until the redemption of the purchased possession ;" who abideth continually with those who will abide with him; and to provide for whose coming and indwelling it was expedient for us that Jesus "should go away." Prayer is light, life, joy; prayer is blessedness and glory; blessedness begun on earth, perfected in heaven, and having meet expression, there, in rapturous and neverceasing praise.

American Baptist Missionary Union.

GERMANY.-Letter of Mr. Lehmann.

The following extracts under date of Oct. 25, give many interesting notices of the progress of the gospel the last year, not only in and near Berlin, but other and distant places.

A fellow-laborer provided-Baptismal scene at Templin.

Soon after my last letter, I was again seized with severe illness, which brought me very low; so that for some time my friends, as well as myself, feared much for my life. But, blessed be the Lord, he has restored my strength, and I am now, for the most part, in full vigor and health. It was a gracious providence that about that time the Lord guided into our faith a very dear brother and old disciple, Mr. A. W. —, a watchmaker, who, embracing the truth in baptism, came out to join our church. The Lord had given him long before, much talent to preach, and he had exercised the gift for many years; during which period I knew him very well, and he enjoyed (as still he does) the greatest esteem of all Christian people. This acquisition was of great value; for during the time I was laid aside, and there was no prominent brother among our number, Mr. Wbas rendered me, till now, all the assistance I could wish, and our church has had also great advantage from his preaching. It is very simple, but purely evangelical, and with fervor and zeal. So the Lord helped us in our distress. I had at last recourse for my disease to the cold water cure; and derived the greatest benefit from it. As soon as I was partially restored, I commenced travelling, and have spent most of the summer in this way. I, and many friends in our country, had long desired it; but I could not get

away for any length of time, because there was noue who could supply our pulpit. Now it was possible. I have visited many churches and single individuals, baptized a goodly number, and administered the Lord's supper very frequently to congregations and persons where no regular administrator is engaged; and the Lord has given me much grace and joy; so that, though I could not do so much here in Berlin, I rejoice that the cause of truth has the more spread in the country.

I will now relate, in particular, some of my experience on my various tours. first set out for Templin, where the opposition against the Lord's cause from malignant men has so long been manifest. I needed to use caution in entering the town. I had agreed that we should meet in a village five miles this side. I travelled all night to get there; was met in Zehdenick by a little boy, who had long desired to be baptized, and who now rejoiced exceedingly because I expressed the hope that we could grant his desire. I never before saw so much piety in a child. For this very reason the boys of his village have dreadfully persecuted and abused him; but he has borne it all with the greatest patience. Though the heat of the day was distressing, yet my walk with that dear child was exceedingly pleasant to me. At length I arrived in Hammelspring; and by and by the dear disciples of Templin appeared, and our joy was very great. There is a dear brother who takes the oversight of the flock, Mr. Kemnitz. He arrived soon, and we had much conversation on the affairs of this station, which is forty-five English miles from Berlin. A part of the candidates to be baptized came also, and I had opportunity to discourse with them and hear their experience and faith.

At evening we went to a beautiful | Most elevated were our feelings when, lake, half way to Templin, the rest of after the rite, and an address, and the brethren having engaged to meet prayer, we joined in a glorious hymn, us there. Much caution was required "Lasst uns ihm ein Hallelujah singen," to escape the vigilance of people. (Let us sing to him a Hallelujah.) Then, while it was yet night, all things being performed, we made our entrauce into Templin, and the next morning I was away and visited several other people in the neighborhood, and saw that there is growing there many another sweet fruit for the Savior.

Soon afterwards I made, in company with my two sons, who now also are baptized members, a journey to Hainburgh, where the new chapel was cousecrated to the Lord. We rejoiced exceedingly on the occasion, and spent a week there, while I preached and addressed the brethren at several times; enjoying after a long separation sweet fellowship with my dear br. Oncken.

Environs of the Oder-Baptism at Tornow, and church organized.

My next tour was to the Oder and environs. lu Tornow village, near Neustadt, they had long waited for me already. I had the sweet satisfaction of baptizing there eight converts, four brethren and four sisters, who all were full of their first love to the Savior. Two had been baptized there before, so that we were an eleven, who then sat down in the night and commemorated the Lord's death. Chose one of the brethren to serve on such occasions in future. Thus a new church was formed.

We arrived safely on the borders of the lake, but our friends from Templin were not there, and we waited a long time for them, while messengers were sent in various directions to guide them to the place where we were. At last the little Angust came, leaping and shouting, "Now they come;" and soon a dark cloud moved towards us, and we had the joy to salute our brethren most heartily. We had then, on the shores of the lake, an investigation into the state of those candidates who had just come, and as they all had undergone already the great trial of persecution, and had been closely observed for some time, we needed not much scrutiny. I next addressed them on the subject of baptism, and we prepared for the rite. It was the first time that baptism was administered there; all others had been baptized in Berlin. We felt very happy; no fitter place for baptism could scarcely be found. We were on the brow of a large row of hills, bending into the lake, no disturber any where,-quite remote from the world,-the lake one of the largest, extending beneath our feet far and wide.. The moon Was rising over the hills behind us. I first placed the candidates,-nine in all, in a crescent; what a beautiful sight! They all had undergone a severe trial by judge, and burgomaster, and clergy, and the world at large, and had been Zackerick and Frankfort churches-Baptisms. found faithful. Amongst them was I next proceeded a long way to also that little boy, Angust Dickmann, Zäckerick, where our dear br. Koppen, twelve years of age. As I had tried a farmer, was ordained and had bapthe depth of the water and found that tized five converts; they are it extended shallow for a long distance, twenty-one. (In Templin are twentywe must all go into it at once. I told five baptized.) I was most cordially the candidates to take one another's welcomed there, and spent two days hand, then took the one on the left, including a Sabbath, and preached and thus guided them all at once down there and in Lietzgoricke village, near the hill into the deep; while those re- Z., five times. The love and attachmaining on the hill had the most beau- ment of the dear brethren and sisters tiful view below them. The candi- was beyond conceiving, and our fellowdates were five sisters and four breth- ship very sweet. The cause prospers ren, among the latter also the little here. My throat was, however, much August, and next to him an old, grey affected by the continual speaking. haired brother. The weather was very I was brought thence in a carriage mild and beautiful, and the moon to a br. Hilliges, a farmer, who resides broke so gently over the hills behind quite alone, where I was also very us and gilded the surrounding clouds, welcome. The next day I entered that it was the most attractive scene I| Frankfort. Much hope was entertainever witnessed. With deep solemnity ed that a goodly number here would I baptized one after another, and br. come out to be baptized, but unfavorKemnitz guided them out of the water. able events had prevented it.

now

Yet

Hanover-Eimbeck-Goslar-Othfreesen.

some were ready to begin the work, | circumstances I visited here two years as there was no church here as yet. ago, and the last year there was bap1 left them, however, for the present, tized a dear sister, the forester's daughand went on the railway to Guben, ter. I now had the great delight to where a dear Christian friend longed baptize her sister, who, meantime, had very much to be baptized. After I become a believer. Our dear br. Ule, had conversed with him, and became a lawyer, whom, two years ago, I bapfully convinced that he was as faithful tized here, happened just now to be as the letters we had previously ex- present again, and thus we spent a changed had indicated, I baptized him, glorious Sabbath, and broke bread toin the day time, as we were walking gether, from which these dear disciples beside the water of a fine stream, and had been debarred all the year past, then in the evening celebrated with living far from any of our churches. him the Lord's supper. He lately has married a very dear sister of ours, and there is thus another new interest sprung up. I then returned to Frankfort, where I was received with the greatest affection; and after all hindrances were removed, had the sweet joy of baptizing three disciples. Happily there had just come three others, of our church in Berlin, so that we were seven of us, who for the first time sat down in the primitive way to show forth the Lord's death. Several others gave hope of conversion to God. I trust that this beginning will be of glorious results in the great work of evangelizing the world, though great enmity also is manifested here. I was dismissed with all the affection which could be imagined, and returned to Berlin fraught with blessing.

Soon after this, I set out for a tour to the Elbe, and extended it to many other parts and places. Went first to the Altmack, a part of the province of Brandenburg, where several friends had long expected me. In Seehausen I baptized a husband and wife, when, besides me, two brethren were present from Berlin, and we rejoiced much in the Lord. Accompanied by one of them back to the Elbe in very great heat, I went up in a steamer to Tangermünde and environs, where some brethren are fully convinced of the truth in baptism; but as they had their scruples still as to yielding to certain measures imposed by government, I could not baptize them now, but delayed it. The heat during all this time was extreme, and frequently I was compelled to walk a long way in the noon sun. Visited Hendal and other towns, and formed new acquaintances. Then went to Clotze, and a forester's house, named Pansan. You will recollect under what very interesting

The

Being now not far from Hanover, and feeling a great desire to see the brethren there, I travelled all night in the mail, and the next day a little on the railway, and arrived in Hanover at noon, improving opportunities on the way to distribute tracts. I knew already, that since my last visit, two years ago, the cause here had been lingering very much; and, therefore, I did my utmost to strengthen, admonish and encourage the little band; made long tours in the neighborhood, under a scorching sun, to reclaim backsliders, and at another time held an evening meeting; and when it became very late and most of our friends were gone, and none of them had a horse, but were servants and journeymen, I spent the night in the meeting room, sleeping on the benches, and my carpet bag serving for a pillow. next morning I left, when I could hope that the cause was stayed in its dying away, and new courage was put into the hearts of the disciples. I longed now to see our dear brethren around the Hartz mountains, and travelled over Hilderheim to Eimbeck, visiting some who were scattered abroad. In Eimbeck I had the joy to see Mr. Steinhoff, whose travels and persecutions in Hessia and Switzerland are known to you. We were in sweet fellowship with each other; the brethren came together, and I spoke to them from the scriptures, and related to them much of God's dealings with his people abroad. The following day I travelled over the highest regions of the Hartz, surrounded by clouds, and came to Goslar, where our brethren flocked together from the surrounding villages, and I had a very blessed Sabbath. Preached to them twice, and our gracious Lord was so near to us that the deepest emotions were manifested, and all remained together, after

the breaking of bread, till very late in the night, making the best use of the time allotted to us. A dear brother, whom on this tour I had met already in Seehausen, was now also here, and accompanied me the next morning up to the Brocken, the highest tops of the mountains, and down again, when I left him and the people there for Othfreesen. You know already how much the dear saints here have suffered from persecution. There is not one who has not been in prison. The wife of the brother where I stopped, told me that even when she was in most delicate health, she had been cast into prison and fed on water and bread, but never had felt so joyful in her life as then.

dwells in it, and the large hall, for our prayer meetings, is fast finishing. However, we shall not be ready till next spring, as the walls need to dry first.

As to the state of our church, I rejoice to say that it is prosperous. We have had many accessious, though the number of them is not just at hand. In various cases we have been obliged to exercise discipline, and three or four have been excluded. My illuess in spring, and long absence in summer, have rather prevented greater increase; but I hope this will be amended also. Our meetings now are crowded, and we long for a larger meeting place, which will benefit us very much, we trust.

As to our relations to government, there has not occurred any thing since my last of an alarming character. We have thought it wise, at present, not to enter into those ways or liberties which the new law of toleration opens, as we find that they would be more dangerous, oppressive and exacting than those of our present cou

The dear brother who most of all has suffered, guided me to the mountains and into the forest, where, even now, they meet together. But we ventured to meet this night in his house, where people of Salzgitter and other places flocked together, and I preached to them, comforting them from our glorious hope. They very gladly would have detained me seve-dition, where we observe the regularal days, but I had extended my journey already too far and too long, being required at home very much; and thus, after another fortnight, I came to my dear people again.

Rationalism at Magdeburg.

tions which were previously imposed upon us. How long we shall be permitted to remain in this condition, we know not. But whatever may occur, we know that the Lord reigns, and he ultimately will and must prevail. Therefore we can be quiet.

On the way I spent a night and a In Stettin the cause is prospering. day in Magdeburg, where there is Mr. K.'s party is diminishing constantsome hope for the beginning of a newly; and most of his people have joined interest, but where Rationalism has the church under our dear br. Hinunfolded its banner most widely, and rich's care, which also increases more where a Mr. Ulich, its chief champion, and more. has the support of most of the people, so far as I could ascertain. Government is in a great strait about this. Ulich is suspended from his office, and tried before the Consistory; but very great agitation prevails among the people on account of it. They have imbibed infidelity, as it should be called, for ages and from their childhood; and though the present government oppose Rationalism mightily, yet they seem not to prevail; but there will be a great conflict and disruption at no far distant time.

Our dear br. Oncken is now on a tour to Switzerland. A dear brother, and deacon of his church, who accompanied him to Basle, has just returned, and related to us much interesting experience which they have had in the south of Germany, and which, no doubt, he will write to you more in particular. We expect him soon back again.

And now, farewell; and think on us in your prayers. May the deep interest which our brethren in America take in us, not diminish, but increase. We live in a time of great movements. May we fill our proper stations with Berlin church-Relations to government. all zeal and devotedness. We have The intervals between my journeys very glorious hopes, and may the few this summer, I spent here in great anx-years remaining to us prove our most iety and hurry; as the building of our meeting-house required all the attention and labor I could bestow. It is now so far advanced that a keeper

sanguine expectations to be founded in the omnipotence and eternal grace of our covenant God. May He smile also on your country and churches,

and may the benefits bestowed upon | mercial treaty existing between the us return in abundant showers of two countries, forasmuch as it is a