to give him a slip of ground in it, in which he might himself work. In a corner of the wall, there was a little nut-tree, the trunk of which was bent in such a way, as to form a seat about the height of the child; he had twisted the branches into the form of an arbour, and at first studied his lessons there with great delight. After a few days however, I perceived he seldom went there, and asking him the reason, he said, 'Because I am a long-while learning my lessons there; my attention is taken off by the insects; I watch their movements, which are often very pretty; one day, for instance, I was amused by seeing some mice carry an earwig as if it were dead. I dare say they were taking it to their own nest.'

In the midst of his occupations, he found time to amuse himself with the village children; assisting them to watch their cows, and to drive them back, when they had strayed away.'

By the time he had reached his thirteenth year, he had exhausted the contents of our little library, consisting of thirteen volumes of travels, the 'Pensées de Rousseau,' Les intèrèts de France mal extendues,' the 'Trèsor des enfants,' O Conversation d'Emilie,' 'Annales de la virtu,' (a most inappropriate title)' Fables de la Fontaine,' and other similar works, to say nothing of those that I hired.

'His thirteenth year completed, we left Russin, and went to reside at Cartigny. I placed him with Mr. D. and here he soon became acquainted with the minister of the parish, who gave him some lessons in Latin, and lent him books. Mr. D. seemed at first well disposed towards him, and gave me reason to hope that he would exert himself to obtain an admission for my son into the Jardin des Plantes, în Paris. But the hand of Him who directs every event did not see fit to permit the accomplishment of this plan.

'After leaving Mr. D. he passed some weeks at Crèpi, with an eminent florist; two months with a

friend of his father's, at the ancient convent of Pommier; and some time with Mr. Monod, at Ambilly. Every one was satisfied with his industrious labours, but still, all this led to nothing, he returned to me without employment. It was during this period that he wrote a treatise on the cultivation of trees; he also continued his Latin and mathematical studies.

Though his general conduct had hitherto given me no uneasiness, yet I could not look forward to his after-life without some misgivings. I had always left him to follow his own inclinations; alas! I saw not the hand which controlled us both, leading me to send him to the good pastor Montinie, who soon appreciated his character, and anxiously wished to be of service to him. His endeavours were however, fruitless, and we being nearly destitute of pecuniary resources, he advised my son to enter the army.'

It seems that from the age of eight to sixteen, his favourite readings were the works of Plutarch, and Rousseau; it being the custom of the day, to read little beside pagan and infidel authors. The young reader was not of an age to comprehend all the impurities in the writings of his sophistical countryman; and the event soon showed that the biting arguments of this writer were unable to convince the youth of the falsehood of revelation. It is nevertheless easy to imagine that he might greatly delight in the lively, energetic, and glowing style of Rousseau; and the disrelish which Neff constantly retained for frivolous reading and theatrical amusements, may perhaps be traced in the first instance, to his having read the writings of this philosopher. 'Do you think there is no amusement at a theatre?' said some one to him: On the contrary, I think there is too much.' I cannot agree with some of his biographers, that this was the language of a stoical pride, and that his answer was marked by sentiments far removed from the humility and gentleness of a

Christian. They arrive at a far more just conclusion when they observe, that "God made use of these dispositions to preserve Neff from the snares of the world, and of his own heart."

We have seen, that, placed at an early age in the environs of Geneva, that he might learn the art of a florist-gardener; he soon showed the same intelligence in this pursuit, which always enabled him to apply himself so easily to all his other occupations; that at sixteen he wrote a little treatise on the proper cultivation of trees, and that at seventeen he entered the army. For the first year he served in the garrison of Geneva; at the end of that time an officer of artillery in that body succeeded in getting him into his regiment, to the great annoyance of those under whom he had hitherto served. He soon gained the necessary stock of mathematical knowledge, and speedily rose to the rank of sergeant. Being never above putting his hand to any work, his captain once said to him, 'You leave nothing for the soldiers to do, you have no idea of commanding.' 'It is the best and surest way of commanding,' he replied. Admirable words, and remarkably pre-descriptive of the future labours of the Missionary.

The practice of arms contributed no less than his former agricultural labours, to harden him against bodily suffering, and to prepare and strengthen him for many useful and glorious exertions. During those years, he laid up a store of useful knowledge, which was afterwards called out by different circumstances. To the proper exercise of his military functions, the knowledge of mathematics was necessary; while his taste led him to study the natural sciences. Gifted with a remarkable memory, and quickness of apprehension, study was to him no trouble; his conversation was extremely interesting, his comparisons were particularly apt, and he was one who could say much in a few appropriate and well-chosen words.

But for him whose aim and end is happiness, what can the things of the earth alone avail? What object is capable of satisfying to the full, the heart of man? Can even he, who is gifted with the highest mental endowments, deny that all in this world is vanity? Neff had long felt the truth of those words of Jesus, spoken with reference to the things of this life; "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again."

The discernment and penetration which characterised him, often enabled him to penetrate into the real nature of the most plausible actions, discovering to him at the same time his own deficiencies. Obliged to confess that the spring and end of all his best actions was self, he became alarmed, and his distress was increased by his want of faith. He felt the absolute necessity of believing, and humbling himself before God: and his earnest prayer was, "Oh, my God, whatsoever thou art, make me to know thy truth; vouchsafe to manifest thyself to me."

This ardent thirst for truth, could be no other than a call from God; showing that the prayer of his servant was granted, even before it was uttered.

Neff applied himself to the study of the Bible, soon finding it to be the only book capable of showing him the real state of his soul; though as yet he only beheld God as depicted in the character of his judge. At this period, a pastor lent him, 'Le miel descendant du rocher,' (Honey flowing from the rock,) which comforted and enlightened his mind. We will quote some of the passages in this excellent book, which spoke such comfort and peace to the mind of the bewildered Neff; and which on his death bed, he again read and underlined.

'If you knew Jesus Christ, you would not for all the world wish to do a single good work without Him, (2 Corinthians iii. 5.) If you already know

Him, you know that He is the rock of salvation, infinitely above any righteousness of our own, (Psalm Ixxxi. 3.) This rock will follow you everywhere, (1 Corinthians x. 4.) From this rock flows the honey of grace which alone can satisfy you. Would you go to Jesus? Renounce all idea of your own goodness, taking with you nothing but your misery and sin.

'Would you know all the horrors of sin? Do not be content to examine its extent in yourself, go to Jesus on the cross; behold in His sufferings the malignity of sin, and tremble.

Let the Spirit of God guide you in the study of the Bible; it is a mine wherein the most precious treasure is hid, even the knowledge of Christ.

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Watch for the manifestation of Jesus to your heart, as they that watch for the morning." (Psalm cxxx. 6.) He will arise as the morning, He will come unto you as the dew; (Hosea vi. 3.) And thus, as nothing hinders the rising of the sun, so nothing shall prevent Jesus, that sun of righteousness, from shining upon you.'

Neff at length arrived at the knowledge of salvation. Without ever having professed the principles of a separatist, he was nevertheless not altogether satisfied with the national churches: he cordially seconded whatever would conduce to the spread of the Gospel, and at the time of which we are now speaking, he was in connection with a church at Bourg de Four. It was in 1818, during the first years of the religious revival at Geneva.

With his character and talents, to be a Christian and a Missionary were to him as cause and effect: at this time of excitement an opportunity of usefulness was not long wanting to him; and his first missionary essays were naturally made in his own country.