strengthen the bones and muscles; an operation which they do not at all dislike. The doctor is a close observer, not only of the various symptoms of the disease, but of the forms of the heads and expression of the faces, and the changes they undergo. He has begun to take likenesses of his patients with the Daguerreotype, when they come and when they leave him. He is assisted by many pleasing and intelligent teachers, who seem all imbued with the same benevolent spirit as himself. These attempts,' he said, require an inexhaustible faith, confiding in an inexhaustible source of love.' "He communicated to us the following warm-hearted letter from the Countess Hahn-Hahn, a woman much known in connexion with German literature of the present day, and which can hardly fail to be interesting : 'Berlin, May, 1845. "Since I was on the Abendberg, my dear doctor, I have never for a moment lost the desire to do it some little act of love. On Midsummer-day my publisher handed me a small sum, thanks to which, you will receive through a Berne banker 7500 francs, as a constant support for a poor child from the canton Wallis. As soon as one has left, another must take its place, and so on for ever, and the child must be called the "Countess's child ;" for there is nothing in which I should more rejoice to have my name associated, than in a work of the purest love which my age has produced. I pray God to bless my good intent; for all results are in his hands, and are amongst the mysteries of his Providence. Man gives his love and his strength as the best that he possesses. "I cannot tell how often, how much, and how deeply I have thought of you. Our time is a stirring one; each strives to do something, and the good would fain accomplish some good thing. And it has seemed to me as if you best knew the good that had to be done; or do I merely understand you better than I do the labours of others? Suffice it, I would gladly win all human hearts for the Abendberg, by drawing universal attention to this great work of mercy which the self-sacrificing love of one man has begun on those solitary heights. 666 "In truth, the glimpse I had, has unspeakably refreshed my spirit; for, to discover such men is the deepest joy of those who, like myself, understand only how to feel, not how to act. You can act ! That high destiny is yours. You are still young, and at the beginning of your day's work. Oh! remain where you are, high aloft on the beautiful Abendberg, amongst the innocent and the helpless, to whom you have dedicated yourself, and come down to the haunts of men never but to do them good; then you will always continue strong and happy as my full heart desires. That others are at hand with money and words, is a mere nothing: you devote your life and your heart to the cause: with these, great things are done! "There is something very sad and sorrowful in the Swiss disturbances. That the solemn shores of the Lake of the Four Cantons, which once were witnesses of Swiss heroism, should now have to look on such miserable squabbles! Whether the world will grow better, as you seem to think, I am just now doubting: theories slur over the fact. But if I am never again to enter Switzerland, still the image of the children on the Abendberg and their fatherly friend will never vanish from my sight. """IDA HAHN-HAHN.'" THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT-THE WORD OF GOD. I WAS travelling towards Bourdeaux, and I had just set off from Angoulême, when a handsome showy-looking young man got up into the same part of the diligence with myself. He accosted me with vivacity and politeness, and as soon as our vehicle set off, after the first salutations, he said, "I think, sir, you come from Paris." "I left Paris the day before yesterday," I answered. "And I suppose," he added eagerly, “ you have seen the Huguenots (a theatrical performance, at that time, in 1839, very famous at Paris). "It is a remarkably original composition; every one goes to see it; were not you delighted with it ?" "The Huguenots,' I replied, putting my hand into the pocket of the coach, where I had put the New Testament, which I used for reading on my journey; I have their treasure with me here." 6 The young man, (with surprise.) "The treasure of the Huguenots; and pray what is that?" I offered the sacred volume to him. He read the title, and returned it immediately, saying, with scorn, "Ah, I think that book only fit for old women and weak minds." "I know, sir," I answered seriously, "that it is very good for me, though I am certainly not an old woman. As to a weak mind, I will not decide upon that; you must judge." Young man, (colouring.)—" A thousand pardons, sir, if I have offended you by my foolish expression; but allow me to speak freely, and to say, that I cannot understand how a man of sense and education, as I perceive you to be, (I say it with respect,) can approve, and, above all, how you can believe such a production. Voltaire at least did not, and certainly he was not wanting in discernment, or knowledge, or good sense.' Here the pupil of such a preceptor repeated, with equal fluency and sharpness, the invectives of the philosopher against the Galilean, and his doctrine. The incarnation of the Word, the miracles, the prophecies, the death, and above all, the resurrection of the reputed son of Joseph, were passed over in review, and the conclusion of the whole argument was a song of triumph as to the reason and wisdom of the present age. The young unbeliever was delighted; he thought me reduced to silence and overcome, for I listened to the whole without saying a word. When he had ended, I own I was tempted to oppose sword to sword, and to answer to the impertinences of the follower of Voltaire by energetic arguments, of a better logic than his own. But I was impressed by these words of holy writ,— "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" and, leaving in its sheath the feeble weapon of my own reason, I seized the sword of the Spirit, and answered only in these words: "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them which are lost, (that is, to unbelievers,) in whom the god of this world hath blinded their understanding, lest the light of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them." "Yes, yes," replied the youth," so says that book, but on what authority does it speak, that is the question?" "If any man will do the will of God," I continued, still reading," he shall know of the doctrine, whether Christ be of God, or whether he spoke of himself." "That is to say," he answered, "that all the learned scholars and philosophers; in short, all men of sense and judgment, in civilized society, all these superior men are wicked and impious, and even atheists, or scoundrels, because they refuse to believe the mysteries, not to say the absurdities, of a book, little known, even among the lower classes." "The faith of the Christian," I replied, "rests not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, who has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and things base and despised, to bring to nought things that are in repute. As to the unbeliever, God declares that he is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God, and the gospel says that this man shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." Young man, (with disgust.) “Very well, sir; my lot, you think, is settled; you think, I suppose, that hell, with everlasting flames, is prepared for me, and for the flower of the whole human race; I thank you for your charity." "Sir," I answered, calmly," it was not I, but God himself, who said that no other name but that of Jesus is given among men, whereby they must be saved. Jesus also says to you, as well as to every other sinner, That whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.' You hear these words; they are full of love and mercy." 6 The youth was silent, and knit his brow. His countenance was gloomy, and for a long while he remained silent. Night came on. My neighbour was still speechless, and I thought his ill humour would last until he fell asleep, when, suddenly turning towards me, he said, with much appearance of feeling, "Where, sir, can I obtain the book you have there? for, I must tell you, I begin to think that perhaps I may be wrong, and that you are in the right path. I am even concerned, sir, for the thoughtless words that "I interrupted him. "Pray, sir, do not think of any apology, but as you already feel that the word of God is superior to that of a philosopher— for instance, Voltaire-do not let us part without this book, which you will allow me to offer to you, when we reach Bourdeaux." and un From that happy moment our conversation was easy restrained; and it was not till after we had spoken of all the vital doctrines of Christianity, that we both yielded to slumber. The next day my young companion was calm, cordial, and perfectly open; and when I left him, he took my hand, saying, "Do you remember the promise that you kindly made to me? there is the name of my residence." "In a few moments," I answered, "the most precious of books shall be in your hands;" and I hastened to the house of a friend, a Christian brother, to whom I related the above-mentioned facts, and who immediately went to the house of the young traveller, to whom he gave the book of God, accompanying it with words of peace. He also informed him that, on the same day, and other days following, I should explain some portions of the Holy Scriptures, at meetings to which he would be welcomed. This invitation was not given in vain. The same evening the young admirer of Voltaire, with his book under his arm, came to take his place among the serious hearers whom the gospel drew together. The next day he returned again at the same hour, and, after service, came up to me, and said, with earnestness, "Sir, you never can know all the good which this book has already done me, and all the pleasure I have felt in hearing you, both yesterday and to-day. Henceforth this book shall be my study-my sole study." 66 It 66 "And what will you do to-morrow?" I asked him. is the king's birthday; there will be a great ball, and much bustle, and no doubt you will be invited to attend." have refused," answered the young disciple, with firmness. "I shall not be present. In the morning I shall go and hear you, as you preach in public; and in the evening, if it please God, I shall come here, to hear you again." He came, in fact; and, for the first time, this fashionable young man, who had made plays and balls his chief pleasures hitherto, considered it his highest privilege to worship God in his temple, and in the evening to join some disciples of that Galilean, whom he had once learned to scorn, as his teacher, Voltaire, did. On the same evening I took leave of this youthful follower of the truth. He again expressed his gratitude and earnest desire for the accomplishment of the prayers I offered for him, and he declared, before many witnesses, that he believed the Bible, that he worshipped the Lord Jesus, and desired to live and die a Christian. We fixed upon Toulouse as a place where we might possibly meet, but we never have seen each other from that day. Let May the reader, if he be also a Christian, find his faith in the word of God strengthened. Here may be seen how this word alone resisted the attacks of an infidel, and subdued, at the feet of Jesus, the follower of vanity, even one who had long mocked the Son of God and his gracious offers. this word, then, be in your mouth, when you attempt to answer the wisdom of this. world, or the treacherous arguments of infidels; for this only can reduce them to silence. Or, if you are not a believer, then, reader, if your own reason appears a queen and mistress," and the Bible is in your eyes only a book for narrow and weak minds, learn that 66 |