on with
them as to their religious experience. There were several young Germans
among them, who are residing in Brussels; with these I conversed in their
own language, which was highly gratifying to them. As Pastor Marzial
speaks English well, I clung to him in the hope of having him for an
interpreter; but he encouraged me to speak as well as I could in French,
as the natives like it much better, and consider it a compliment to their
language. This made me very low, it being a company of well-educated
persons, and I asked Van Maasdyk what I should do. I would rather, he
replied, hear ten words from your own mouth, than ten thousand through the
mouth of another; we shall understand you, and what comes from the heart
goes to the heart. This settled the question; I gave myself up to the
language, and was helped through. My M.Y. was favored in her
communication. After a short address from M., I concluded the meeting with
supplication, also in French. I do believe the Spirit was poured upon us
from on high; many hearts were touched, and tears flowed freely from many
eyes.

The Lord has indeed opened a wide door for us in this place; the dear
people follow us from meeting to meeting, entreating us for an opportunity
of the like kind in their own houses; but we must be watchful to see our
own way. However, if the oil is staid, it is not for want of vessels, for
what we have to communicate seems like seed cast into the prepared ground.
May the Lord himself be their teacher, and carry on his own work; for it
is most assuredly his. To those who are spiritually minded, to hear of a
society holding spiritual views, is like marrow to their bones. It is not
so much what we are able to say to them, but our being as living witnesses
to the truth which these awakened people feel in their own hearts.

21_st_.--Attended a meeting of Van Maasdyk's in the poorer district
of Brussels; about seventy to eighty persons present, consisting of
converted Romanists, seeking Protestants, and two awakened Jews. Two of
the company were blind men, very pious, who gain their living by selling
matches. Our friend read, explained, and applied the tenth chapter of
John, in Flemish; he also interpreted for me a few words, which I spoke in
German.

On their way to Charleroi, after passing through Mons, they traversed the
great Belgium iron and coal country, where the people speak a patois but
understand French. Here they made a free distribution of the