appearing above the ground, attain their full growth as you proceed, and that which at the head was hardly in the ear, becomes soon not only a ripe but a gathered harvest. The vines which in other parts are rather finely cultivated appear here in their most beautiful aspect. They hang in festoons on every side of the road, and sometimes for nearly a quarter of a mile, they form an archway of the loveliest green for the weary traveller to rest under its grateful shade. You look over the fair scene; the eye revels in the enjoyment of it; it seems an earthly paradise-a very Eden of bright green, with flowers of every hue. But who inhabit it? Who are those who catch the eye every now and then as they painfully toil along the road under their burden, or in the heat of the day labour so diligently in the fields? These are the dwellers in this paradise, and never could I have conceived any thing more distressing to the eye and heart than the physical condition of these poor people. The sight of their wretched condition makes one feel thankful to flee from this valley. The melancholy stare of idiocy meets you at every turn, and that disease so little understood and so disgusting in its appearance, Goitre, marks with its foul brand a full half of the population. Even those who are not afflicted with either of these terrible maladies, are sickly-looking, haggard, and very repulsive. The whole land wears a universal smile, but man who has to gain his bread from it by the sweat of his brow, moves therein scathed, miserable, and dying. The curse in its intensity has fallen on him, and has not yet reached fully his habitation

"Every prospect pleases

And only man is vile."

Oh, how cheering it is to the mind saddened by such a scene as this, to turn to that book which gives power to

the faint, and to read therein of a "new heaven and a new earth," a glorious habitation far excelling all that tongue can describe or heart conceive, and specially and above all to read and know, that therein shall dwell righteousness; that in the kingdom of the Prince of Peace, the place which he has prepared shall be indeed glorious, but nevertheless, only suited for the bright and shining ones who shall inhabit it. My beloved friends, let us all strive more every day to be acquiring those garments in the kingdom of grace, which in the day of the revelation of all things shall be seen to be none other than those of the kingdom of glory.

Strongly contrasted with the emotions called forth by the above have been those of the Sabbaths I have spent in this place. I can scarcely yet realize the fact, so strange does it appear to me, that I twice worshipped with a Vaudois congregation. Unlike the smiling valley with its miserable tenants, the scene presented before me here was a poor and a dark room, but within were eyes lighted up with the fire of Christian love-breasts which heaved with sighs such as it would not demean an angel to bear to the footstool of the throne, and which told in language not to be misunderstood, of salvation to the lost, peace to the sorrowful, sight to the blind, and life to the deadwhich seemed to fill all the places where they were gathered together with such bright and heavenly light, as to make one feel, "This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven;" and to say with a fulness of joy unknown before, "Lord, it is good for us to be here." You can doubtless well understand how completely overcome I was by emotion when the worship actually commenced. Here were on every side, the children of these noble Christian men, who for centuries feared

God, and held to his truth, though surrounded by the bitterest enemies, and enduring every persecution which malice could dictate, and every suffering which religious hatred could devise. How I thought I could read in the faces before me the stern lines of that unswerving fidelity to their heavenly King, which made them choose without a sigh, the wild rocks, the mighty chasms, and the snow of their hills, with their Bible, their conscience, and their God-rather than a sunny clime, a life of ease, tranquillity, and peace, at the sacrifice of their faith. My fellowworshippers themselves too, though now tolerated, have yet known by experience what it is to be within reach of the vassal slaves of bloody Rome. Even now, though tolerated, ancient laws exist which may suddenly be put in force against them. At this moment one of these pastors in this city will be tried in a few days, and perhaps sentenced to three months' imprisonment, for having declared publicly in the newspapers that the Church of Rome was corrupt at the time of the Reformation. A change of government, or any other slight cause, may again put these poor people under the ban of the civil power, and at the feet of a tyrannous and reckless priesthood. With such as these I worshipped. And when the hymns ascended up to God, when the sweet gentle voices of the females mingled with the deep, calm, and subdued tones of the men, in their beautiful and solemn song of praise, I felt as if eighteen hundred years had not yet come and gone since the Apostles' times, and that I was in one of the primitive assemblies of the faithful; from time to time, indeed, dispersed by the pride and cruelty of man, but which never lacked the presence and the countenance of God. Oh, beloved friends, pray for these "few sheep in the wilderness"-bear their burden before God, re

member them as those who are in adversity, ask that they may be kept pure, humble, and faithful, holding forth the word of life; and do you seek to walk after them in the steadiness of their faith and the consistency of their practice, and follow them, even as they follow Christ. I have still to visit the Vaudois in the Valleys, and I feel assured that this, together with my Sabbath experience and my intercourse with one or two of their pastors, will shed a light on the memory of the past, both bright and lasting. Here for the present I must close, and I think I cannot do so better than by pointing to the Vaudois, and saying, "Whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever."

Ever, my beloved friend,

Yours in the bonds of the Gospel,

D. T. K. DRUMMOND.

MY BELOVED FRIENDS,

Thun, 28th July, 1852.

Although from time to time disjointed portions of my poor, and hastily written journal, find their way to you, I cannot deny myself the gratification of holding somewhat more direct communication with you about the season of our monthly Communion, and that, not so much in the character of an invalid journeying in quest of health, but rather as one who never feels so happy as when the bond which binds him to you in the pastoral office is remembered, and when he can in any way, by direct spiritual intercourse, hope to carry out in any measure or degree, the blessed purpose of that most precious and holy union. Of all Sabbaths in the month, that on which I feel most deeply my present separation from you all, is the Communion Sabbath. I remember the seasons which have

many

gone by for ever in the circle of time, but which have left their indelible impressions for eternity; those seasons during which our blessed Master has more than once, as it were, said to us, "Come ye apart yourselves, and rest awhile." As I call to mind the sweet calm which he has so graciously vouchsafed to us at those seasons, the refreshing from his presence which he has often so liberally poured forth-my eye follows one and another loved member of the flock, as I have seen them before sealing the Lord at his table, coming for crumbs even, if no more, from his bounty. My heart recalls the joys and the sorrows of beloved ones, of whom I love to think, and for whom I love to pray, as with waiting spirits they drew near to the table of that faithful promiser, who has declared, "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come unto you;" and as memory is thus busy with the past, I sometimes think whether I shall ever be permitted to enjoy such seasons again. Will our gracious Master guide my feet once more beside the still waters and to those green pastures? Will the future be so rich in spiritual blessings, that the past will hardly be had in remembrance? If it be according to his will, for his glory, and for our good, may he in mercy grant me this desire of my heart, to break bread and to pour out wine again as his ministering servant among those who are so

dear to my heart. Let me entreat your prayers, beloved friends, for your absent minister in this respect, not so much for my return, as that that return may be in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of peace. That I may come laden with the good things of that Gospel, and that I may be given again not only to you, but specially to the Lord for your sakes, consecrated with the fresh oil of his Holy Spirit; that my every thought and word and wish may be devoted to him, for his glory and your edification.