oon we were able to leave the hotel and
enter our lodging. And now hear the Lord's goodness in this
particular. The dear persons with whom we lodge are both Christians, who
are most kind to us, and obliging in every way. Their servant also who
waits on us is a most kind person. The house is in a healthy and quiet
situation, and not far from our meeting-place, though without the city
gates. In a word, we could not have wished better lodgings. And how did
we get them? Because all the apartments, usually let out as lodgings,
were occupied by these 90 or 100 gentlemen of the Parliament. Moreover,
to this house we came, through a mistake having been made; for the rooms
we now live in were only intended to be let on Nov. 10th. More, the
persons with whom we live are evidently wealthy persons, a surgeon who
has retired from his profession, and his wife, and who never had let
lodgings. Oh! how kind of the Lord, to let circumstances be as they
were, in order that we might, through this very difficulty, obtain such
a dwelling-place. Daily we feel the comfort of living with Christians,
though these dear persons belong to the State Church. May this little
matter lead us all, dear brethren, to leave all our affairs in the hands
of our loving Father; He arranges matters as they are best for us.--
During the first three or four days in Stuttgart, I was especially poor
and needy, and required every particle of courage not to be overwhelmed
by the state of things here. Everything seemed most dark. On Tuesday
evening when I went to the meeting, there were but eight present, and
all I saw and heard gave me the impression of spiritual desolation,
resulting from that false teacher from Switzerland having come among the
brethren here. In addition to this, my dear wife was taken very ill
during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, July 29 to 30, so that for
two days she kept her bed, and only on the fourth day was pretty well
again. It was the result of sea-sickness and the great fatigue of the
journey, I think. But the Lord had mercy and brightened the prospect by
increasing my faith. In addition to this, circumstances looked better
almost immediately after my arrival, and I was constantly comforted by
the knowledge, that only according to the Lord's will we were here,
and that He would not have sent us, if He had not some purpose to be
accomplished by it. The first thing that occurred was, that, in answer
to our many prayers in England, on th