7 mo. 5.—­Pastor Grandpierre came to pay us a visit with four of his missionary students.  We had a precious religious opportunity with them.  The Pastor expressed his belief that the power and presence of the Saviour had been evidently felt among us.  The young men were much tendered; one of them was a grandson of the late Pastor Oberlin, and had been sensibly affected by what Stephen Grellet had said in a meeting at his father’s place of worship in the Ban de la Roche.  Three of the young men who were in the institution at our last visit to Paris are now in Africa.  We admire the principle on which this establishment is conducted; the inmates are not sent out unless they believe it to be their duty to go; if this be not the case at the expiration of their term, they return home.

On the 7th John Yeardley, accompanied by Joseph Grellet, brother of Stephen Grellet, visited the Sabbath-school in the Rue St. Maur.  Martha Yeardley was indisposed and unable to leave the house.

When the classes had finished, says J.Y., De Pressense proposed to give a lecture on a subject from the Old Testament, and bestowed great pains to make it clear to the infant capacities of the children.  I had intimated to my worthy friend a desire for liberty to express what might arise in my mind when he had done, which was most readily granted, and after I had spoken to the children, there seemed great liberty in addressing the teachers, parents and young persons present.  There was much seriousness the whole time and a precious sense of divine love was over us.  Our kind friend, J. Grellet, interpreted for me in an impressive and clear manner.

The name of Mark Wilks has been for many years identified with the cause of evangelical religion in Paris.  John Yeardley had an interview with him, and makes an interesting note in his Diary regarding his opinions on the state of religious parties at this period.

7 mo. 9.—­This morning I had an interview with Mark Wilks.  He received me very cordially, and, as I expected, I found him full of religious intelligence; he is just returned from a tour in Switzerland, and speaks encouragingly of the state of the Christian church in general.  He has resided in Paris fifteen years, and of course seen many changes.  He assured me that the arm of infidelity is weakening; nothing like the same exertion is made to spread the vile doctrine.  The fact is, in some degree, the people are too indifferent to trouble themselves about it, and would not spend a son for its promotion; on the other hand, zealous Christians are doing all in their power to promote the spread of gospel truth.

On the 15th John S. Mollet, who had arrived in Paris after them, accompanied J. and M.Y. to Madame d’Aublay’s.