man despair of effecting any good; and another, more piously added, that the Divine Spirit works independently of all external circumstances; and that a minister who is persuaded of this truth, can have no more reason to despair in apparently the most unpropitious situations, than he has in apparently the most propitious.

"The conviction that man can do nothing in fitting the soul for the reception of divine truth," remarked Paternus, "whilst it humbles the minister, is an inexhaustible source of consolation to him; and whilst he feels himself constrained by the love of Christ to work continually, as if all depended upon himself, he is not cast down nor surprised when he finds that the dead remain still in a state of death, long after he has held the water of life to their lips, for the dead cannot drink until the body is quickened by the Divine Spirit. It is the work of God," said he, "to raise the carnally-dead to spiritual life: it is the work appointed to the minister to feed those who are so raised, as is beautifully exemplified in the story of the ruler's daughter, whom, when our Lord had raised to life, was by his command to be fed by her father's servants."

All who were present, with the exception only of Paternus, then called for the remainder of Mr. Montague's story. We were rather surprised that our venerable friend should fail to press the demand together with ourselves, and could not imagine what his reasons might be for conduct so unlike himself, for he had usually shewn much anxiety to hear out our little narratives.

M. M. S.

(To be continued.)

PRECEPTIVE BIOGRAPHIES-LUTHER.

(Concluded from p. 33.)

The motives which induced Luther to come forth publicly as the great antagonist of Romanism are well known. The coffers of its corrupt church had become drained by unbounded profligacy and dissipation, and Leo X. had recourse to a mode of replenishing them, that had before been tried with success, by some of his predecessors. This was the sale of indulgences.

Tetzel, as is well known, was selected for the sale of these indulgences in Saxony, on account of his activity and popular address. Persons came to Luther to confess and refused the penance prescribed by him, because they had already received remission in the shape of an indulgence. This provoked Luther, and he refused absolution. The persons thus refused, considering themselves aggrieved, entered a complaint against him with Tetzel, who, confident of support, threatened to subject Luther, and those who might adhere to him, to the horrors of the Inquisition.

In 1517, Luther published ninety-five propositions, discussing copiously the doctrines of penitence, charity, indulgences, purgatory, &c. These he affixed to the church of the castle of Wittemberg, inviting any man to a disputation on the points.

The wonderful effects produced by these propositions, moved Tetzel to attempt an answer in one hundred and six of his own. He further declared his readiness to pass the ordeal of fire and water, in compliance with the prejudices of the age, in justification of his tenets!

These and other writings of Luther, and the answers to them, having been some time before the public, the feebleness of the latter excited surprise in many who had never before doubted the ability of the church to defend herself.

Leo for some time paid but little attention to the opposition of Luther; nor did he, indeed, seem to apprehend the danger that others did; but Maximilian, the Emperor, having read Luther's propositions, exclaimed, "Your monk's theses are not to be despised. He will give the priests some trouble. Tell Frederic, that he should protect Luther, as it may happen that he will have need of him!"

The impending danger at length aroused the Pontiff to prompt and vigorous measures, and Luther was ordered to appear at Rome within sixty days, to answer for his opinions and conduct, before appointed judges.

Although the time allowed was sixty days, the bishop of Ascalon, pronounced his condemnation long before the term stated in the citation was completed. But his friends interceded with the Elector, and at length his cause was appointed to be heard at Augsburg, to which place Luther went; but, refusing

to revoke his opinions, the pope threatened excommunication, not only against him, but against all who should support, encourage, or receive him. This threat he carried into effect by the issue of his famous bull, on the 17th June, 1520. Leo foolishly thought that this would crush the rising cause; but God prospered it the more.

The first regular step taken by Luther against this bull, was a protest recorded before a notary and witnesses. He also caused public notice to be given at Wittemberg, that he proposed burning the antichristian decretals, on Monday, the 10th of December, which was accordingly done.

A second bull was issued at Rome, in which, Luther was again anathematized; but finding this also to be of no avail, the pope applied to Frederic, the Elector of Saxony, desiring that he might be imprisoned, and his books burned; but received a reply equivalent to a refusal.

The adherents of the popedom now employed all their influence to have Luther brought before the Diet, that his tenets might be condemned without examination, and himself put to death as a heretic; but his steady friend Frederic, whose subject he was, insisted upon a safe conduct, should Luther choose to appear. This he consented to do, and on the 16th of April, reached Worms, singing the hymn, "Our God is a strong citadel," and preceded by the emperor's herald on horseback in his official dress. Many of the nobility went to meet him. He entered the city at ten o'clock in the forenoon, and more than two thousand people accompanied him to his lodgings, which was the house of the Teutonic Knights, and near to that of the Elector of Saxony. On alighting from the vehicle, he exclaimed, "God will be on my side!"

The Diet met in full form, and Luther was asked, "Whether he owned those books that bore his name? and whether he would retract or maintain what was contained in them?" To this question he replied, "That the books were written by him, saving what might be interpolated or added by designing men, and that, what he had written against popery he would by no means retract."

The emperor Charles, who had succeeded Maximilian, now caused a sort of pre-judgment of Luther's case, written with his

own hand, to be read, which denounced him as a notorious heretic. This indiscreet measure produced, however, little effect; for the Diet continued in discussion, and at length resolved to give the heretic a few days' longer delay, that such of the princes as pleased, might endeavor to persuade him to recant; and if they succeeded, Charles promised to procure his pardon from the Pontiff.

Being again called before the Diet, the Elector of Brandenberg demanded, whether he still persisted in not giving way, unless convinced by the Holy Scriptures. 66 Yes, most kind and gentle sir," replied Luther; "or by very clear and ardent reasons.' He was finally dismissed as an incorrigible heretic, and a safe conduct given him for twenty-one days.

The Elector of Saxony who had not stood forward as his avowed patron and defender in the Diet, now contrived in a friendly manner, to seize Luther on his return, and confine him in the solitary castle of Wartburg, from which asylum many tracts were issued, which were of much service towards promoting this noble work. On his emancipation, Luther found the glorious work of innovation advancing with a rapidity equal to his utmost expectations.

After a short absence he returned to the castle of Wartburg, and began to devote himself to the important labor of translating the Scriptures; but imminent danger appearing to impend over the cause of reform, he again left this retreat, and returned to Wittemberg. Here he lost no time in expressing his sentiments upon what had occurred during his absence.

In the year 1525, he married Catherina a Boria, an escaped nun. This step made him many enemies even amongst his own party; but viewed in a religious light, it was one of no little interest. The Romish clergy being forbidden to marry, had brought great scandal on the church by their immoral lives; and it consequently became necessary that this unscriptural restriction should be broken through. No sooner, therefore, had Luther set the example, than marriage became a recommendation amongst the reformed; and if a converted minister did not marry, he caused a suspicion that he had not renounced the doctrine of celibacy.

Diet after Diet had been called to no purpose, when, upon

The winter season, above all others, brings back yet more vividly the memory of my childhood, and in imagination I can again see our now-deserted nursery filled with happy faces again we gather round the cheerful fire, deeming its uncertain light sufficient for tale-telling, which during the long evenings formed our principal amusement. Again I see my merry brothers, my little sisters, and our kind nurse, with a smiling babe upon her knee, while by her side sat an elder sister, with whose long curls the infant would play, till the monotonous tone of our recitals made its pretty eyelids heavy, and its smile would gently fade away, its sweet blue eyes become hidden, and its low and regular breathing tell of peaceful slumber.

One such evening was marked by a never-to-be-forgotten narrative-the same which I now purpose laying before the reader, as containing a lesson which I trust may be productive of good and lasting impressions upon the youthful mind.

"There, Miss Marianne, just lay baby in his cot while I make up the fire, for the tale I am about to tell you awakes many sad thoughts; besides I like to see the cheerful light flicker upon your faces, that I may the better judge of the attention you give me." Thus spoke our kind nurse, as smoothing her apron, and placing her arms round a restless little one, she commenced in the following manner:

"It is now many years since that I went to live with a lady as nurse to her two little girls, and being young and foolish, as well as totally without religion, I thought little or nothing of the responsibility attached to my duties, while my heart was filled with pleasure and pride, arising from the superiority of my new situation, and the gratification I experienced in being received as servant in the ́great house'—for by this name was the residence of my mistress generally known. The names of my young ladies were Bertha and Emily, and as their parents were very rich, and had no other children, they were greatly indulged, being allowed to have their own way in most things, and having no other restriction, or means of education than that afforded by a daily governess and occasional masters, while they were suffered to grow up not only in ignorance of their faults, but in the neglect of every social and religious duty. It is a sad thing for any one to live in unrestrained indulgence of their wishes, for the