of the clergy of the established
church in the city of Berne, have preached the doctrines of the gospel,
as exhibited in the standards of the church, with simplicity and
faithfulness. Much interest was thus excited in a small number of
persons, several of whom were among the class of patricians, and the
result might be termed a little revival. Public attention was called to
it, by the change of conduct in those who were its subjects. Their
consciences would no longer allow them to partake in those violations of
the Sabbath, and those questionable amusements which were customary in
the world around them; and they felt the need of assembling themselves
for social devotion and christian intercourse, during the week. Those
who felt reproved by such conduct, spared neither censure nor ridicule.
The names of "_priest_," "_methodist_," "_mummer_," etc., were
unsparingly applied to them; and in one instance, the windows of a
person who was obnoxious on this account, were broken. It is but justice
to the government to state, that immediate and vigorous measures were
taken to repress all violence; and no one was suffered to interrupt
them, so long as they continued in connexion with the established
church. Much hostility was indeed expressed against these private
assemblies; but so much patrician influence was exerted in their favour,
that the government did not venture to execute the threats, sometimes
thrown out, of prohibiting them. Pietism continued to increase, from the
increased action produced by these social meetings; and the flame was
undoubtedly nourished by the conversation and correspondence of pious
British travellers, whose influence may now be traced in every part of
the continent, from Calais to Naples, and exhibits one of these
remarkable traits in the divine government, by which the seed of the
word is scattered over the world, often by the consent of those who wish
to destroy it. The wealth of the English gives them access every where.
Even the court of Rome, rather than lose this source of revenue, allows
heresy to rear its standard of rebellion on the banks of the Tiber; and
the efforts of such as are piously disposed to spread light around them,
are winked at, to avoid offending or alarming the _national_ spirit,
even of those who are devoted to the pleasures of the world.

During the year 1828, a small number of the persons who were thus
awakened, felt it their duty to separate themselves entirely from the