give it up altogether. I was therefore, completely ignorant of its state; and whether the word of life prospered there or not. What then was my joy to hear, that last autumn, a young man from Chazalet, eager for Christian instruction, came to Mens to seek for occupation as a schoolmaster; that the Lord had led him to the house of Gerard du Loix, that he became established in the faith, and joyfully carried back into his own country the divine light he had received. All this I have heard from himself; his letter is very interesting; but too long for transcription. His name is John Collomb.

'Another letter which has much struck me among those I have received, is the following from Louisa Bachasse. I had written to her some time previously, and had spoken in praise of mediocrity of station, and a laborious and simple life like theirs; this is her answer.'

'I cannot tell you how much your letter has rejoiced and strengthened us; you have guessed exactly the state of my mind; without any explanation on our part. It is indeed but too true that we are apt to say with reference to those above us, 'If I were like them, I fancy I should do more good.' You know, better than I, the devices of Satan; but we are more than conquerors through Him who leads this

great battle, and who “prepareth our hands to war, and our fingers to fight." Our moments of trial are so often succeeded by moments of blessedness, that we forget our sorrows, and are ashamed that we should have been so easily disheartened by the enemy.

'I must tell you that this winter we have spent some delightful evenings with my sister. The most beautiful verses of our hymns, the most beautiful passages of the Bible, were to us as leaves from the tree of life; and we felt the truth of those words, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that cometh out of the mouth of God." How happy are they who live in close communion with God.

'When my friend Babau, the wife of Louis Pagan, died this autumn, my mind was in a sad state. Since the Lord had called me to his knowledge, I was not aware of the links by which I was attached to earth; but when I remembered the happy moments we had passed together, I could not bear the thoughts of her death, I could not say "Thy will be done :" I was incapable of consolation and I remained in this state for some weeks. But one evening, as I stood at my door surveying the heavens, that beautiful verse came to my mind:

:

'Le ciel est ma patrie,

Ce sejour de paix

Fera, tout ma vie,

L'object de mes souhaits.'

'I no longer regretted my friend; I remembered that she was blessed; and the thought that she was now exempt from evil and sin, was a great comfort to me.'

6

EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF STEPHEN MATTHEW. Hoping you will wish to know something of affairs along the Alps, I hasten to give you some ac

count of my journey. I left Mens on the 12th of December; stopping but a short time at Champsaur, not thinking a longer visit necessary. On the 15th, I arrived at Dallon, were our friends received me with surprise and joy. The same evening I held a re-union, at which nearly all the inhabitants of the village were present, and also many from Champellas, which place I visited as I returned, and found much zeal among the people; as well as among those of Pallon, Plan, and la Ribe. At La Combe, the people are still in great grief for the loss of Francois Besson; I endeavoured to console them; but was myself very sorrowful, when singing the hymns, to find myself no longer supported by that excellent man. In the evening I held a re-union at Mensals ;— at Dormilleuse I held two.

'On Sunday there was a large congregation in the temple at la Combe; I there saw Mariette Punayer, who came up and gave me her hand, entreating to go back with me to Mens. At Arvieux, the young people at La Chalp have much to undergo; at Moulins, Maria Phillips is still ill; at St. Vèran, much indifference has crept in, and Chaffry has given up his Sunday school, but I have endeavoured to persuade him to begin again. In Val Queyras, Baserotti is the most zealous, and in his village much good has been done.'

To John Phillips.

'Feb. 18, 1828.

'MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST JESUS. 'I should not be satisfied with sending you only this envelope, if I did not think, that you take as addressed to yourself all that I write to your dear Maria. I can only add, that here, and in the Canton of Vaud, the kingdom of God makes good progress. I spoke at a missionary meeting last Monday at