to shew them their state as sinners, to make them feel that the law of God could not consent to the salvation of those who have broken it; that it requires full satisfaction; but that Jesus Christ has made this satisfaction, obeying its precepts, and dying under its curse; that the pardon of the sinner is to be found only in the work of the Redeemer; and that the method appointed by God for its attainment is by faith, and not by works; but that true faith never fails to work by love, which is the fulfilling of the law. This doctrine appeared to them, as is always the case, a singular novelty; but as I had been careful rather to use the words of Scripture than my own, they felt obliged to pay some attention to them. Still it cost them much to abandon their former notions. Each individual maintained them as well as he could; some with much warmth, especially among the elder members of this church. Gradually, however, the strong evidence with which the sacred Scriptures have surrounded the doctrine of salvation, made its way into some hearts: young men, hitherto strongly attached to the world, were among the first to be convinced, and were a powerful encouragement to me to continue to plead with others the cause of divine truth, which they found also the way of salvation. Among those who still kept at a distance, I had remarked a very silent young man, with a cold and reserved manner, who appeared carefully to endeavour to hide himself among the crowd, in order to avoid conversation with me. This young man was Ferdinand Caulier. His reserve surprised me the more because it was not the characteristic of the rest of the family, especially of his father, whom I frequently saw; and I could not avoid thinking that either my doctrine or my presence, or both, were disagreeable to him.

"I afterwards heard that this opinion was well founded: Ferdinand,

being much addicted to the pleasures of his age, saw me with vexation, because the villagers had determined, ever since I had been at N., to pass the Sunday evening with me, instead of following their usual rural amusements; besides which, although I preached to them a free salvation, I insisted much upon a renewal of the heart, upon the necessity of conversion to God, upon giving up the world, and other Christian duties. As Ferdinand persisted in avoiding me, I lost sight of him for some time; but the Lord had his eye on him, and was secretly carrying on the conversion of that soul, which he had chosen as an elect vessel, to fill it with the blessed savour of Christ.

"Ferdinand was naturally of a reflective and observing disposition; nothing escaped his notice. Although the doctrine which I continued to preach did not please him, he had paid attention to it, and his conscience told him that it might possibly be true; but the influence the world had over him was too powerful to yield at the first signal; so that the video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor,' was literally his case.

"One Sunday, after having heard the two sermons which I was accustomed to preach to this little flock, he was seized with a strong desire to go and spend the remainder of the day in diversions. His conscience at first presented some obstacles; but he soon overcame them. He set out without paying much regard to the distress which his conduct would occasion his father; but towards the close of the evening he was seized with a violent headache, which obliged him to retire and go to bed, and there, for the first time, the thought of death presented itself to his mind with so much force that he was greatly alarmed. This light which the mercy of God had caused to shine on his mind, was the beginning of his conversion. From that moment he resolved to renounce the world ;

and as he was endued with great firmness of purpose, the world in fact lost him from that hour.

me.

"All this took place unknown to His natural reserve and timidity induced him to keep to himself what was passing in his mind; and I should long have remained ignorant of it if a circumstance had not occurred, which doubtless our blessed Lord had appointed to bring us together. Although I lived at V., because this town was the centre of my sphere of duty, I very frequently visited my little flock at N. They were accustomed to come to a distance of several leagues to meet me. It happened one day to be the turn of Ferdinand thus to receive me. He came as far as V.; and, during a journey of five hours, I had, for the first time, the opportunity of having a long conversation with him. How great was my surprise, when this young man, whom I thought still far from the kingdom of God, made known to me that the mercy of the Lord had already touched his heart, and that his progress in the spiritual life was already evident. My joy was great, and his was not less in having thus opened his mind to me. This first interview became the foundation of a friendship which was afterwards a source of the greatest enjoyment to us both. I became acquainted with a fine mind; but little cultivated, it is true, according to the estimate of the world, but which already exhibited the germ of those spiritual graces which at a later period developed themselves, and rendered Ferdinand one of the most faithful and devoted Christians whom I have ever known.

great principle, nay, the very end of that obedience which God requires. The great aim of his Christian life was to study to obtain this obedience, and to cultivate that spirit of love to God which renders it at once easy and delightful. He particularly delighted in the Lord's day. How often have I seen him on that day court solitude, and without affectation retire from every thing which might occasion distraction of mind, even from the society of his family and Christian friends, to seek, and no doubt to enjoy, in peace, the presence and communion of his Lord.

“A short time after his conversion, a plan had been formed at N. for distributing the word of God by means of colporteurs (hawkers) which has been successful far beyond expectation. Our first colporteurs having quitted N., with a good stock of New Testaments, had been received every where with eagerness; and in a few days their boxes had been emptied. None of the difficulties which were at first anticipated had impeded them; and thanks to the Divine blessing, and the co-operation of two Christian societies, this undertaking soon assumed a shape which was likely to render it permanent.

"Ferdinand felt an ardent desire to devote himself to this employment. No occupation appeared to him so dignified, so exalted, as to pass one's life, however humbly, in the service of God; but he respected too much the authority of his father to undertake any thing without his consent. Besides which, he felt that he ought first to ascertain what was the will of God, which he sought to know by earnest prayer. In the mean time, he was not less scrupulous in fulfilling the duties of his calling. His time was divided between agricultural labour and the cultivation of his mind: he had a strong desire for improvement, but his desire was limited to that most important species of knowledge-the

knowledge of salvation. I have frequently observed him guiding his plough with one hand, while with the other he held the New Testament, the most striking portions of which he committed to memory. Far from becoming less ardent, time only strengthened his desire to be entirely devoted to the service of God; and the increasing success of the colporteurs made him anxiously wish for the time when he might labour like them, if this should ever be granted to him.

"I had lately been induced to extend my ministerial labours into Beauce. Ferdinand was inclined to think that all his hopes were now about to be frustrated, and that, when I should be removed from him, no one would endeavour to promote the scheme which he had so much at heart. I entreated him not to fear this, and left him with a promise that I would continue to interest myself for him, and that, if he could obtain the consent of his father, I hoped that God would remove other obstacles, and would supply me with the means of employing him in the work of circulating the Scriptures.

"My hopes were not disappointed. Six weeks had not elapsed after my departure from N., when Ferdinand was with me in Orléans. We went to Beauce, and began together to scatter around the good tidings of salvation; he by distributing the word of life, and I by preaching its doctrines. Like the other colporteurs, he wrote a circumstantial journal of what he did and said during his journeys. I think I shall do well to insert here some extracts from this journal. My readers must bear in mind while reading them, that at this time Ferdinand was destitute of any education but that which was to be obtained in his village. He knew well the Sacred Scriptures, but nothing else. His journal was only written for my use, and I required simply the relation of facts. The extracts which follow

are intended to exhibit him such as he was, from the very commencement of a career which God has honoured with so many blessings.

"St. A. (I give only the initials of the places) Jan. 18, 1821.—I asked a man of this village if he wished to purchase one of my books: he desired to look at them, with which I was much pleased, for he was the first person with whom I had been able to converse. But what was my grief, when I heard him say that the book was too expensive for children! I told him that the book was fit for him, for one cannot read the word of God too much it is quite necessary you should read it also. To this he replied, If one reads it, one ought to do as it teaches, and I will not do so. I then asked him what would become of him after his death; to which he replied, that all would then be over with him. I then asked him if Jesus Christ had risen from the dead. He answered that he had never seen him. I endeavoured to continue the conversation; but he would not hear, and there I left him. I went a little farther, and having entered into another house, after having shewn my books and spoken a little, they said that I was a Protestant, because I spoke of Jesus Christ. I told them that I was a Christian. are Protestants, they replied. Well, I am a Protestant; but hear me, Jesus Christ has not said that in order to go to heaven, we must be either Protestants or Roman Catholics; but he has said, He who believeth on the Son hath eternal life;' therefore those only are Christians who believe on him. He who believeth not is condemned already. A woman who was present, said that this was true, and that in fact Jesus Christ alone can save us. This remark gave me great pleasure. We continued to converse about our Lord Jesus Christ. This woman well understood the doctrine of justification by faith without the deeds

6

So

of the law. I left them rejoicing; for they told me that they had a Bible and a New Testament."

B. Jan. 19.-"I bless God for having been enabled in one house to speak of my Saviour. At first there were about half a score women present. When I began to speak to them of Jesus Christ, they laughed; but I told them that they ought not to laugh at the Lord Jesus Christ, for sooner or later they must appear before him as their Judge. They did not laugh any more. Many persons who were passing came in to listen. One young woman, after having looked at my books, bought a New Testament."

O. Jan. 24.-" A man with whom I had already had some conversation, wished me to go home with him, that we might converse farther. We talked much of our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy word. He seemed pleased. I point ed out to him many passages of Scripture, which he noted down."

St. M. Jan. 25.-"In speaking with the master of a house in which I had offered my books, he said that we have so much misery in this world, that we might well expect something better in a future one: I told him that our troubles here could not open paradise to us. Well, said he, then we shall always be miserable. I asked him whether, after having been miserable on earth, God should condemn us to hell hereafter, we should have any cause of complaint against him? Would he not give us what we have well deserved? He allowed this to be true. But, said I, if we go to Jesus Christ, we shall certainly be saved, although we are very great sinners. We talked

much more about Jesus Christ. He listened to me, and so did his family. A woman came into another house while I was there, and began to say that she said masses for all those who gave her directions to do so; and, addressing me, said, If you

will give me some halfpence I will pray to the Holy Virgin for you.' I replied, I pray to the Saviour.' But,' said she, you should also pray to his blessed mother; for he has said, Mother, ask what you will, and I will give it to you.' < You are mistaken,' I replied, 'Jesus Christ said those words, but they were for all the world.' We continued to converse on various subjects, till at last she bought one of my books. I left her, hoping that God would bless it to the good of her soul. I offered my books in another house, in which there was a death: they said that they did not want any. I spoke a little of the benefits of afflictions, if they lead us to think of God; which seemed to afford them comfort. I also mentioned the salvation which is in Jesus; they listened to me, and I left them, committing them to the Lord, and praying that he would bless the words which I had spoken there and elsewhere."

Pa. Jan. 31.-" They told me in one house which I entered, that they did not want any of my books. But as soon as I explained to them what they were, and that this was the only book which tells what the Saviour has done for sinners, they bought two portions of the New Testament. In another house where I offered my books, they said the same. I reminded them that it was the word of God; that this book shewed us our salvation, which was accomplished by Jesus Christ; with much more, which induced them to purchase of me two New Testaments."

Pr. Feb. 2.-" I found in one house two aged women, to whom I was enabled to speak for a long time concerning the Saviour and their own salvation. One of them replied, that I spoke the truth; that without him we should all be lost; that he suffered for us; and that through faith in him we should be saved. There, and elsewhere, I was enabled to say much;

for by the mercy of God I had many opportunities of making known the Saviour's name according as he gave me power to do so. I left this village rejoicing, as much for the books which I had left there, as for the words which I had been enabled to speak. May God bless them all. Amen."

Pr. Feb. 3. I was driven from one house in this village; but a little girl entreated her mother so earnestly to buy her a New Testament, that she complied. I entered a public-house, in which there was much company, in order to offer my books: all examined them, and thought them very beautiful. I heard one person say to the rest, that religion must be founded on this book, because it is there found as the Apostles preached it."

The same village, Feb. 5.-" I bad left in this village, the day before yesterday, some New Testaments in a depository; and when I returned thither to day, many persons ran to meet me to inquire for the New Testament. I noticed particularly an aged man, who, as soon as he saw me, entreated me to carry one of them to his son. I told this young man that this was the word of God, the book of salvation. That is why I buy it,' said he, with a satisfied air: I wish to read it in

the evening, in order to learn what

it contains.' After some farther conversation, I returned to the house where I had left the New Testaments, where many persons were waiting to buy some. In short, I could not do enough, either in explaining what the New Testament is, or in distributing it to those who wished to purchase. When this crowd was dispersed, I went through the streets crying, Buy my New Testaments, so that I sold some more. When I quitted this village I was filled with joy, because the word of God had been so promptly received in it. May the Lord bless it to them by opening their hearts to receive it, as he did that of Lydia."

G. Feb. 8.-" When I offered

my books in one house in this village, the master of it told me that he knew all about them, because he had already a New Testament. Well, said I to him, how do you hope to be saved? He replied, By doing every thing which God requires of me.' But do we do this? If we do not, we are sinners deserving condemnation.' • That is true,' he replied. Well, then, how in this case are we to be saved?'

By repentance,' he replied. No, repentance is not capable of meriting the remission of our sins. If I owed you a large sum of money, would you consider it as paid, because I should be sorry for having incurred the debt?' Certainly not,' he replied, and then asked me what he must do to be saved. I pointed out to him many passages, in which we are told that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin; that he who believeth on the Son of God hath eternal life; that justification is by faith, not by works. That is all true,' said he; but nevertheless good works are not useless to us; for if they were, it would not be worth while doing them; and yet it appears from what you say, that we are not free from the performance of them.' 'But,' I replied, if you were condemned to die, and I were willing to die in your stead, could you help loving me?' He answered that he could not. 'Well,' said I, the Saviour has done more than this for us; since, if I had died for you, I should have only saved you from death for a few years, whilst Christ saves us from eternal death. We shall love him then if we are saved by him; and if we love him we shall obey him, that is to say, we shall perform good works.' I then shewed him some passages in the Epistle to the Romans, where it says, • Shall we then continue in sin that grace may abound?' To these neither he nor his sons made any answer, and I left them.—I had in this village nearly the same conversation with a sick person, who listened to