governments, and not merely instigated by priestly bigotry.

Francis might have been rather confirmed in the fear thus implanted by the papal ambassador, from the commotion excited in Paris when he ratified with the pope his famous concordat, or alliance. It was thought so great an infringement on the liberties of the Gallican church, that the students of the universities not only went in procession to church to supplicate the protection of God for their country, but marched through the streets in armour, to show a readiness to protect it themselves; attacking, or threatening, even persons of rank who were executing the king's order.

To ratify this concordat, Francis appeared in the cathedral of Bologna, holding up the train of the pope a singular position for a gay knight and gallant warrior! The Protestants for some time received, at least, the tacit protection of their sovereign. The opposition quickly raised against the preachers of the gospel by the priests and doctors of the Catholic theology met with no encouragement from him. The indignation which is always produced when light first encounters darkness was kindled at Paris.

The good old Lefevre was convicted of the strange heresy of saying that Mary, the sister. of Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, and the woman who washed our Lord's feet with her tears, were three distinct women. An opinion that now is generally received, kindled then a vigorous con

troversy. It reached even to England, and Fisher, bishop of Rochester, wrote against Lefevre, who might have been burned for this imputed heresy concerning the three women, had not the king-probably smiling at the subject of persecution as well as at the persecutors-rescued the pious doctor from impending danger. Francis, at this time, if inclined to toleration, was full of indifference; he was a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God; a friend to learning rather than a protector of religion. In the midst of one of his gay progresses through his dominions, a party of angry doctors from Paris waited upon him, to complain of the heresy that now prevailed in the universities. Francis paused in his pleasures to listen to them, and replied :—

"I am not willing that these men should be disturbed; to persecute those who teach would be to prevent men of letters from coming into our kingdom."

Margaret had even nearly prevailed on him to invite the mild and excellent reformer, Melancthon, to his court, but the pernicious influence of cardinal Tournon, his chief adviser, prevented this step.

Though the king would not sanction the clamour of the doctors, Beda, the most violent of the opposers, continued all the species of persecution that was in his power; and though Lefevre could not be burned, he was obliged to seek a calmer asylum than the university. then afforded to him. Lefèvre left Paris,

and he was gladly received by the bishop of Meaux.

At Meaux, the gospel was preached for some time in peace; and from thence it was sent into the country around. Farel, also, came to join the church so happily flourishing at Meaux. A great work was accomplished there.

Lefèvre, anxious that the French should be able to read the Bible, published a translation, from the Latin, of the New Testament and the Psalms, nearly at the same time that Luther sent forth his translation in Germany. In both countries, the effect in diffusing the doctrines of the reformation was great.

Many a pious, but enslaved mind, had before then desired anxiously to obtain spiritual light and peace. When they could read the gospel in their own tongue, or hear it read, they learned that salvation is not of works but of grace, that men are justified freely through faith in Christ Jesus; and thus many found joy and peace in believing. The bishop of Meaux sent the princess Margaret a copy of the gospels, beautifully illuminated, after the ancient fashion, praying her to present it to the king her brother. "Such a present," he wrote to her, "coming from your hand, cannot but be agreeable. .. The Scriptures are a royal dish, nourishing without corrupting, and healing all diseases; the more we taste of it, the more we hunger for it, with uncloying and insatiable appetite." At that moment, all eyes

appeared opened to the long-hidden treasures of the Bible: so great was the curiosity excited, that even Margaret's ungodly mother had portions translated for her.

Both Francis and his mother had thus the means of knowing the will of God; but their lives were not conformable to it, and it may be believed that, while the newly translated Bible might be regarded as a literary curiosity, it was not perused with diligence and sincerity. Had that king embraced the reformed faith, and favoured the Protestant religion in his kingdom, the history of France would probably have been different from what it has been: the moral power that France would have gained, together with her other advantages, would indeed have set her on high amongst the nations.

The good old doctor Lefèvre rejoiced beforehand, in the hope that such would be the case. A monk who heard his expressions of joy at what was occurring, and of hope for what he believed must take place, answered with indignation, that if such a change were likely to occur, his brethren would preach a crusade; and if the king permitted such proceedings, as Lefevre spoke of, they would drive him from his kingdom. At Meaux, which had been the centre of light and truth to France, the peace was broken. The monks raised a clamour against the preachers of the gospel, and appealed to the bishop against his own friends. The bishop, for that time firm, though he after

wards failed, preached against the monks from his pulpit. They carried their complaints to Paris, and denounced both the bishop and teachers of Meaux to the parliament.

The indiscreet zeal of a working man, named Leclerc, made the matter worse. Having been very useful in diffusing a knowledge of the truth, he was cruelly punished, and afterwards left the scene of his useful labours, finally retiring to Metz, another city where the gospel was gaining ground. Here he again provoked the persecutors' rage, and unhappily injured the cause he wished to serve, by going into a church, and breaking the images of saints. For this offence he was barbarously burned to death as a heretic, and died faithfully as a martyr.

We may regret that the zeal of the reformer should hurry the Christian beyond the meekness and gentleness of Christ; we may remember that Paul did not demolish the altar which was dedicated "to the unknown God,”—and call to mind his words to the pagans-" Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious;" but in the constancy of the martyr we have proof of his sincerity, and must deplore the fierceness of spirit which would count the demolition of a statue worth the sacrifice of a life. The fate of Leclerc has been frequently mentioned, as he was the first martyr of the reformation in France.

Finally, both Lefèvre and Farel were obliged to leave Meaux; the bishop, unhappily, failed in the hour of trial, and retreated from the