C,lrrotritlinta.
SIN AND SUFFERING IN THE UNIVERSE.
Letters addressed to the Hon. Gerritt Smith,
of Peterboro, New York.
BY ALBERT BARNES.
PREFATOR a y NOTE
The following letters were written during the
last winter, by the aid of a machine, in reply to
one, in pamphlet form, addressed to me by the
Hon. Gerrit Smith, of Peterboro, New York.
Circumstances, TA,- no* necessary to be referred ,
to, have prpetted their being published until
the rani ti:ne. The title
. of Mr. Smith's
etter was, "A Letter from,derritt Smith to
Albert Barnes. 1868." It is not at all as a
personal matter, with
. which the public could
have no interest, orwith any view to set myself
right before the public, that these letters in reply
to the one addressed to me by Nr. Smith are
printed, but solely becausa the subject is of great
importance to the - world... It was for this reason,
and this only, it may be presumed, that sir.
Smith had his letter to me printed, and that it
was sent to me in that form only. For this rea
m, also, and no other, my reply to him is
.
priut
ed in the foim which I think will be most, use
flui. It not improper, I trait, as it is not` de
signed to be disrespectful, for me to say that it
seemed to me that Mr. Smith's letter was * not
fitted to do as much harm, as' a. proper. answer
might do good. Hence these letters in reply to
his.
In order that that there might no Suspicion
~
of unfairness in the reply, I have copied without
change or omission, the parts of his letter refer=
ring to the points under consideration, and have
thus in'fact reproduced his entire tircrument and
alMost the whole of his pamphlet.
PHILADEthrIA, June 2b, i808.
LETTER I
4015,: GERRIT SMITU;
Itty . DEAR, Sin: When, nearly forty-eight
jeeeis ago, I hecainiteetudent 'Of Hamilton Col
lege,"your nanie Wks More frequently refe.rred'to
than that of any one who had graduated at that
Inetitation. You'hnel preceded;me by four or
five,years. You, had received the highest honor
in . ycur class, and your high social position, your
*mill and, geriernUs• nattire; and Yonr acknowl
edged talents and echelktehip, led to , almbiersal
expectation ora high career. of honor and; useful
noes.
•
,
,4has so happened, I believe / that although
ire~ l t ,
were born in the same vicinity; though we
graduated at the same'dollege'; 'though we have
both been with: some prominence before the pub
lic; though vire have taken a warm interest
in the great questions which, have been before
the nation, and- which have so.deeply and per
naa44intly 'affeeted out national agairs, we have
never-Met:riot lin iemember to have"seen,you
butt once: In common; howeveroviththousands
of others; I have rejoiced in your wide'and noble
philanthropy;
,in . your ardent lotre, of liberty; in
your friendship tor the oppressed and the wrong
ed'; in 'Tiur opPosition to,the worst law that was
ever enacted in a land of freedom—the "Fugi
tive Slave" law; and irkall that you have done
for sufferinc , humanity, and for the happioess of
men. • •
Now, as we are, approaahingt the termination
of our long . course, you have been pleased to ad
dress me in a printed pamphlet, on a subject
which cannot be denied to be the most impor
tantthat clan occupy the attention of man at any
period of life; and which is eminently appropri
ate to those who are approaching, as we are, the
invisible world. It cannot be improper, espe
ebilly as you have invited me to the task, to , in
quire whether the views which you have ex
praised in your letter to me, and which must be
regarded as your Inatrife . opinions on the subject
of religion, will be in the line,ef the benevolence
of your long life, will tend to promote the
,happi
!less of the world when we shall have passed
away.
It is not improper for me to say that we have
both, arrived at a period of life when, so far as
we are personally concerned, an, unspeakable im
portance must be attached to the utterance of
our opinions. In earlier, life, we could hope, to,
be able to recall and repair what we might firid.'
on mature' , reflection to be erroneous or injuri
ous. We can entertain no such hope now. For
good or for evil, what we utter goes forth to the' ,
world, and, escaping from our lips or our pen, it
is beyond our reach forever. Ido not say that
this fact gives us any claim to the attention of
our fellow-men, or that any special importance
should be attached to our sentiments on that.
account; but no man approaching very near the
eternal world can fail to desire that his last ut
terances should be in-.accordance with truth, and
should be such as will promote the happiness of
the world when he has gone to' his grave. It is
with this view, with. the highest degree of re
spect for yourself personally, that I shall exam
ine with freedom the letter which you have.been
pleased to address tb me.
The passage on which your letter to rue is
founded, referring to , the existing facts in, this
World regard' to sin and' misery, and to the
punishment Of the wicked in the future world, is
the following: .
F, «I confess, for one, that I feel them, and feel them
more sensibly and powerfully the more I look at them,
and the longer I live: I do'not Underatand these facts,
and I make no advances toward understanding them.
I do not know that I have a ray of light on this sub
ject which I had not when the subject first flashed
across my soul t bade read, to some extent, what
wise and good men have
,written. I have looked at
their theeries'and explanations. I have endeavored
to Weigh their arguinents, for my whole soul pants
for, light and relief on these questions. But I get
neither, and, in the distress and anguish of my own
spirit, I confess that I see no light whatever. I see
.not one ray of light to , disolostlto me why sin came
into the world, why the 'earth is strewn with the dying
. and the dead, and why men must suffer to all eterni
.ty. I hava never seen, a particle of light thrown on
theise subjetstirthipits given a moment's mile to my
.tortured oiindiftioihavel an explanation to! offer, or
.a thought to suggest, which would be of relief to you.
.I trust other men, as they profeis Le 'do, tiiideititind
Akio better than I do, and that they have not the an
ALBERT BARNES
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1.868.
guish of spirit which I 'have.. But Lconfess, when I
look on a world of sitin6rs and sufferers; upon death- .
beds and graVeyards; upon. the world of woe, filled
with hosts to'lmffer forever; when I see my friendk
my parents, my fitnily;my people, my fellow-Mlizens'
gto
—when-I loorur ito no, whole race in infolved in this
sin and dan , when I see the great mass of
them wholly concerned, and when I feel that God
only can save them, and yet he does not do it, I am
struck dumb. It is an dark, dark to my soul, and I
cannot disguise it."
This'was written, if I remember right, more
than twenty years ago. I have no doubt that it
is correctly quoted. It expressed.. my feelings
then; it expresses my feelings- now: Time has
done nothing to modify my views, nor have I as
yet seen any explanation which has removed the
difficulties to which I then referred.
Whether the explanations which you have of
fered will contribute to their removal, will be the
main object of my inquiry now. I should wel
come mote cheerful'views if they could , be pre.
sented . I shonld hail' with' joy 'any explanation
which would be a relief from these diffieulties.
I should then find what the wise and the good
of all ages have hitherto longed for and sought
in vain.
To a eorrdet appreciation of the value nf, the
solntibn Which , yodulliave offered, it will - be neneS- 1
sary to consider theo owino. points:
The difficulties as they lay, in my own
mind.
II Tho explanation which you,have .offered ,•
111. The system of religion on which your ex
planation is founded; and '
IV.''The qbAtion whether' that erten:a has
greater - advantages than' my own,' or is better
fitted to confer happiness. If it is thus fitted to
confer happiness, and te'calm down , the mind in
reference to . these difficulties, it would,, not be
unreasonable in you to ask that I should aban
don the system which 'lshave so-long held, and
embrace yours.
Your first reinarle in! reference ° to the :passage
on which-your- letter is founded is as follows: -
"You are a gifted.and a good man, a learned and.
a just' one ;'and` yet you - are. a Teri' ufiliepPy one.
'Anguish" of spirit' •is +yours; Whenee comes this t+
Confessedly
,from,the yillence which your
,theological,
creed does to'your reason, and frem. your not daring
to let yourreaserieondeinn yonr creed. Your reason'
sees, not reason; but unreason; in that story of the ; for-t.
bidden fruit, which lies at the very basis of you;
theofogi. .Nevertheless; 'yon sebept the-story
represbntatiOn of a purply arbitrary ; ao .an titterly•
inexplicable dealing of, God with man., It must 'be
confestied 'that yotir-oreed coriesponds . With . the story
—the theological structure with its ,foundation.??
Now:it is Proper for me to a'sk, by .taitdmist
this " son/6.30d 7" It, seemsitb be impli4 that
confessetr or avowed this. , Yet this i is in ; n9 .
manner true. I neither" ,confessed nor avowed
thiain the extfaet whinh yhu have made
haVe I done it anywhere 'else ; nor do I now (Id*
it; nor, do I now a.dmitit to be true in any sense.
whatever. I : had reference, solejy,to facts,;
to any, theorf,in regard to those facts._,-
Schlty Consisted not reconcilink these
things to any' systna of Philosophy' Sr I thedlOgy
which I hold, but to the fact that we :are under'
a divine' administratitinto the character bffs:
holy, a just, an Almighty, ancte. benevolent Orre 7
ator. The matter, referred to-lay in my taloa in
the folhliiing form:
' (I' )", The 'facta cotild' not b'e In' questioh."
(a.),Thnsefacts hive no-nenesaary`conneetion
with any
_theory of philosophy. or . •
:sew : no, sufficient or satisfactory
explanation of those facts.
(1.) The fitetrstipPosedeould net be called in
question. •
I still suppose this be true. The facts , re
ferred to are, that thisis a. world of sinners and
sufferers—of death-beds and graveyards;, that
there is danger that large nuwbers will.
forevei; Iliatilie Whole race is involved in this
sin and dingei ;''that the ',gidat:Pitijority of then
are unconcerned in.regard to this . danger; that
God only. can save them, and yet • that he does
not interpose by, his .power to do it., - -
It certainly Will not he denied by you that a
part of these things at leak is true—that part
which relates to the existence of sin and suffer
ing new on ,the earth; • Which have existed for
teousapds of years; • and, which have existed in
All lands and, under ,all forms of government, and
in connection with ail systems of philosophy and
religion. Yllu l YoQrself do hot referl6 any lands,
'or f tw.iny athere has
been exemption from these,things; ,noreould you
do it. As I„believe in God, it seems plain to me
that this is someho'io connected with his adminis
tration'; as you Believe in God, you must admit
this alSo. My diffibulti 'fa& waS 'to 'net 7 '
derstand why the Creator had 'Saffeted this tb`oe-i
cur under his administration. 'The difficultylnayl
be expressed in a woyd.,. If it mightbei ,spppos , ,
ed for a moment that pout and I, had been con,solt
ed 'as to what kind` of a - w'or'ld a Being of infinite
power and perfect benevolence would make, `l'
think we should have said without hesitation,
that he would not, . have made such a world as this,
is in this respect. I only add here, that if you
Will furnish any satisfactory explanation of this
'fact—of the reason why sin ina iniSerkhave been
allowed to come into the universe at• all, and to
exist for six thousand years, and. how this is Jo . 1
' be reconciled with the power, the justice, and the
benevolence of Ghcl,.l think it:would not be dif
ficult to adVanen vilithihe same modeorreaioriing
which Would- explain this; and tn'' show that it
would not. beniaconsistentwith the same power,'
justice,and goodness, that, it should be allowed
td exist, under, the same administration in some
form, forever...
The other part of my difficulty related to the
fact that suffering and sin will exist in. the &tut&
world. ,
The main difficulty here is not peculiarly mine,
but it presses on you as really,as it does on me.
This is apparent, I think, from the following con
'siderations : (a) On your theory man, as man, is
liable to sin, and, as such, must be liable to it in
the future world as well as by-this.' Indeed, in
your. pprehensioo, this ConAitates the true—the
real dignity of his nature, and_ if this exalted
dignity of his nature is manifested in this world,
it would be difficult to show any reason why it
should not also be done in'the world to come, and
if at all in the world to come; at any pdriod in
the world to come—that . is i -foi•ever. Thus you
say, (p. 5 :)
"It is true that man is so made that be can sin,,
but, instead of odniplaining of this, we should be
thankful for it: Instead of thribeniine it we should
rejoice in it. How low,*l4itig woujd /non be, were
he of necessity sinless I row far inferior to what he
now is, were he so constituted that he could not sin!
He would be a mere machine, and his going right
would noinore argue wisdom and gotiodnebe in him tharr
does the right-going of a clock argue wisdom and good=
nen in itt"
And say, (p. &) •
" Aessed beerGod'that he has made us capable of sin
ning; of iti'dttier words, capable of transgressing the
laws which He has written upon our being ! I ac
knowledged the goodness of God in making us capable
of sinning. I might have added, in making us capa
ble of sinning so greatly. For to say that we can sin
so greatly is, in effect, to say that we have great
powers and advantages for learning and obeying law;
it bei4g only-in the abuse oflich. powers and advan
tages thab great sinning is possible. His nature,
through the violation of whose laws .man has become
a great sinner, is the very same sublime nature
throughthe keeping of Avliose laws lie would have
been a saint."
Fronithis I infer that it is the real exaltation of
man that lie can sin, and ecTsequently thatle does ,
sin, for to act out his nature is his proper, exalta
tion, and' ii,' is this' Which distinguishes him' from
the brute. You have siiisWn no reason why thiS.
ezaltatio - n of his nature should net manifeSt it-:
self kr a future world us Fell; as in this, and for-
(5.) It is ' if I lin erstan you a, part of your
tbboi•jr that God saves aIT hi' this 'world that 'he
can'; implying that' there 'are 'sane whom: he; cati='
not save • that is, who will be lost (p. 9.) If this'
is so in , the present life: it may follow that such
as are ! not saved in the present life will not be in
the life to come, for it', is fairly implied in your,
language, that the power o# Gad, in this respect',
is exhausted. in the_prent„,,,life, or that, so to
speak, God would have no better chance of success
in the life to ednie, and-4f kr Cannot , save' such
incorrigible, sinners here, no hope can be . enter
tained, of doing it thsro. If as
,you say, God
has made man 'toogre'at.to be: saved bypa'direet
and Unaided of Gefid himaelf" heie;is' it
not.probable that; Withexpanded facultiee in'the
future world, man Willhe found "too gkat" to
be saved by
,that power there'? . • .
(c.), According to your theory,, (p. 14,) ,as I
shall more'fillP!'quote hereafter, the universe Is
governed hy iffifarying; and' estahlfshed - laws;
pernittino any direct intervention' of the divine'
power. , The:fixedness of those laws; must; ego,,
tend over all worktla„and ninsterubrace all time;
and ,must
-therefore, comprehend the -regions be
yond the iraiTT *as'''Well' as the" affairs of thia
wdrld.. 'The - ririnciffi linplies; fob, that thiS is
eternal;' It" mustytherefore, operate 'awe limits.'
tioii,of „the 'divine 'power in the future world• as;
,e 4; ,in this. „
(c‘.) You expressly , admit that there may ; be
sin and suffering in' the future iorlit;' - that
that men r may be Thai act-''
cording to the Statement fest referred' to f of thOse
whom God-cannot.sa,v,e. •,Thus you'say ~; ti ,
.".Far am,l. from:holding th 4 there is no: suf
fering in the next
,life. If there is sin there,
(and, I believe there 'is,) suffering' is also there--
for' suffering, necessarily - attends sinning."' -
'What will be • the extent• of this'sirt'andwsuffer
ing,in the future world, •; you l do ,not ,indeed state,
but if the evidence irn the
who
to .I)c , derive,4'.
fiom i thejavyness t o# these who apriear to.,be con-,
Vert'ed• in this ltfe, and to he' prettared fen' heaVen'
the tiniaber cannot' beim:nail. So far, however)
as the pi-iaikide -ifa involved, it can make no dit-.
ference whnther it is small er,,great, The essen-,
fief ppintrof difficulty [ is, that any,should be lest
in the future world. '
(e.) There is oi* Other remark to - be' made",
here ;, one•other point on Which We Oaniladiffeif
for. them is not ; anY grduncti for a difference .of
elkit4 o 4-,i4.regig44 4 2 #,,,1-01.9;-07EaP there is very,
gensral j:q?r ,avrehension.o future
,puinish
ment'apiong risen, , and . thet that punishment, un
less be 'dose" o' avert' it, Will he
nneriding.'This' iksomehb* laid permanently in
the human mind. I need not remind you'that
this universal fear—this "dread of. something af
ter death,", as emiressed by s tlatnlet, l eTists every
where. It is found in the conseienees Of nl,l men.
It is laid at the folindatiorrOf all the heathen re
ligions of the world.- It enters into the
Mohammedan system. It constitutes; 'the founder
tion of the faith of more than.aine-tenths,of the,
Christian world. It maybe doubted whether, a
single human mind exists - that would be exempt
from it on the commission of a gre.titer?iiie. Novi'
this occurs under the government 'of God,'and is
the human mind as he has made it. The diffi
culty is to understand why ,he . has so made
man,—if there is as you say, no ' Hell,"—that hp
everywhere dreads that future under the belief
that there is a " Hell." If there is, as I believe
thpre is, such a world of woe, I can easily under
stand why. man has been so made as to dread it,
thatis to pot as if this were true. But what if
there,is no siich world of woe; if there is noth. 7
ing'infact to'he' 'dreaded when the sinner dieS.
ASsuredly this 'mint be 'known to God, and yet,
khowingthis, he has filled the world with fear and
alarm :—on your theory , with false and needless
alarm, and,, therefore, deceptive alarm.
Are we, then, to believe that God governs the
world with false alarms; with unreal fears; with
unfounded 'apprehe;nsions ? .Are we to believe
that the diiine administration is founded on a
stupendous falsehood ? Are we to believe
that Gud controls• men as weak and foolish par
ents do their children, by bugbears; by delusions.;
by'frightful stories of bears'and wolves; of ghosts
and , hobgoblins? I confess, for one, that I could
uot,.and would not, honor such a God. And yet,
so, far as l can , see, such must be.the , character •of
God unless there, is real punishment to j lie feared
in the fame world. I think it'is incumbent on
you to eiplain' this fact on the theory which you
hold.—Shch are some of the fdcts on which my
difficulty was founded. •
'My next remark is' that these facts have
no necessary connection with my theory of reli
gion; with, My creed or any other creed; with my
theology Or any'other theology. — • ' '
You have been pleased to say, as already re
marked, thattheee difficulties peitain to my the
ory of religion—to my system of theology. But
if the facts are as I have now stated them, they
have no particular and exclusive reference to any
one theory of •religion or theology. They pertain
to one system as really as to another; to yours as
much as to mine; to you as much' as to me. The
real difficulty is not in the Calvinistic system, or
is the A.rininian system; in the Trinitarian the
ology, (); the Socinian theology; in the system of
him who believes in the doctrine of future pun
ishment, or the system of the Universalist; in the
belief of"the Christian, or the want of 'belief in
the Infidel; in the Buddhist system -of religion,
or the system of the Brahmin in the religion of
.Confucius, or the religion of Zoroasterf; in the
:Koran, the Zendavesta, the Raster, die Bible,
or the Book of Mormon; in the Mythology of
the Greeks an d the - Sornitois, or in the system ofthe
Hottentot.or the Fejee Islander; •in the philoso
phy of Plato. Aristotle, Des Cartes, Malebranche ;
Leibnitz, Locke of Kant, Hobbes, .triinie,
Cousin, or Comte. The difficulty is in the facts
themselves; in reconciling these facts to the ideas
of justice, goodness, and mercy with which we
find our nature endowed. The real difficulty is
to understand how an Almighty, a pure, a holy,
and a,boneiolent God—the Creator of the world
—should allow these things to come into his sys
tern; how they should be suffered to continue
from age to age; how they should be permitted
to spread desolation, woe, and• sorrow over our
world in all its' history ; how they should dxteA,
into the future world at all'; how there shouldhe
either a certainty or a possibility thatthey shOtild:
'continue - forever.' I Arced not: say to you that!this
has been eminently the great , problem to. he, solv
ed in, all ages,. and how the problem has entered
into every system of theology and philosophy"
.
For one, I felt the greatness of the difficulty; only'
as million S have done before me, and gaveut
terance to my own feelings in the strong language'
whichnyou have quoted, as human nature has,
done in all ages.
In. my next letter, I shall consider the'varioiis
explanatietiS Which 'have holep made of these
factS, With•reference to the- inquiry`wh'ether they
adapiedito:calm doWn the *anxieties of;a Won-
Jri,:the third letter,l v;h01 examine
the peculiar explanation.w44 you.liave,offered.
I am, with great resPect;
,
Truly yours, • •
• - • - ALERT BARNES.
A.Krm.gra DAY IN-4WTTUALAND..
[From:the note book of our But:opean Correspondent.]:
Interlachen lies in the centre of Switzerland,
and as. its name implies; between two lakes. 'These
two lakekwere once one long lake, 35 or AO miles .
long, and-from three to five, wide, receiving nu„ . .-,
damns naounain to:milts , and - discharging
them. through he „western end by the river
Aare, which empties„ into • the Rhine.
Parallel ranges of mountains running east and
West hold in these lakes; but a large opening in
Mg 'gouda ernl range :ffiiectly. opposite I n terlach en
admits a roaring Alpine stream, and it is appar
ently from this-stream sthat the ,alhavial,• detreaSit
has been, formed on which the-,tow.n,--standsz It
has.fermeda.plitin, level as a=floer;,four.•or .-Ave
miles broad, ;froth mountain to mountain
about as long as it is broad: -Back of the:town:
and - close . to the northern range of mountains, the
river flo"warapidly, discharging thewater.4'of Lake
Brienz, into , Lake Titian. These two beautiful
lakes onleither hand, and the Bernete Alps-with
their snowy taps.in front, make Interlaelien the
centre of•many routes for wild arid ,delightfullex-f
euisions•_in every-direetion Thelgreat feature laf
the 'plaCe, hoivevp,, *the limthense; moUntain
way's -covered with •snow, the
i s seen through.the opening in the range of hills
opposite the town: -It is visible: fibril all parts of
the town, and, as the sun shines upon it,-looks like
a thountain , of solid silver, •in grand' and awful si
leade—in monument of the goodness' of God' in'
proViding for,our happiness such sights of ravish
ing beauty.
The first evening afterwe arrived, a little shower
was falling and misty clouds hid the mountain
from our view, but while'we were at tea, the thist
digappeared and the sun came out with one of its
glad' sutnnier evening smiles, when suddenly
every -one of the. large 'company in• the dining
room left their seats:and rushed for the windows.
We guessed the cause, as we had been quite dis
appointed at not seeing the mountain on our ar
rival, So we Went to the windows too, and there
was such a sight as-one sees only Once in a life-
The:mountain was-one of gold, not of silver.
The setting sun was shining full upon it, cover
ing it with such gorgeous light that no words can
do justice to the scene, nor could any painter's
art ever bring it upon canvass. The golden
glitter faded into a luscious rosy tint, as the mon
arch of day, bid farewell to the queen of Alpine
beauty ; then the roseate tint faded into silvery
white; but during the transition, the topmost
peak cof the mountainkept its'goldeh hue long
after'the lower portions had changed and until
the sun had quite set; and the evening shadows
drew on.
The mountain appears to be about four or, five
miles off; but in the clear atmosphere of these
high latitudes, distances are deceiving, and when
we had ridden five miles towards it we had tra
velled about one fourth of the real distance.' But
we started out to describe one of the excursions
we spoke of just now.- There are a dozen to se
lect from; which way shall we go? When we
were at Geneva a week before, it was so cold and
uncotntbrtable that we did not attempt the. forty
miles stage ride to Chamouni and Mount Blanc.
So we had seen the glaciers only at, distance—
and concluded that we would ride out towards
Jungfrau and then turn to the G-rindlewald
Glacier. This was a trip for a whole day. Our
party consisted of a New York merchant and his
bride, a lady friend of theirs from ,Providence,
with my' Wife and royself. We had been travel
ling together; for a month, through Florence,
Venice, and Milan, on the Italian lakei and over
the Alps, and were well. used to the full appreci
ation of fine scenery and the enjoyment of -good
cheer.
We filled an open barouche comfortably, I
being pushed up alongside of the driver, to do
the translating thr the party. It was with some
difficulty that we procured a good team with a
Frendb-speaking driver. One speaking English
was out of . the question. They were nearly, all
of the German-speaking Swiss, and we sent away
several before we obtained one whom we could
communicate with. s We started southward'across
the plateau for the gorge some four or. five miles'
distant, through which the glorious, el - ',ungfrau
ever looked down upon us. •
The road was'.dusty with every promise of a
hot day. We soon. oVeitook - a "gentleman and
lady walking. They were etidently Americans.
You can tell American travellers wherever you
meet them, all'overEarope. Sumething in the
dress, the, features, the complexion, the manner,
'distinguishes them-fig Englistrandi all others.
The gentleman had a knapsack^-strapped upon his
.back and the lady wore a large flat or sundown.
Each carried their Alpine stock—a pole some six
feet long with sharp iron point in the lower end
and a knob, or chamois horn on the upper. All
touristsin Switzerland carry - them, using thetnin
climbing over the crags and glaciers. It is the
custom to have the name of each glacier or pass
branded on them with a hot iron, while at the
glacier or notable place. 'Men brand them fbi
few cents, having the - irona - always heated. Some
of the poles carry the ramp of ten ,or a dozen
notablel places, Visited' hy . ' their pleaertre-reelling,
eight-seeing owners.
But the American gentleman and lady walking
along the dusty roadi- , ..wholvern.theyi? As our
carriage overtook them, they turned and smiled,
recognizing - our ladies who had , made their ac
quaintance at the hotel the 44' lief4e! they
were a•young,, , Presbyterian clergyman. .atid ; his
Wife from ,Wcstern _Pennsylvania, Erie ibelieve r
out in
, pursuit of health, spending a year An L } + n
rope,,and:vyhilc.they avoided the expensiVe
Tinge arikliPtar; iii their tont, they were- certAly
taking =a surnmethod for , enjeying Swiss! sights
and scenery, and gaining
„healthy , by. sending:their =
baggage ahead of them by; e]Fpress, and travelling
on footfrom place to place by short etage's,
ng `glaciers `cascades and notable crags alas'
parses
We-soon met the roaring Alpine torrent that
came from the melting „, glaciers .beyomi_swisKtg •
the, mountains, and, emptief4 iiiself,,,through,rthe
gorge into the lakes behind us.
~VV,e`now pass a
little collection` of` Swiss' all'built of Wood
with roof projeeting 'no far 'as to shelter the , little
piazitia•that•enbireleAthe holise. - On the:raik,of
the upper piazza , ,near, the , roof, hang
,stall's,, of
flax,dryiegin ,Some of the •chalets ) hare
a very neat, tidy, appearance, while ; others wear .
the Oppohite aspect. Occasionally a text of Scrip
tuid is painted in blieliletterS; six inches itgig,
actress the front of near the, top.. The
lower, story ..tiaing.) ... ... 11 §0 for a
stable, but. oftener. for .a, storeroom . The 1 13 4 2 FL
or verandah is reached by a short flight of step s,
outaide,,andtagtliii; f the frbn't door, or 'Main en . -
trance,' 'olibtilk lA - Ise:de:4A" enniteleiJthe
house at thnrnerit floor. The , chimney
~generally
has a large shutter er:trapdoor workgd i by
a string,..whicti closes Aver, the t9p to, keep out the
storm. The roofs sometimes 4 are made nf tat
atones; which lap` over Aehscitherin„, stich a`irair
is•tio sled- TheSei.laton roofs are , ,Yery
heaiy, ofte i coneitityla foot in :thickness, and sup- _
Porte4;on (,•. ,'"
Passing the village, we follow the stream and
are soon among the mountains. A narrow valley
worn= by the torrent, With sometimes a perpendie
nide wall' of rock three- or four hundred feet high
on oneiside, with &little, meadow, on .:,the other,
reuchingte the foot ofthe.monatain beyond. pea
sants ,are mowing the grass in these little mead
ows.
Here comes a 'women in neat Swiss dress, peasant
waist;• larie white muslin -sleeves,. and over them
half sleeves,.starched stiff.and covering the front
thiAlkir_t of blue or gray, a
apronwhite . and flat straw hat: She has rasp
berries' for' sale;
,rteh and ripe. She knows that
teuristi - passitik this Way and Ina Tian a
good many in little . baskets, alt arranged tempt.
And`..she ; takes in quite a good , many half
francs in tine course,o, the morning.,
'We foll'ow the, winding stream fora few, miles;
DOW the 'adj*eetif olitkuts out the mighty Jung
frau ; ab ru a 'turki 'in the 'road brings ;it into
full. view.
Soon , we come, to , a wide valley opening to
our left. and we bid, good-bye, to the Jung Frau.
We follow a tributary to the torrent which joins it
here, after a rapid noisy run of ten or twelve miles
!rem the Gruidlewald glacier at the head; of the
valley. But my letter is.grOwing too long. All
that we, saw as, wc; followed the stream to its very
.41Arce, will appear in our next letter.
MAN AND HIS IiA.VIOIIII.
A very old German author - discourses
thus tenderly of Christ : I
My soul is like a hungry aid thirsty
child; and - I need Me love ands consolations
for my refreshment. I am a wandering
and lost.sheep and I need him as a good
and faithfSl Shepherd. My soul is like a
frightened dove,,pursued by a hawk; and I
need his - wounds .- for a refuge. I am a feeble
vine, and kneed his cross to lay hold of,
and wind: ;myself about it. I am a sinner,
andl need, his- righteousness. lam naked
and bare, and need his holiness and inno
cence for a covering. lam in trouble and
alarm• I need his teaching;'simple and I
need the guidance of his Hwy Spirit.
"In no situation, and at no time can I do
without, him. Do ,I pray ? he must prompt
arid intercede for me. Am I arraigned by
Satan tit the - divine tribfinal ? he must be
my advocate. Am lin affliction ? he must
be my helper. Am. I persecuted by the
world ?he must defend me. When .1 am
forsaken, he must be my support; when
dying, my relief; when mouldering in the
grave, my resurrection.
"Well, then, I wilt rather part with all the
world, and all `that it contains, than with
the,e, my Saviour, and God be thanked, I
know that thou.art not willing to do without
me. Tbou' art rich, and I am poor; thou
had righteousness, and I sin; thou bast oil
and wine, and I wounds; thou hast cor
dials and refreshments, and I hunger and
thirst.
"Use me, then, my Saviour, for whatever
purpose, and in whatever way thou mayest
require. 'Here is my poor heart:my empty
vessel, fill it With thy grace. Here is my
sign' and troubled soul; quicken and re
fresh it with thy love. Take my heart for
thine abode ; my mouth to spread the glory
of thy name; my love and all my powers
'or the advancement of thy honor and the
service of thy believing people, and never
suffer the steadfastness and confidence of
my faith to abate, that, so at all times, I
may be enabled from the heart to say,
4 Jesus needs me, and I'bim so we suit each
other?"