although he was not an Arian or Socinian, but professed to believe in the divinity of Christ. Having met him one evening, I proposed that we should take a walk in the country. We immediately, as usual, commenced a discussion respecting the gospel, each of us maintaining his own views on the subject. At length I began to speak on the all-important declaration of the Lord on the cross-" It is finished," and endeavoured to shew, from that expression, that everything necessary for a sinner's acceptance with God was already accomplished, and that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. I had only spoken a few minutes when it pleased God to shine on his heart, giving him the light of the knowledge of the glory or God in the face of Jesus Christ. He suddenly stopped, and with extended arms vehemently exclaimed, “C'est trop grand pour être vrai :" "It is too great to be true." From that moment there was no more difference of opinion-no farther opposition on his part-no more objections. In Christ he was a new creature; old things had passed away; behold all thing had become new. It was now all his desire to hear more of the great salvation. Our conversation, in returning to town, was most interesting and edifying: he remarked, with earnestness, how differently he would preach when he should go back to his flock; he confessed at the same time that he had often preached on texts in which there was something that he had not fathomed, 'approfondi,' and that now he knew what it was. This is worthy of notice, as it discovers the unsatisfactory state of mind of many who, professing to preach the gospel, understand not what they say, nor whereof they affirm. He said he

wondered that his people should have had patience to listen to such a system as he had been endeavouring for seven years to inculcate, so totally different from what he now saw was the doctrine of the grace of God. When we parted, he who an hour before hated and opposed the doctrine of salvation, was filled with peace and joy in believing.

This happened on a Friday. Next morning he called on me in the same state of mind in which I had left him the evening before, rejoicing in the grace of God; but he said, that being engaged to preach on the Lord's day, he read, after we parted, the sermon he had prepared, and found that not one sentence of it could he make use of, for it was altogether opposed to what he was now convinced was the truth of the gospel. He added that he was utterly at a loss what to do, for he was not accustomed to speak extempore; and that the sermon he had with him, and which he had greatly admired, as so well composed, he would not on any account make use of. I replied that I never knew a case so similar to his but that of the jailor at Philippi; and therefore advised him to preach on his question to the apostle, and the answer he received, What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

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After pausing for a few moments he said he would do so. The place where he preached was at some distance in the country; I therefore was not present, but was informed that his hearers, who had known him before, listened with astonishment, wondering that he now preached the faith which so lately he destroyed. He spoke with great feeling and power, and what he said made a deep impression on those

who were present. During the short time he remained at Montauban I had several most agreeable conversations with him, and shall never forget his prayer when we parted; I never heard one more affecting; it was evidently the warm effusion of his heart, entirely different from those studied and written prayers used by many of the French pastors. He referred in a very striking manner to his conversion, and to his former and present state; confessing the great sinfulness of his past ministry, and prayed earnestly for himself and his flock.

On his way home he passed through Montpelier, where he preached the same sermon as in the neighbourhood of Montauban. It produced an impression on those who heard him, very different from what they had ever received from the discourses to which they had been accustomed to listen. A flame was instantly kindled. The elders of the consistory remonstrated with their own pastor in the strongest terms, demanding of him how he could employ one to preach who brought forward such doctrines. He affirmed that these doctrines where the same which he himself taught. They denied this most peremptorily, and threatened to denounce him to the government. During more than three months, the greatest agitation prevailed in his church. I saw several letters which, in the course of that time, he wrote to his friends at Montauban, declaring his apprehension that in the issue he would be dismissed from his charge. At last however the storm subsided, and the preaching of the pastor from the neighbourhood of Marseilles appeared to have been useful.

A very different feeling was excited when the

account of the conversion of this pastor was carried to his father, a man above eighty years of age. I afterwards saw another pastor, who happened at the time to be at his house on a visit. It was truly affecting, he said, to see the old man quite absorbed in the subject, and for several days going about his、 house, clasping his hands, and joyfully exclaiming, "Tout est accompli!" " "It is finished!"

It is now fifteen years since the event above narrated took place, and the pastor in question has never wavered in his views of divine truth. I have heard of him at different periods since that time, and learned, with much joy and satisfaction, that he has continued a faithful minister of Jesus Christ.

The sequel of this history is also very interesting. I received the following letter, dated September 21, 1825, from one of the most zealous and successful pastors in France, of whom I had never before heard. After a general introduction, he says, I address myself to you, to communicate the favourable circumstance in which the Lord has placed me in respect to the ministry of the gospel, which by his grace I exercise. I begin by telling you who I am, and the favours which the Lord has vouchsafed to me. I pursued my first theological studies at Lausanne, in Switzerland: I continued them at the faculty at Montauban, where I was ordained in 1812. The year after, I was appointed pastor at and about the end of 1817, I became pastor at this place. Till the month of August, 1822, I was only a blind man leading those who were blind-much external zeal without knowledge—a vain noise of life (un vain bruit de vivre), and a profound wretchedness (misère profonde), which I did not feel! Such is what I

possessed (Voila ce que je possedais). At the above period, I went to visit my former flock at -9 -, where I saw, after nine years' separation, one of your spiritual children, my old fellow-student (the pastor above referred to). He became, in the band of God, the instrument of my deliverance. I then learned the great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh and transported out of myself by the joy of my salvation, I returned to my church, where, since then, the Lord has given me grace to render testimony to him, and to advance a little, but very little, in the knowledge of him. In spite of the opposition which the preaching of the gospel and my imprudent zeal excited in the bosom of my flock; and in spite of my own unfaithfulness and coldness (mes infidelités et mes glaces), with which I am often affected, the word has nevertheless produced, and does produce every day its effects. A goodly number of parishioners confess the Saviour, whose infinite compassion they have experienced; and, in general, all are more seriously attending to the gospel. I can give you but a faint idea of the field which the Lord has opened before me: and of the progress which the gospel might make if that field were better cultivated. But I am alone with the Lord. All my colleagues of the department are indifferent (froids) about the one thing needful.'