who could have taught him this truth from personal experience. The jubilee festival of the Reformation in 1817 did not pass over without leaving some impression on Fliedner; it impelled him to make himself acquainted with the history of Luther, and the other reformers, and the strength of faith that he beheld in these heroes of the Lord filled him with deep shame. His favourite study at this time, as of old, was the lives of great men, and he collected those deeds which pleased him most in a little manuscript book, that he might have their examples always before his eyes. He was already full of plans of future usefulness to his fellow-men, and says of himself at this time: ‘Undoubtedly I placed before myself the noble and sacred aim of effecting as much good as possible in my future congregation; but as yet unfortunately I knew very little of the right way to do it, because, what is best of all, a knowledge of God, and the blessedness of union with Him, was as yet unknown to my own heart. Some presentiment of it dwelt within me, but dim and indistinct as yet, through my own fault; for all my thoughts were full of doing good to others, and bringing them to God, and it never occurred to me to strive to come to Him myself. Yet how was I to lead them to this great happiness, when I did not possess it myself, did not even clearly understand it? Yet the Lord had patience joined for a time the Society of Gymnasts there. When, however, they began to try to initiate him into. the projects for setting the world to rights which formed the mystery of their order, he met them with the reply, 'Let each one mend one, and the world will soon mend itself;' an answer which persuaded them that it would be better to let him alone, as far as these schemes were concerned. His studies were still carried on with redoubled ardour, especially all that would qualify him for the pastoral office to which he aspired. But there was no one to point out the best way to him; none of the professors then at Giessen had discerned that to love Christ is better than all mere learning; on the contrary, almost all of them. sought to rob our Lord of His divine glory, and the narratives of His miracles and His resurrection were to them mere legends. It was no wonder, therefore, that Flied If I and their teaching unsatisfying; but it ught by our faithful God, that a spark till kept alive in his heart. This 1, 'I held fast through all; I never les or resurrection of Christ. e looked upon Christ Himself as a pe, and against either alternative my ense revolted.' But he had not as yet very Christ must be formed in us, ssen no one was brought into his path who could have taught him this truth from personal experience. The jubilee festival of the Reformation in 1817 did not pass over without leaving some impression on Fliedner; it impelled him to make himself acquainted with the history of Luther, and the other reformers, and the strength of faith that he beheld in these heroes of the Lord filled him with deep shame. His favourite study at this time, as of old, was the lives of great men, and he collected those deeds which pleased him most in a little manuscript book, that he might have their examples always before his eyes. He was already full of plans of future usefulness to his fellow-men, and says of himself at this time: 'Undoubtedly I placed before myself the noble and sacred aim of effecting as much good as possible in my future congregation; but as yet unfortunately I knew very little of the right way to do it, because, what is best of all, a knowledge of God, and the blessedness of union with Him, was as yet unknown to my own heart. Some presentiment of it dwelt within me, but dim and indistinct as yet, through my own fault; for all my thoughts were full of doing good to others, and bringing them to God, and it never occurred to me to strive to come to Him myself. Yet how was I to lead them to this great happiness, when I did not possess it myself, did not even clearly understand it? Yet the Lord had patience. joined for a time the Society of Gymnasts there. When, however, they began to try to initiate him into the projects for setting the world to rights which formed the mystery of their order, he met them with the reply, 'Let each one mend one, and the world will soon mend itself;' an answer which persuaded them that it would be better to let him alone, as far as these schemes were concerned. His studies were still carried on with redoubled ardour, especially all that would qualify him for the pastoral office to which he aspired. But there was no one to point out the best way to him; none of the professors then at Giessen had discerned that to love Christ is better than all mere learning; on the contrary, almost all of them sought to rob our Lord of His divine glory, and the narratives of His miracles and His resurrection were to them mere legends. It was no wonder, therefore, that Flied und their teaching unsatisfying; but it ught by our faithful God, that a spark till kept alive in his heart. This 1, 'I held fast through all; I never les or resurrection of Christ. If I e looked upon Christ Himself as a pe, and against either alternative my ense revolted.' But he had not as yet this very Christ must be formed in us, ssen no one was brought into his path who could have taught him this truth from personal experience. His The jubilee festival of the Reformation in 1817 did not pass over without leaving some impression on Fliedner; it impelled him to make himself acquainted with the history of Luther, and the other reformers, and the strength of faith that he beheld in these heroes of the Lord filled him with deep shame. favourite study at this time, as of old, was the lives of great men, and he collected those deeds which pleased him most in a little manuscript book, that he might have their examples always before his eyes. He was already full of plans of future usefulness to his fellow-men, and says of himself at this time: 'Undoubtedly I placed before myself the noble and sacred aim of effecting as much good as possible in my future congregation; but as yet unfortunately I knew very little of the right way to do it, because, what is best of all, a knowledge of God, and the blessedness of union with Him, was as yet unknown to my own heart. Some presentiment of it dwelt within me, but dim and indistinct as yet, through my own fault; for all my thoughts were full of doing good to others, and bringing them to God, and it never occurred to me to strive to come to Him myself. Yet how was I to lead them to this great happiness, when I did not possess it myself, did not even clearly understand it? Yet the Lord had patience |