CHAPTER XIII.

Departure of Neff for Plombières-Residence there, and return from thence-From July 19, to October 31, 1828.

THE following letter was written by Neff, after his return from Plombières; but we insert it here, because it affords a good coup d'oeil of this period of his life.

'Leaving Geneva on June 19, I proceeded by easy stages, on account of my weak state, to the baths of Plombières. Passing through the cantons of Vaud, Neuchatel, Berne and Basle, I visited many places, where, eight or nine years ago, I had preached the gospel to a people, generally speaking, sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. Oh, how did I rejoice to behold the rich harvest which covers that field, whereon the Lord had permitted me to sow the good seed. What a happiness was it, together with the old friends I had left behind, to meet with new brethren, who, though personally unknown to me, yet received me as an old friend. The journey was productive of much pleasure to me; and I was also able to preach at most of the places where we stopped.

'I found at Plombières, what is usually met with at all bathing-places; a confused mixture of worldly vanity, and physical and moral misery. I felt myself

strongly urged to proclaim the word of life, in the midst of a multitude occupied only with their own illnesses or amusements; and among whom none seemed to care for the concerns of his immortal soul, or for the things of eternity. Nevertheless, I should have been much embarrassed how to begin, had not the Lord, who sent me to Plombières himself, opened a door for me and removed my difficulties. Madlle de M-, wife of the prefect of Vosges, and a protestant, having heard that I was a minister, proposed to me to establish a public service every Sunday; she herself procured a suitable place of meeting, and made known our intention to all the protestants she could hear of. My medical attendant, a Papist by birth, but very ill-satisfied with the Church of Rome, asked permission to attend with his friends, and many of his communion also joined us. The assembly was very numerous; I had never preached before so brilliant an audience, that is to say, before so many educated and rich people. Nevertheless, God enabled me to speak with as much freedom as to the mountaineers of the High Alps; though of course, in language more appropriate to my congregation.

'The following Sunday, our congregation was increased, by the addition of several more Romanists, and two large rooms would scarcely contain the people. Besides preaching on Sundays, I had many opportunities of conveying religious instruction, either in my walks, or in the hotel where I was staying. Many persons seemed to take pleasure in religious conversations, and expressed a wish to see me in their country, if the Lord called me there. One English lady requested me to give her daughter some religious instruction, and sent her to me every day with her governess, when I explained to her different parts of the Bible. This young person was not wanting in intelligence, but I cannot say her heart appeared much touched. However, the good seed

has been sown, and will bring forth fruit in due season, if so it seem good in the sight of God,

In the midst of all these occupations, I continued the use of the waters, which seemed to produce a good effect; my strength and appetite seemed to increase; and it was judged expedient to add a little more solid food to the mild diet, in which I had now persevered for a year. But, in spite of all precautions, this change of food had nearly cost me my life. At the end of a few days, I was more weak and ill than I had ever been hitherto, and for several weeks the utmost attention could scarcely stop the progress of my malady; and though the bad season was coming on, I was unable to set out on my return.

'I cannot sufficiently thank God for his gracious dealings towards me on this occasion; nor for the peace and calmness of mind I enjoyed during this long trial. Hitherto, the idea of being cut off from the active service of God appeared to me impossible to endure; but now that the Lord has seen fit to call upon me to make the sacrifice, he has enabled me to feel that what is impossible with men, is possible with God; and by his grace, I am able to say, Amen, to his judgments.

I therefore venture to hope, that my heavenly Father is only trying me as he did Abraham; and that he will not demand the consummation of the sacrifice. In any case, however, his will be done, for it is always holy, just and good.

'While I was confined to my bed, I was visited by the Cure of Plombières, and some other young ecclesiastics of the Romish Church. Had they come for the purpose of discussion, I could not, weak as I was, have received them; but I cannot sufficiently praise their mildness and charity. They carefully avoided all that might fatigue me, and willingly listened to the few words I was enabled to address to them. They were surprised to hear a protestant

speak of the conversion of the heart, and spirituality of life, in the spirit and language of some of their own most eminent writers. I often find with such minds, it is better to plant and build, than to pull down and destroy. A great part of their prejudices arises from ignorance of all that concerns protestantism; and they are half disarmed when they meet with a Christian, who, avoiding controversy, will speak to them of the life, strength and peace of his soul.

'I left Plombières, October 29, not without regreting the society of my medical attendant. We had had several serious conversations together; and at parting, I gave him a new Testament and some other books, which he received with pleasure.'

We will now return to the regular order of letters.

To John Phillips.

'Plombières, July 9, 1828.

'MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST.

'It is long since you heard from me, and you will I dare say, be surprised by the date of this. The state of my health has made a journey here necessary, for the sake of the warm mineral baths, which the physician at Geneva recommended to me. I have been here so short a time that I cannot judge of its effects.

'It is also a long time since I heard from you, and I am anxious about our dear Maria, though hardly hoping to hear she is much better. If she is still in this world, and the waters here agree with me, I shall much regret your distance, since they would probably have a similar effect on her as on myself.

I came from Geneva to Plombières through Switzerland by short journeys on account of my weak state. I was seventeen days on the road; stopping wherever I had friends, particularly at Lausanne,

Yyerdon, Neuchatel, Montiers, Grandval, and Basle. It gave me infinite pleasure to see once more many dear friends after an absence of eight or nine years. From Basle, we skirted the Rhine, for six leagues, as far as that house in Alsace, on the Strasbourg road; then turning to the west, we proceeded for twenty leagues across the Basses of Vosges. We are not far from the country where the excellent Oberlin, for sixty years, exercised his useful and pious ministry. Plombières is situated in the bottom of a narrow valley, which reminds me very much of those of the Alps, though the mountains are by no means high. My good mother is come with me to attend upon and nurse me. We are very comfortably lodged, and as far as we can at present judge, with very worthy people. People of all nations are here assembled, for the purpose of bathing and drinking the waters. I do not drink the waters, they would be injurious to me; I merely bathe, and live upon milk. You shall soon hear again how I am. You will see that my mother writes the greatest part of my letters; for writing always makes me ill, and I have been very ill and weak since the spring.

'Pray be so good as to communicate the contents of this letter to those in Queyras, who are interested about me. Do not delay writing to me long. Your letters are here peculiarly acceptable; because I am surrounded by frivolous people whose only aim is amusement. The greatest part of the inhabitants and of the visitors are Romanists, and if there are a few Swiss Protestants, they care little for religion, but are rather opposed to it.

‘I have heard little or nothing from the Alps, since M. Ehrmann arrived there; I should like much to know how he was received, and how he likes the country and the inhabitants. Pray remember me to him affectionately, and tell him had I not been so ill I would have written to him; but that a letter from