the circular Epistle and to promise his co-operation with us for the great Reformation of the Church, which is necessary to stop judgments and to make nations partakers of the greatest promises.  I added, that if he would refuse to sign, I could not go any more into his Church.  The bishop was a cunning Jesuite.  He understood that by signing that Epistle he could not satisfy his Pope, and he wrote to me a very enticing letter, to stop me in my Reformation.  But I assembled directly those of the congregation, who could be assembled that evening, Friday, February 16th 1838, and explained what had happened, showing to them their duty, to make known to the congregation to assemble on next Sunday in a Protestant School-house in which I would explain, why I could not go any more into the Church of the Bishop.  I convinced them after sufficient explanation of the matter, that they were satisfied, that I had to obey rather the direction of the spirit, than the wishes of the bishop.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, 1838, I was again awakened at 3 o’clock A.M. as at my former commission, and commanded by my leader, to write again to the bishop and explain my message given to the congregation to assemble on the next day in a Protestant School house unless the bishop would acknowledge his fault and do what was required.  I assured him most solemnly, that all those steps were done under strict direction of the spirit who had confirmed my mission; therefore “nisi haec feceris, tecum in sacris communicare non possum.”  It is to be understood, that I wrote to him in Latin, and said:  “If thou, Bishop, wilt not do this,” that is, if thou wilt not sign the Epistle and co-operate with us, “I can have no ecclesiastical communion with thee.”  The Epistle was then carried and handed to him at 8 o’clock A.M. of that day.

Soon after that a deputation of our congregation came to me.  They reported that our message according to our agreement, was spread in the congregation, but there was a means, to satisfy the spirit; because the Catholic Cathedral Church does not belong to the bishop, but to the nations.  The deputation assured me that Roman Catholics and Protestants of different nations have contributed freely to build that church, and I could explain freely in the church what I had to communicate to the congregation; since neither the bishop nor any of his priests understood German.  It was evident, that one of the three was under the influence of a prudent spirit.  But I replied, that in steps of such consequence I must act strictly according to the order of the spirit.  They should therefore go to the bishop.  Perhaps they might move him to sign the Epistle.  They went; but they returned with the message, that they found the bishop not well, entreating me very much that although he could not sign my encyclic Epistle, I should go in the church, and difficulties would be then amicably settled.  From that circumstance I understood, that the bishop did not comprehend what it was, to