Memoir of John-Frederic Oberlin. have wished to be able to unite his voice with hers, in singing the song of the Lamb. I have had all my life,' he says himself, in a paper written the very year in which he lost his wife, a desire to die, which has sometimes been very strong. The consciousness of my moral infirmities and of my frequent derelictions, has not been the least of the causes which have produced it. My affection for my wife and children, my attachment to my parish, have sometimes repressed this desire; but it has only been during brief intervals."-These few words seem to lay open the very secret of his soul. While these rocks cut through, these roads laid open, this bridge thrown over the torrent, these fields rendered fertile, a population conducted to civilization,-all these lengthened and arduous labours, seem to bear witness only to an indefatigable zeal and an extreme activity, the expressions we have just cited show, what was the true moving principle of his whole life. That which rendered him the benefactor of these districts, that which led him to devote every minute to the prosecution of his plans, was, the ever present thought of death and eternity. He knew that his soul would be required of him; he desired that it should be so speedily. In order that, when that moment should arrive, his lamp might not be found without oil, he watched and prayed, seeking to spend every moment as he wished that his last should be spent. Millions of times,' he says in the same paper, have I besought God for power to give myself up, as his child, to all his will, whether for life or for death;-to be able to resign myself, and to will nothing, desire nothing, and neither say, do, or attempt any thing but what He, who alone is good and wise, sees to be best.'" Pp. 35-7. May not this serve to explain the saying our Saviour, whose words always have re for they shall be comforted-blessed, whet ence to eternity: Blessed are those who mou with those who have not passed through many trials. Oh! that we were always al we contemplate them apart, or in comparis dren,-to draw near to him like young lam to cast ourselves into his arms, like little ch and ever to ask of him, patience, resign tion, an entire surrender to his will, fait trust, and a heartfelt obedience to the con mands which he gives to those who are wil ing to be his disciples. The Lord God will wip pp. 42, 3. away tears from off all faces. (Isa. xxv. 8.) plainness, interspersing his discourses with In his preaching, Oberlin studied a colloquia have been deemed below the dignity of the pulpit, had they been addressed to a polite figures and allusions which might sometimes auditory; but they were well adapted to indotes of persons distinguished by their piety; terest and instruct his simple villagers. He and all the operations of nature furnished him would frequently introduce biographical anecillustrations of spiritual things. But the Bible itself was the grand source from which he drew the matter of his instructions; it formed the study of his life; and he was in the habit from the conviction that the simple exposition of the word of God was the best means of efof citing very largely from the scriptures, fectually acting upon his flock. His sermons were almost always composed with the greatleast a pretty full outline. In general, he est care; and when unable, for want of time, to write them out at length, he drew up at committed them scrupulously to memory; but An extract from a letter which he wrote to happened that he would change his subject in the pulpit, he did not concern himself with a lady who had been tried by a series of afflic-altogether, if he saw that another was appaadhering to the precise words, and it has even tions, will illustrate his simple and familiar manner, as well as his lively faith and fervent piety. "I have before me two stones, which are an imitation of precious stones. They are both perfectly alike in colour; they are of the same water, clear, pure, and clean; yet, there is a marked difference between them as to their lustre and brilliancy. One has a dazzling brightness, while the other is dull, so that the eye passes over it, and derives no pleasure from the sight. What can be the reason of this difference? it is this. The one is cut in but a few facets; the other has ten times as many. These facets are produced by a very violent operation! it is requisite to cut, to smooth and polish. Had these stones been indued with life, so as to have been capable of feeling what they underwent, the one which has received eighty fre rently better suited to the circumstances of his auditory. The Sabbath afternoon was devoted to a catechetical exercise, which he endeavoured to render still more simple than the morning's discourse. Every Friday he conlanguage was more familiar than French. ducted a service in German, for the benefit of These assemblies were in general less numethose inhabitants of the vicinity to whom that ed, on such occasions, an old man surrounded by his children, to whom he was delivering rous; and Oberlin, laying aside all form, seemwholesome instruction. ed to him while going on with their work; "The women listendiscourse, and, after taking a pinch from his and now and then, the pastor, who felt as if in snuff-box, would send it rou the midst of his family, would break off his | sieur, il n'y a pas beaucoup d'a n'aurions pu passer même avec comme ceci. Monsieur le Pas toute cette route; il a même tr propres mains, pour encourager "R. Et ce petit pont là que verser? "C. Oui, surement, et ce po lui qui l'a fait faire. that he spoke with less ease, would thank him for the things he had said, and beg him to conclude. Such was the universal esteem in which Pastor Oberlin was held, that Catholics as well as Protestants, were fond of attending his preaching. The following conversation took place between an English traveller who visited the Ban de la Roche in the autumn of 1825, and a peasant of Shermick, the driver of the car in which it was found necessary to proceed from that place. Our friend, unwilling to trust to his recollection, secured the terms of the honest cocher's naïve remarks, by a few pencil notes taken on the spot; and no apology to our readers can be necessary for introducing them in illustration of the light in which Pastor Oberlin was universally re-garde rien, absolument rien; il garded by the pesantry. "Cocher. Vous allez donc voir notre bon Pasteur Oberlin, Messieurs? Réponse. Oui, nous allons le voir. Est ce que vous le connoissez? "C. Si je le connois? Oui, je le connois bien. Je l'ai entendu prêcher maint fois. "R. Mais vous êtes Catholique, n'est ce pas ? "C. Oui, nous sommes Catholiques, nous autres à Shermick; néanmoins, cela ne nous empêche pas d'entendre quelquefois le bon pasteur de Waldbach. "R. Trouvez vous qu'il prêche bien? "C. Mais oui. Je le crois bien. Souvent il nous fait tous pleurer à chaudes larmes." The honest charioteer spoke a very intelligible French, quite distinct from the patois of the village; and this circumstance, together with a certain touch of military sang froid in his manner, not entirely concealed by his fustian jacket, prompted the inquiry, whether he had served under Napoleon. An old soldier is always pleased at being detected; he replied: "Ouí, Monsieur, vous y êtes. J'ai été soldat, moi. Quand on est soldat, on attrappe facilement bien des mauvaises habitudes. "R. Pour tout ce que j'ai trouvé jusqu'ici, on les attrappe assez facilement par tout. "C. C'est possible. Pour moi, je vous dis franchement que je n'étois pas mieux que les autres; et quand je vais entendre prêcher le Pasteur Oberlin, il me fait bien sentir que je ne suis pas trop bon à present même. Il a raison, M. le Pasteur a raison; car c'est vrai, c'est bien vrai cela. "R. Oui; mais ne pensez vous pas que c'est une verité bien essentielle à savoir? Ne croyez vous pas que celui qui nous fait sentir nos erreurs est un de nos meilleurs amis? "C. Oui. Pour être guéri, on doit savoir sa maladie. "R. Certainement. Vous êtes donc bien heureux d'avoir un ministre qui vous fait sentir la verité. "C. Vous avez raison. Et je vous assure que c'est un homme qui cherche de nous être utile en toutes sortes de maniéres. "R. Dites moi; qu'est ce qu'il a fait donc ? "C. Qu'est ce qu'il a fait! Il fait tout ce qu'on peut faire. Vovons. Il y a tant de "R. Il doit être riche pour choses. "C. On peut dire oui et non "R. Comment? "C. On peut dire oui; paro tout ce qu'il a donné aux autr trés riche. On peut dire non pauvres; tout, Monsieur, tou voir sa maison. Il ne faut pa trouver bien glorieuse." As they ascended from the Rothou towards Waldbach, th appeared upon a gentle slope, th spire of the church rising ab thatched roofs of the humble dv numerous fruit-trees. It was t vest, which, in the Ban de la 1 to the vintage of more genial c and children and old men were in collecting the plentiful crop of some goodly sized potatoes more the enthusiasm of the Shermicker. "Voila, Messieurs, voyez enc devons à Monsieur le bon Paste sieurs ans que les pommes de to bach etoient devenus très mai et d'un gout detestable. Bien. teur connaissait plusieurs gens r en Allemagne, et partout. I nouvelles plantes; et à present qu'il y a dans toute la France terre comme ici. Voyez, Me: elles sont grosses et longues' brawny fists to mark their mag scribing their length on the whip).' The women, being in their had not the most prepossessi they wore immense sabots, ge stockings, with black caps and A very short acquaintance, he the visiter to detect many st beneath their antiquated and tume. Their deportment was obliging, and polite, and the y gentle and confiding in their n the strangers. The effect education was instantly percep and pure accentuation. So monious did their pronunciatio pear, that the impression mad was, that it would not have disg saloon. The clean beds, the fortable appearance of the cott little orchard-gardens, prese contrast to the dirty and slo author of the "Notice," "that these mountains have become remarkable in France for the faith which prevails, and the virtues which are practised there." At first, we are told, Oberlin's influence had no apparent result beyond reclaiming his flock from grosser faults, and leading them to observe the rules of strict probity; but, by degrees, he succeeded in initiating them into both the doctrines and the spirit of the Gospel of Christ. Now, at the decease of a poor father or mother leaving a numerous family, the relations and neighbours take upon themselves the charge and care of the orphans; and there is scarcely a household which does not contain one or two of these adopted children: they scarcely think of mentioning that they are not their own. One poor woman, (her name well deserves to be put upon record with that of her Pastor,) Sophia Bernard, collected in this manner nine little strangers, of three different denominations, whom she successively rescued from want. With the consent of her parents, she had adopted three helpless boys whom their brutal father ill-treated, when, famishing, they durst cry out for food. Subsequently, having saved from want, first, four Roman Catholic children, then, two others, she was obliged to hire a room to lodge them in, the house of her parents being no longer able to hold them. She taught the poor orphans to spin, and by their labour and her own, she provided for their maintenance till they were all grown up. A young man made her an offer of marriage, and as she appeared unwilling to accept him, he declared that, if necessary, he would wait ten years to gain her hand. She then owned to him, that her motive for refusing him was, the grief it would occasion her to part from her little orphans. "He who takes the mother, takes the children," replied the young man; and on this condition the marriage took place. Not only was the agreement faithfully observed on his part, but the noble-minded pair afterwards adopted several other orphans.* Sophia Bernard died about four years ago at an advanced age; and in her, the Ban de la Roche lost "a model, a mother, a comforter, and a friend." "If," continues the Narrator, "examples of a similar disinterestedness are not numerous, there may at least be observed, pretty generally, the practice of those virtues which Christianity inspires. The young men assist the old men and invalids in their rural labours. In the evening, their day's work being done, the signal is given, and they go off to execute in concert some labour which, by its charitable object, becomes a relaxation. Is a new cottage to be built? The young folks take upon themselves the task of getting together the materials, and of putting a hand to the work wherever it is wanted. Does it happen that a poor man loses his cow, his only support? The these things take place by a sort of compulsion or because they have become customary; the are the result of conviction on the part of each who, in taking part in the good done by th whole population, does good, at the same time individually, the Gospel having taught him t love and practise it. Thus, for instance, on young woman refused to marry, in order tha she might devote to works of benevolence he talents, her time, and her strength, allowing herself only bare necessaries, and employing all the remainder of her little property in re lieving those who were more necessitous thar herself, and in contributing to the support of the noble and pious institutions of the present day "These institutions were partly known in the Ban de la Roche, before the knowledge had spread to the rest of France. One of the first that attracted the attention of Oberlin, was that Missionary Society which sends forth the messengers of peace to the wretched slaves, to comfort them, and to make known to them the gospel of the Son of God as the most efficacious remedy. At the period alluded to, his wife was yet living. No sooner did they learn that there were pious Christians who left their country on this errand, than, by common consent, they parted with all their plate, to contribute, the proceeds of the sale to so noble an undertaking, regretting that they were able to send no more. His imagination having been powerfully impressed with the description of the unhappy condition of the negro slaves employed in the cultivation of the sugar and coffee, Oberlin resolved never again to taste either; and he adhered to this resolution, although he had great difficulty in bringing his stomach, accustomed to the use of those articles from his infancy, to submit to these privations."-Notice, pp. 45, 6. Oberlin was himself actuated by the genuine Missionary spirit; and in an carly part of his ministry, he for some time hesitated whether he should not accept an invitation to undertake a station in Pennsylvania. For two years, a pastor had in vain been sought to fill the vacant post. When informed of this circumstance, Oberlin, considering it to be the duty of a soldier of Christ to repair whither others were unwilling to go, and thinking that the Ban de la Roche might be more easily provided for than so distant a charge, expressed his readiness to set off. His wife participated in his sentiments. But, while they were waiting for more specific directions, the war broke out between England and America, which prevented their departure. From that time, he rejected every station that offered, showing himself to be proof against repeated and urgent solicitations. His reply to those who wished him to accept the charge of larger parishes, uniformly was, that we must not quit the post given us to defend, without positive orders from our General. France. It was composed of Oberlin himself, Henry Oberlin, a son in every respect worthy of his parents, and M. Daniel Le Grand, by whom depositories were established in different parts of France, and more than 10,000 copies of the Bible or the New Testament were put in circulation before the Paris Bible Society was instituted. It was the letter written by Oberlin, to which we have already referred, that suggested the first idea of forming Ladies' Bible Associations; a plan which has since been so extensively and successfully acted upon in all the countries where a zeal exists for circulating the word of God. Mr. Owen, in his History of the British and Foreign Bible Society, adverts to this circumstance, acknowledging the obligation which the Committee were under to this extraordinary man, whom he describes as uniting the simplicity of a patriarch to the zeal of an apostle. In the letter alluded to, Oberlin describes the way in which three respectable women of his parish found themselves enabled to take an active part in his labours, either by reading the Bible to their neighbours, or by lending them the sacred volume. These humble but admirable fellowlabourers with him in the Gospel, were Sophia Bernard, whose history has been given, Maria Schepler, and Catherine Scheidecker. The latter, though very infirm, was yet living last year.t "In these women," remarks the author of the Notice," may be seen, how powerful an influence the sacred word exerts, through Divine Grace, upon the heart; so that persons in the humblest condition may by its means be raised so far above their circumstances, and astonish us as much by their intellectual as their religious development. Not only all the Protestants within the parish, but as many Roman Catholics in the neighbouring districts as were willing to receive it, now possess a Bible. According to their means, they contribute also towards placing the Scriptures within the reach of those who are still destitute of them. Not that there is any regularly constituted Bible *The Author of the "Propositions Géologiques," &c. referred to in a preceding note. He took the degree of Doctor in Medicine at Strasbourg, in 1806, and was afterwards ordained. His premature and lamented death is thus recorded in the Fourteenth Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, p. xlii. "Your Committee think it due to the late Rev. Henry Oberlin, of Waldbach in Alsace, to bear their testimony to that zeal by which he was urged to sacrifice his valuable life in exertions for distributing the Holy Scriptures among his countrymen." The immediate occasion of his death was a cold which he caught, in 1815, in assisting to extinguish a fire that had broken out in a town in his route, as he was making a circuit through the South of France, to ascertain the condition of the Protestants, and the means of supplying them more generally with the holy Scriptures. The author of the Notice speaks of both as survivors; but Mr. Owen, who was introduced to Sophia Bernard, and Catharine Scheidecker, in 1818, states, that the other member of this memorable trio had then been removed Society in the Ban de la Roche which the money is collected, is t "They assemble on the evenin days, when, after the reading of ters of the Bible, all kneel down imploring the Divine blessing up village, the parish at large, and a tutions. Then a collection is m duce of which is deposited in chest, till the time arrives for t to those Bible and Missionary which the Annual Reports show tribution will be most important. more important than the amount that each individual gives from cause every one understands t which he gives; and especially, lage has its priests, who interce day, for the conversion of all me knows how much of the success pleased to grant, may be owing ers? These contributions for rel do not prevent them from regu sums as large, compared with th objects of charity. Oberlin alwa ed to persuade them to put by a income, to offer it in this manne and, in fact, they would bring it form of goods, provisions, or m pious woman, Louisa Schepler, tered into his service at the age who acted as his house-keeper a of his wife, assisted him in dis judgment. It is not that there pers in the parish, but the well tions of both the pastor and hi attracted a great number of po neighbouring districts." p. 48. To return to the Pastor himse custom, not being able to pread day in all the villages of his li take each of the three church In his latter years, his great him unable any longer to perfor on foot, the peasants made an a which each might in turn have bringing him a horse, and recei table after the sermon. He wo sent, however, to partake of th on the condition of paying which he rigidly adhered to. scribes the simple but interest which he witnessed on his visit la Roche, in 1818. The turn o belonged to Belmont, distant league from the parsonage of W "At ten o'clock we began Oberlin took the lead in his mi a large beaver, and flowing wig horse brought for that purpose custom, by one of the bourgeois whose turn it was to have the h ing his pastor, and receiving hi rode as nearly beside him as th would allow. Mr. Rönneberg, a M. Daniel Le Grand, followed. brought up by the bourgeois be carrying a leathern bag slung a ders, which contained the other nister's dress, his books, &c., an noscant as an attendant on the their neat and becoming costume, their order and their seriousness, together with the fervour, tenderness, and simplicity with which the good minister addressed them, both in his sermon in the morning, and his catechetical lecture in the afternoon, conveyed to my mind the most delightful impression-that of a sincere and elevated devotion." Fifteenth Report, App. p. 11. 28th of May, 1826, he was seized with shiverings and faintings, which lasted till a late hour of the night. The whole of Monday and Tuesday were passed in alternate consciousness and insensibility. He often exclaimed, when he had strength enough, "Lord Jesus, take me speedily! Nevertheless, let Thy will be done!" On the Wednesday, he appeared considerably weakened by the convulsions which he underTowards the last, the infirmities of age pre-went; notwithstanding which, he did not cease cluded his discharging the greater part of his to intimate by signs, and, when he was able, pastoral functions, and he was compelled to de- by words, the tender affection which he felt volve this charge upon his son-in-law, being for his children, his friends, his faithful houseable to do little more than occupy himself in keeper, Louisa, and all the members of his constant prayers for his beloved flock. His flock. During the night between Wednesday strength had greatly diminished; his figure, and Thursday, the 1st of June, which was a indeed, was not bent, but his eyes had lost very alarming one to his attendants, he contitheir fire; and his white hair betrayed his ad- ned almost incessantly to utter plaintive vanced age. He no longer left his home but cries. In intervals of ease, he would seize the from necessity, and devoted more time than hand of one or another of his children, and formerly to the labours of the study. From press it to his heart. He had already lost the this period are dated several manuscripts use of speech, his legs and arms had become which he left behind him. A refutation of cold, when he seemed to recover strength suf Cicero's work on Old Age, drawn up in 1825, ficient to take off his cap, join his hands, and appears to be the last to which he put his hand. raise for the last time his eyes towards heaven A respectable minister who visited him in the After this last effort, his eyes closed, never September of that year, thus describes his ve- again to open. This was at six o'clock, but it nerable appearance. was not till a quarter after eleven, that the spirit forsook its mortal coil, and that the bel of the valley announced to the inhabitants, that they had lost the pastor who, for nearly sixty years, had toiled and prayed for them. H was in the eighty-sixth year of his age. "He came forward to give me his hand; it was cold as ice, and I could not help shivering. The tranquil air of his figure is remarkable; there is something noble in height; his mouth is affable; his conversation is full of charity and piety. I remained with him three hours. His hearing is a little weakened ever since an accident, and his recollection of words sometimes fails him. On such occasions, he turns to Louisa, (his housekeeper,) who helps him out. She had just left the room; finding himself at a loss, he calls her, My dear daughter, I cannot do without you, you know.' 'Yes, dear Papa, I am here.' "We set off to attend the sermon. The village of Waldbach is on a rapid slope. The horse he was to ride, was sent on to the bottom of the village, and we descended thither on foot. He shook hands with every child he met; several came forward towards him, and all were gladdened by his affability. "Jesus," he would often say, 'loved children: it was to those who resemble them, that he promised the kingdom of heaven." He ascended on horseback for about half a league further. His parishioners, collected near the church, formed a sort of lane, their hats off. M. Oberlin addressed them all as his children. All the regents came forward to shake hands with Papa. After the sermon, he administered baptism, holding himself the child on his arms; and he took occasion from the wishes he expressed on its behalf to remind the parents of their duty: some rebukes which he addressed to them affected them extremely. He returned thanks for the result of a collection which had been made for a poor family; he offered up a prayer on their behalf, but was unable to go through it. The emotion of all answered to his tears. The funeral took place on the 5th of June It was a simple and touching ceremony Among the crowds who flocked from all part to pay a last tribute of veneration to thei Friend and Benefactor, it may be questioned whether there was one who was attracted by mere curiosity. The coffin, under the direc tion of M. Le Grand, was covered with a glas lid which admitted a sight of the body. At the moment of setting out, the president of the Consistory placed on it the ecclesiastical dres which Oberlin had so worthily worn during hi long ministry. The vice-president deposite on it the Bible, which was always the basis of his instructions; and the mayor affixed to th funeral pall, the decoration of the Legion o Honour, which had been awarded to the de ceased, a few years before, by Louis XVIII in acknowledgment of his having been the au thor of the welfare of a whole population. Th coffin was borne by the mayors and the elders At the head of the procession walked the oldes inhabitant of the Ban de la Roche, bearing cross given him by Louisa, which was to b planted over his grave. The foremost of the train had already reached the church of Fou day, before the last, so great was the con course, had as yet set out from the dwelling o the deceased, although the distance was half a league. At the moment of their approaching the village, a new bell, presented by M. L Gran ing, was heard to toll for the first time. The coffin being placed in the midst of the church |