the Scriptures in the Flemish tongue.  About that time the colporteurs introduced the New Testament in Flemish, and some copies of the Bible, which greatly excited the priests, and in particular the bishop, who said the translation was mutilated and falsified, and commanded that the members of the Catholic Church who had received copies, should either burn them themselves, or bring them to the cures for that purpose.  Van Maasdyk’s parishioners accordingly brought their Bibles and Testaments (five copies) to him to be burned.  He was zealous in the Romish faith, and had preached violently against the distributors of the wicked books, as they were called; and he was about to fulfil the command to burn them, when suddenly he felt something in his heart which restrained him, and he thought, I will at least first examine the foundation of the bishop’s charges.  He took up his Latin Bible, and placing beside it the copy in Flemish, began with the charge of mutilation.  He found it not at all abridged.  He then went to the charge of falsification, and found the two copies to agree with slight variations here and there; in fact, the modern translation proved to have been made from the Vulgate, which was the one in his possession.  He read the denunciation of our Saviour, “Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” and it struck him forcibly; he felt that he must say, “Woe is me, I am one of those who deceive the people.”  He read again, “There is one Mediator between God and man;” and here again his conscience smote him:  “Woe is me, I teach the people in their confessions that the saints make intercession.”  His sorrow was so deep, that he thought he could die a thousand deaths rather than continue a Romish priest.

Now his persecution began.  He was beloved by his flock, who entreated him not to leave them.  After much conflict of mind, he wrote a decided letter to his bishop, who in the end gave him his dismissal.  Still feeling himself called to proclaim the Gospel, he began to assemble the people in little companies, and to instruct them in the Scriptures.  At the entreaty of his friends he settled at Brussels, where there was a wide field for labor amongst the poorest of the Roman Catholics, who speak only Flemish.  His congregation consisted at first of some fifteen or twenty persons; but such was the success he met with, that they have been obliged four or five times in succession to seek a larger building, and his congregation now consists of 500.  He is said to be one of the most powerful preachers in the Flemish language.  It is delightful to be in his company; his heart is filled with gratitude, and his eyes sparkle with joy, when he is with those who love the Saviour.  Nothing is paid him by his congregation; he has a little property of his own, and sometimes receives a little help from the Adolphus Society.

After a long conversation with him on the spiritual nature of worship, he took us to see some of his flock, with whom we had family sittings from house to house.  This is exactly the class our hearts longed to visit; thanks be to our Heavenly Father who has thus opened our way.