If, covered in a mortal veil, Why was I in such anxious haste For now the fire of Love Divine THE RISE OF THE ITALIAN REFORMATION.* WHEN Germany beheld the light of the Reformation dawn over the ruins of Christian piety, manners, and knowledge, and kindle the hearts of nations, even Italy did not remain untouched by its heavenly beams. There, where the spirit appeared entirely extinguished under lifeless forms-where the disorders of the priesthood mocked the holy manners of a Christian community -where the "heavenly Corner-stone" was built into the edifice of a worldly hierarchy, until it was not to be discerned-even there the spirit of the German reformation came like a new dispensation into the world, and met with a decided reception in many noble minds and elevated spirits. And never, in any age, have such been entirely wanting under the glowing skies and serene atmosphere of Italy. History has recorded upon her pages many precious names, to whom, in connection with the reformatory movement of Italy at the era of the German reformation, memory clings before all others. They are scat * The Benefit of Christ's Death: probably written by Aonio Paleario: reprinted in fac-simile from the Italian edition of 1543, with a French translation printed in 1522, from copies in the library of St. John's College, Cambridge; to which is added an English version, made in 1548, by Edward Courtnay, Earl of Devonshire, now first edited from a MS. preserved in the library of the University of Cambridge, with an ntroduction by Churchill Babington, B.D., F.L.S. London Bell and Daldy. 1855. tered over the whole country. Scarcely one of the chief cities, scarcely any of the celebrated centres of learning, remained without some distinguished disseminator of truth and knowledge, who appeared to have derived his first impulse from Germany. At the court of the Duchess Renée, Ferrara saw many of the noblest minds of the time united together, men full of Protestant spirit, of whom we may name, Marcantonio Flaminio, Celio Calcagnini, Bartolomeo Riccio, Fulvio Peregrino Morata, father of the pious and accomplished Olympia Morata. Naples pos sessed in Juan de Valdés an undaunted knight for evangelical truth, and Pavia collected her students in jealous veneration round Celius Secundus Curione (who has left us a touching memorial of his four daughters), so early ripe for heaven, to protect him as a shield from the arrows of the Romish court. From the extremest point of Istria went out the pair of brothers Aurelio and Pietro Paulo Vergerio, who esteemed true peace of conscience much more than the cap of the cardinal; while Antonio Bruciolo, the Florentine, not to mention others, gave the Bible into the hands of his countrymen in their own language as the most powerful protest that could be made against Romish errors and usurpations; and Bernardino Ochino, of Sienna, preached from state to state his thrilling sermons on Salvation through Faith in Christ. As simple preachers under the monk's cowl, or as professors in the universities, Giovanni Mollio at Bologna, Paolo Ricci at Modena, Pietro Martire Vermigli at Naples, Giulio da Milano at Venice, were men who, learned and earnest, eloquent and open-hearted, gave course to the gospel or good news by word and by writing, and everywhere laboured to promote it. Even the high College of Cardinals at Rome held Gaspar Contarini, Morone, and Pole, men in the midst of it who in the earlier years of the Reformation, as friends and favourers of the doctrine of faith, appeared dangerous and suspicious to the Papal see. 372 LINES On visiting, late in life, the Graves of my Forefathers, in a retired Burial-ground of the Society of Friends, in a distant part of the country. "Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." JUDGES VI. 15. I. SIDE by side, Each to all the rest allied, Towards the South Arcturus turns, And a blaze in ether throws Where the blue like ocean flows. While, with rising beams increast, Lovely Lyra lights the East, Giving and receiving light. Like the mind of Genius thrown, Like the lips which, but once stirred, I, a Pilgrim come from far, How the Futurẻ might be cast ; Whether their Eternal morrow Tearless, fearless, free from sorrow Would receive a near allied, Them to join-the Purified, Side by side. II. Side by side, Each to all the rest allied Ancient grandsires, fathers, mothers, Son and daughter, friend and neighbour Every one complete of stature O'er them Summer shoots her rays Ranged in series as they died, III. Side by side, Distant not an infant's stride, Each to all the rest allied, Ranged in series as they died. Ridge by ridge, from bound to bound, In its hollow house decayed. Here a Martyr, there a Poet, Though no mark is raised to show it, But on one of Death's long muster, Side by side. IV. Side by side, Softest shadows casting wide, Fir trees rise in pleasing grace, Round about at equal space, Save that here and there between Spreads the beech trees' broader green, |