Imatges de pàgina
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anticipation of a long life of useful activity. How different now were his prospects! We behold him again in the midst of these beloved scenes, but in the character of a weary pilgrim, enfeebled by disease, and apparently wholly incapacitated from ever again entering upon that laborious career, which, whilst it had been productive of such extraordinary results, had also been in complete unison with the enthusiasm of his bold and enterprising spirit.

It was, however, most gratifying to his feelings to be again encircled by the pious friends he had left here, as well as by many others whom he did not know, but who, as monuments of grace, stood before him, to award their tribute of respect and gratitude, and to join with him in praising God for the good effects which had resulted from his very first efforts to make known the glad tidings of the gospel.

The joy arising from these testimonials to the benefits which had here resulted from his earliest labours in the ministry, together with the soothing influence of a renewed intercourse with affectionate and familiar

friends, had a tendency to allay the violence of his disorder, and to impart a considerable degree of animation to his mind. Indeed, so much was this the case, that in the progress of his journey he was enabled to preach in every place where he made any stay; "for, thanks to God," he said, "there is at present scarcely a single village in Western Switzerland, which does not exhibit pleasing tokens of an increased regard to spiritual things, notwithstanding the existence of oppressive laws, and the deeply rooted antipathy which the people manifest towards pure and undefiled religion."

CHAPTER XIII.

NEFF PREACHES AT PLOMBIERES-HIS HEALTH APPEARS TO IMPROVE, BUT HE SOON RELAPSES AFFECTIONATE AT

TENTION IS PAID TO HIM BOTH BY PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS HE DICTATES A LETTER TO HIS ALPINE FRIENDS HE AGAIN RETURNS TO GENEVA-HIS EXTREME SUFFERINGS HIS WARM ATTACHMENT TO THE "PASTEURS DISSIDENS"-DICTATES A LETTER TO M. BOST, ADDRESSED TO HIS ALPINE FLOCK-AVOWS THE STEDFASTNESS OF HIS RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS INFORMATION OF HIS RAPID DECLINE COMMUNICATED TO HIS FRIENDS AT QUERAS, &c. — THEY WRITE HIM AN AFFECTIONATE LETTER HE RECEIVES FOUR HUNDRED FRANCS, WHICH HE DEVOTES TO MISSIONARY PURPOSES-VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING HIS DEATH-HIS TRIUMPHANT DEPARTURE-EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE AGENT OF THE CONTINENTAL SOCIETY.

NEFF found that at Plombières, as is the case at most watering places, there was a confused association of almost every species. of human suffering and misery, both mental and physical.

Although himself also a visitor, for the purpose of obtaining relief from pain, and the renewed enjoyment of health, he did not

allow either his own weakness, or the frivolities of surrounding scenes, to divert his mind from the all important subject of religion, and its various and urgent obligations. On the contrary, whilst cultivating a close communion with God, he remembered also the vocation wherewith he was called; and his compassionate soul was full of anxiety to unfold the word of life in the midst of a crowd of immortal beings, wholly absorbed, either by their pleasures or their infirmities; where, to use his own emphatic language, "not a single individual appeared even to think about eternity!" Here he became acquainted with a worthy Protestant lady, Madame de C—, the wife of the Prefect of the Vosges; and under her auspices, was enabled to make arrangements for the performance of divine worship every Sabbath. This circumstance, being made known to the inhabitants and the Protestant visitors, excited considerable interest; and on the first Sabbath he preached, he felt encouraged by the attendance of a large congregation. He had never before addressed such a bril

liant audience, and yet his sermon was characterized by the same freedom, energy, and affectionate solicitude as though he had been preaching to the simple and untutored mountaineers of the Alps. The following Sabbaths a considerable number of Roman Catholics came to hear him; and, eventually, the interest taken in these public ministrations of the invalid pastor was so great, that two large rooms were hardly sufficient to contain his hearers. In his private intercourse, also, he became the object of esteem and affection; and from many of the visitors of both persuasions, who were delighted with his Christian spirit and demeanour, he received pressing invitations to visit them in their own countries.

After a little perseverance in the use of the baths and the mineral waters, they appeared to have produced a most salutary effect. His strength and his appetite, although they were subject to frequent variations, yet upon the whole seemed so much invigorated, that his friends began to express a desire that he would now partake of more

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