to the gushing waters, which were capable of being diverted from their course to the parched and sterile soil which he wished to see improved, and exclaimed, " You make as little use of these ample streams, as you do of the water of life. God has vouchsafed to offer you both in abundance, but your pastures, like your hearts, are languishing with drought." Yet this people, with all their prejudice and pertinacity, were most strongly attached to their good pastor; and every victory which he gained over their prejudices, augmented his influence among them. Many affecting instances of their love to him are recorded, in connection with his labors; and they show in a striking manner, the nobleness of his soul, and the uncommon hold he must have gained upon their hearts. How indeed could it be otherwise, when they saw him giving himself to their service with such a spirit of self-denial; enduring almost incredible hardships, and subjecting himself to the greatest privations; receiving next to nothing from them, and enjoying only the small stipend of fifty pounds a year, from the benevolent association by whose funds they were aided?

"When his arrival was expected in certain hamlets, whose rotation to be visited was supposed to be coming round, it was beautiful to see the cottages send forth their inhabitants, to watch the coming of the beloved minister. "Come, take your dinner with us."-"Let me prepare your supper."—"Permit me to give up my bed to you,"—were reechoed from many a voice, and though there was nothing in the repast which denoted a feast-day, yet never was festival observed with greater rejoicing than by those, whose rye-bread and pottage were shared by the pastor Neff. Sometimes, when the old people of one cabin were standing at their doors, and straining their eyes to catch the first view of their "guide to heaven," the youngsters of another were perched on the summit of a rock, and stealing a prospect which would afford them an earlier sight of him, and give them the opportunity of offering the first invitation." p. 215.

Although Neff had organized reunions, or prayer meetings, and appointed catechists, and set on foot successfully a train of religious operations; yet he felt a desire to place these on a still firmer footing, by instructing a sufficient number of competent youth, who might on his removal, in some degree supply his own place. For this purpose, he gathered twenty or thirty, who voluntarily came into the measure; and for five months, during two successive seasons, shut up as it were in a prison house, in the dreary region of Dormilleuse, Neff toiled in imparting to these youth, instruction in grammar, geography, arithmetic, and similar branches of education. The day was divided into three parts; the first from sunrise till eleven o'clock, when they ate their breakfast; the second, from noon till sunset, when they took their dinner; and the third, from that time till eleven at night, making in the whole, fourteen or fifteen

hours a day. Their fare consisted of salted meat, and rye-bread baked in autumn, (for the humidity of the air prevented flour from keeping,) and so hard that it was necessary to chop it with hachets, and moisten it with hot water. During a winter of uncommon severity, the last Neff spent with his flock, he was thus immured in his school room, and his own language shows how much his heart was in this undertaking.

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"I never," said he, " can be sufficiently thankful to Almighty God for the blessing which he has vouchsafed to shed upon this undertaking,. and for the strength he has given me to enable me to bear the fatigue of it. Oh! may he continue to extend his gracious protection, and to support me under my infirmities, or rather to deliver me from them, that I may be able to devote myself to his service and glory, to my life's end." p. 262.

The labors of Neff, during the four years he spent with his mountain charge, were in no ordinary degree successful. We have already presented some instances. We shall extract a few more, hoping that our readers will possess themselves of the book itself, and thus be able more fully to estimate the amount of this devoted man's sacrifices and labors, and the blessing which crowned his exertions. Having proposed to the inhabitants of Minsas and Dormilleuse, that four families should join and purchase a set of sermons, which he recommended to them, they very readily came into the measure. The price of the whole set would be about three dollars of our money. At Minsas, one family, the wealthiest in the village, had bought two volumes, but were unable to purchase the others. "Have we not laid by some francs to buy a pig?" said one of the sons. "Let us give up the pig and get the books." All the rest agreed to the proposal. "One young man said, 'I will devote all my earnings in the slate quarries, to the purchase.' Another said, 'I will go into Provence in search of work-I shall raise twenty-four francs, and will apply part of the money to the acquisition of the books.' Others determined to go without salt, and to devote the purchase money to the sermons." And yet poor as these people were, they no sooner gained a knowledge of geography, and learned from their studies the situation of those who were destitute of the word of life, than they were anxious to contribute for their instruction; and actually raised a small sum, which lent its aid to the conversion of the heathen. So true is it, that the christian spirit is a spirit of benevolence to the souls of men. "How many times," said one of Neff's catechumens, in the midst of the glaciers, as he was guiding his beloved teacher on one of his excursions, "How many times have I braved danger, in following the wild goat among the precipices! I spared neither time nor trouble; I endured cold, hunger, and fatigue. I traversed the most frightful rocks, and exposed my

life hundreds of times! Shall I do as much for Jesus? Shall I pursue eternal life with as much ardor? And yet what comparison is there between the two objects?"

During the Passion Week at Dormilleuse, at one time, there seems to have been something very much resembling what we term a revival of religion, from a protracted meeting. We give the account in the pastor's own words.

"So passed this happy week, this holy week, for such it really was in this valley. The inhabitants spent it in penitence and prayer, or in pious reading or conversation. All the young people seemed to be animated by the same spirit: a flame of holy fire appeared to spread from one to another, like an electric spark. During the whole of the eight days, I had not thirty hours rest. Before and after, and in the interval of the public services, the young people might be seen sitting in groups among the huge blocks of granite, with which the place is covered, edifying each other by serious reading or conversation. I was absolutely astonished by this sudden awakening. I could scarcely collect my scattered thoughts. The rocks, the cascades, even the surrounding ice, seemed to present a new and less dreary aspect. This savage country became agreeable and dear to me; it was at once the home of my breth

ren; the beloved Jerusalem of my affection." p. 226.

Our readers, we doubt not, will recognize here the presence of the same Spirit, with which the churches of our own land are from time to time blessed. It is a striking coincidence, that Neff himself terms it "an awakening." In the following extract we see the fruit of Neff's labors, as exhibited in a dying hour by one of his little flock. It is a daughter who writes to her pastor, after he had returned to Geneva for the benefit of his health.

"We saw from the first that there was no hope, and talked to her of her approaching end. She used to reply to us with a smile full of hope and joy. Have you nothing to attach you to earth?' we asked. 'No,' she replied, with a serene air; all that this world contains passeth away! And have you no fears at the thought of entering into a new existence, and appearing before the Judge eternal?' She joined her hands together, and raised her eyes to heaven, and then replied: No, there is nothing to fear, Jesus Christ is my atonement and intercessor. I rely upon his promises, and therefore I desire to depart, and to be with Christ!" She often blessed God for having sent you to announce the glad tidings of redemption through Jesus Christ, and invoked the heavenly benediction upon your body and soul. When her strength was almost gone, she said to us, I cannot pray aloud-pray for me, my children; pray that the Lord may increase my faith.' "Soon after, she exclaimed, I know in whom I have believed. is faithful to keep that which is committed unto him. I am weak, but he is strong. Upon another occasion she said to us; 'My children, do not weep; offer up your prayers to the Savior for comfort, and he will

He

forsake you. I am happy, I shall only precede you a little; you will rejoin me, and we shall meet again in the presence of God.' At a crisis, when her pains were very great, I said to her, 'you are suffering severely, my dear mother.' She answered, the sufferings of my Redeemer were much greater.' Then you have a firm assurance in his promises now, even in the valley of the shadow of death. Yes, Jesus Christ is my support. He has swallowed up death in victory.' She then made a last effort to join her hands, and lifting up her eyes to heaven, she uttered in broken sentences:-Thy cross, Thy blood,Thy death, Jesus, are-my support!' These, my beloved and respected pastor, were my mother's last words."

Such testimonies to the value of the doctrine of an atoning Savior, are precious exhibitions of the supporting power of this cardinal truth of the gospel; and we cannot but wonder that any should be found to reject this doctrine against the evidence of such facts. We suspect, however, that such persons carefully avoid reflecting much on these trying scenes; but what, we ask, except the real influence of truth, could have so sustained this poor woman, in one of the wretched villages of the High Alps, racked with pain, and yet dying in triumph, amid the breaking hearts with which she was surrounded? We wish the rejecters of the atonement of Christ, would candidly look at such facts; and judging without regard to system, would say, which is most accordant with the scriptures, such a faith resting only on Christ, or a hope of acceptance on the ground of one's own fair character and good deeds. For our own part, we have been much struck with the cold efforts of Unitarians at consolation, by bringing into view the amiableness of a departed friend, and the general benevolence of God; when contrasted with the warm outpourings of an evangelical christian's heart, as he points the bereaved to an all-sufficient and sympathizing Savior. And we have been led irresistibly to feel the barrenness of the one system, and the richness of the other, as adapted to the sorrowing heart of man.

Although Neff's direct exertions were confined to the protestant part of the population, yet many of the catholics, by his kindness and the consistency of his life, were led to listen to his instructions, and some were brought to the purer faith of the gospel. An interesting and affecting incident is related of a little shepherdess, thirteen years of age, named Mariette, who was awakened to religious inquiry, and who sought in various ways, notwithstanding the opposition of her relatives, to become acquainted with the gospel. To accomplish this object, she accosted every one she met in the mountain passes, with an inquiry as to the village where he belonged. If he named a catholic village, she let him pass. If he proved to be a protestant, she strove to detain him, that she might VOL. V.

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gain the desired knowledge of the way of life. For the same purpose, she requested the protestant children, who like her were tending their flocks, to bring their testaments and to read to her respecting Jesus Christ and his salvation. At last she met with Neff, and finally, by perseverance, triumphed over parental prejudice, and gained the desired permission to attend on his instructions. In conclusion we are assured, that she became a bright ornament of the profession she had made of her faith in Christ.

But we must hasten to the close of this interesting memoir. The incredible hardships and untiring activity of this man of God, broke down even his iron constitution. His powers of digestion were destroyed, and with a reluctant heart he was compelled to leave his beloved Alpines, and seek a more genial climate for the restoration of his health. On the 17th of April 1827, Neff took his final leave of his residence at La Chalp." At the distance of three miles from that place, just before he entered upon the gloomiest part of the pass of the Guil, he was met by four young men from Dormilleuse, who had then walked eight leagues since sunrise, to have the melancholy satisfaction of paying their farewell attentions to their beloved pastor. Further on his way he was met by a party consisting of the heads of families, who had come forth to bid him adieu. Though deeply afflicted at the thought of his leaving them, they knew his health demanded it, and justly exclaimed, Had you always remained with those among whom you first labored, we might have continued in darkness until now. It is fair that some others should now have the benefit of your ministry. May the Lord accompany you, and bless your labors every where, for his name's sake." We scarcely ever met with a more touching expression of affectionate regard, by a people for their minister, than is furnished in a letter which they afterwards sent to Neff, while he lay on his dying bed, signed by all of his flock who could write their names.

"It is we, say they, it is we, who are the cause of your long illness. Had we been more ready to listen to you, you would not have had occasion to fatigue yourself in the deep-snow, nor to exhaust your lungs, and all the powers of your body. Oh, how much pain has it cost you to teach us, like our good Savior; you forgot yourself for our sakes. Dear pastor, sensible of the affection you have always manifested towards us, we desire, with all our hearts, to be useful to you. We can say, with truth, that if our lives could be of service to you, we would give them, and then we should not be doing more for you than you have done for us. May the Lord bless you, and grant you patience in this long trial! May he shower upon you a thousand benedictions from on high, and recompense you for all the pains you have taken for us! Your reward is in heaven: an immortal crown awaits you. We will conclude