few
hours every week. As I had no more connexion with the university at Halle,
my course having been finished for more than six months past, and as I had
the prospect of being spiritually benefited through my stay in Berlin, and
there was no probability, if I remained at Halle, of obtaining the
above-mentioned exemption, I came to the conclusion to go to Berlin.

Two ladies of title traveled with me to Berlin in a hired carriage. As I
knew that we should be for two days together, I thought, in my fleshly
wisdom, that though I ought to speak to them about the things of God, I
should first show them kindness and attention, and that, after having thus
opened a way to their hearts, I might fully set before them their state by
nature, and point them to the Lamb of God. We went on together most
amicably, I making only a few general remarks about divine things. On the
second evening, however, when we were near the end of our journey, I felt
that it was high time to speak. And no sooner had I begun plainly to do
so, than one of them replied, "Oh! Sir, I wish you had spoken sooner about
these things, for we have, for a long time, wished to have some one to
whom we might open our hearts; but seeing that the ministers whom we know
do not live consistently, we have been kept from speaking to them." I now
found that they had been under conviction of sin for some time, but did
not know the way to obtain peace, even by faith in the Lord Jesus. After
this I spoke freely to them during the hour that yet remained. They parted
from me under feelings of gratitude and regret that they could hear no
more, for they only passed through Berlin. I felt myself greatly reproved,
and all I could do was, by a long letter, to seek to make up for my
deficiency in ministering to them on the journey. May this circumstance
never be forgotten by me, and may it prove a blessing to the believing
reader.

My chief concern now was how I might obtain a passport for England,
through exemption from military duty. But the more certain brethren tried,
though they knew how to set about the matter, and were also persons of
rank, the greater difficulty there appeared to be in obtaining my object;
so that in the middle of January 1829 it seemed as if I must immediately
become a soldier. There was now but one more way untried, and it was at
last resorted to. A believing major, who was on good terms with one of the
chief generals, proposed that I should actually offer m