to whom he afterwards addressed dote concerning a circumstance his Epistle concerning the Council which happened to her during her of Trent. During all the time of residence in Berlin :-" My saloon his exile, which was about four had two doors, one opening into my years, he studied hard, and spent chamber, and the other conducting the rest of his time in consoling to a private staircase descending and confirming his friends, fre- into the court. On the platform quently telling them, "that when of this staircase was a door opposite their brethren endured such bitter to mine, belonging to the apart tortures and horrible martyrdoms ments of an emigrant. This man at home, it was not reasonable they was of a savage disposition, and should expect to fare deliciously never saw any one in the house. in banishment," always concluding Some one had given me two pots of with, "These things will not last beautiful hyacinths; at night I an age;" a saying which he re- placed them on this platform, bepeated so often, as to impress their tween my neighbour's door and minds with a firm belief that their my own. In the morning, I went deliverance was not far off. This, to take them again, and had the however, was not peculiar to Jewell. disagreeable surprise to see my Foxe was likewise remarked for beautiful hyacinths cut into pieces, using the same language; and and scattered round the pots which there was among these exiles in held them. I easily guessed that general a very firm persuasion my neighbour was the author of that the dominion of Popery and this deed, who had been excited to cruelty under Queen Mary would it, doubtless, notwithstanding his not be of long duration. The French politeness, by the libels much wished-for event at length which were published against me. was made known; and upon the Not wishing the affair to be known, accession of the new Queen, or I did not ask more flowers of the rather the year after (1559), Jewell persons who had given me these, returned to England, and we find but directed a servant to buy me his name soon after among the some. Having placed these in the sixteen divines appointed by Queen pots, I attached to them a slip of Elizabeth to hold a disputation in paper, on which I wrote these Westminster Abbey against the words: Destroy my works, if Papists. you will, but respect the works of God.' At night, I placed them on the platform; in the morning I had been their fate, and saw with went with eagerness to see what great pleasure that some one had been content with simply watering them. I carried them immediately into the saloon, and, placing them on the table, perceived that there were attached to them two silk strings, each suspending a cornelian ring."

823. Scriptures Forbidden.-In the reign of Henry V. a law was passed against the perusal of the Scriptures in England. It was enacted, "That whosoever they were that should read the Scriptures in the mother tongue, they should forfeit land, catel, lif, and godes from theyre heyres, for ever; and so be condemned for heretykes to God, enemies to the crowne, and most errant traitors to the lande." On contrasting the above statute with the indefatigable exertions that are now making to print and circulate the Bible, what a happy Staffordshire, met with much perhill, a zealous minister of Christ in revolution in public sentiment ap-secution in his work. At one time pears to have taken place! appointed for public worship, an 824. Soft Answer.-Madame de infuriated mob of more than five Genlis relates the following anec- hundred, mostly colliers, collected,

825. Striking Conversion.Many years ago, the Rev. J. Under.

some armed with clubs, staves, and in the waves, eighty escaped to stones, others had horns and noisy land; out of these about fifty were instruments, determined, as they almost instantly massacred by the declared, to drive out the Metho- Koubals, a ferocious race, who dists, or to destroy them. While were watching the effects of the the people and some ministers tempest, and in the dead of the were pursued by the rabble, a night rushed down on the helpless seeming gentleman called out mariners, armed with sabre, lance, fiercely to the riotors, pointing to Mr. Underhill, "There is one of the Methodist dogs; take notice of him; do your work well, and I will give you a barrel of ale at the end of it." Two of the ministers narrowly escaped with their lives. Mr. Underhill and a brother minister were dragged to a public-house; the latter received such a violent blow with a poker from the landlord, that he never entirely recovered from its effects. Some time afterwards these very ministers met the landlord at a house where they supped together; and talking over former scenes of tribulation through which they had together passed, the minister said, "No part appeared so heinous as the conduct of the man who struck me when in quiet custody." He was desired to look on the company, and try to recognise the person. Time had effaced any recollection of his features. Mr. Underhill then said, "Behold, he dippeth with thee in the dish." Here an interesting scene took place. They wept on each other's necks, the landlord bewailing his crime and entreating forgiveness, and the minister assuring him that even the loss of life would have been" was allowed us to lie on, with a richly repaid by the salvation of one soul.

826. Tender Mercies of the Wicked. Among the persons liberated by Lord Exmouth, on his triumph over the Algerines, was a Frenchman of the name of Pierre Joseph Dumont, who had endured a slavery of thirty-four years in Africa. He was one of the crew of the Lièvre, which was wrecked by a storm on the coast of Africa, between Oran and Algiers. Sixty individuals perished

pistol, and musket. All who escaped death from the first assault of the savages were seized by them next morning, while vainly endeavouring to find a place of shelter along the sandy beach; each prisoner had his arms bound across, and was then attached with a long cord to the tail of one of the Arabs' horses. In this manner the unfortunate captives were dragged along for eight days, without being allowed any other subsistence than bread and water. At length they reached the mountain Felix, and were brought before the Sheik Osman. He inquired what country they were of, and being told France, exclaimed, "France, without faith; lawless, spiteful, malignant wretches! Let them be chained." The order was put into immediate execution. They were first stripped of their clothes, and supplied with nothing more than a sort of petticoat or trousers. They were then bound together, two and two, to a large chain ten feet in length and weighing about sixty pounds; and thus, half naked and in irons, they were taken to the prison appropriated for slaves. "A little straw," says Dumont,

stone for a pillow, and permission to sleep, if we could. Although I felt my wounds extremely painful, particularly one inflicted by a lance, I was compelled to labour with the rest at six every morning, dragging along my chain. Our food for the day was three ears of Indian corn, which were thrown to us as if we were dogs." All the time the slaves were at work the Koubals formed a circle around them, not so much to prevent their running away as to protect them from the lions and tigers who would

otherwise devour them. "There Exmouth appeared before Algiers are always," says Dumont, "a and obtained the surrender of all hundred and fifty armed men to the Christian slaves of every na watch over the safety of an hun- tion. Dumont adds: "We were dred slaves. But though the Kou- taken in by a number of English bals are incessantly on the look-out, boats, and there it was that our it will not prevent the lion from last chains fell off, not without sometimes carrying off its prey, if the deep sighs and regrets of greatly pressed by hunger. One three thousand renegadoes, who remarkable circumstance is that despaired of obtaining deliverance, the shouts and outcries of men and cursed the day wherein they will drive the wild beasts back apostatised from the Christian into the woods, whereas peals of faith." musketry draw numbers of them 827. Tolerant King. -The out of the forest, as if curiosity formed some part of their instinct. habitual piety of George III. was But nothing," continues Dumont, perhaps the most striking feature "could exceed the horrors of what fested at a very early period of his of his character. It was maniwe endured one day from the pri- life, and continued with him to the son taking fire, with all the slaves last. Although more particularly shut up in it. Though no lives attached to the Established Church, were lost, our beards and hair were he was still the zealous friend and partly consumed. The water intended for our use was turned off advocate of genuine religious toleration. All classes of his religious to extinguish the flames. The heat and the torrents of smoke subjects were equally objects of his tenderness and love. Mr. Cobbin, were suffocating, so that we foamed in his "French Preacher," relates at the mouth, and at one time that his Majesty happening one we were in apprehension of being burnt alive. No one thought of day to pass in his carriage through one of the royal unloosing us, probably from a dread a place near of some confusion and disorder, palaces, where a rabble had gaand only the usual quantities of thered together to interrupt the water were dealt out to us at the worship at a dissenting meetingusual times. Nor was this all; house, he stopped to know the for a liberal distribution of the cause of the tumult; and being bamboo ensued, applied to some answered that it was only some affair between the townspeople for setting fire to the place from negligence, to others for not fore- and the Methodists, he replied, loud "The seeing the accident, and to others enough to be heard by many, for an imputed criminal intention, Methodists are a quiet, good kind as if they would take an advantage and if I can learn that any persons of people, and will disturb nobody; of such an opportunity to effect their escape." After being thirtymy employment disturb them, three years in slavery, Dumont they shall be immediately diswas one of five hundred Christians missed." "The King's sentiments," adds Mr. Cobbin, 66 who were exchanged for the two soon spread sons of Osman, taken prisoners by tion has not dared to lift its hand through the town, and persecu the Bey Titre. Dumont now became the slave of a new master, there since that period." but received much better treat- 828. Vanity Fair.-An interestment; his irons were struck off, he ing circumstance transpired as was clothed, and had two black fourteen Christians in Madagascar loaves, of five ounces each, and were on their way to the capital seven or eight olives allowed him after being apprehended. On reachdaily. At Algiers he remained ing the town of Beferona, a guard eight months. At length, Lord was set upon them. They were

in

told that their manner of travelling as he is at his installing, saving was suspicious and not like that that as everything then is most of other people, having lanterns at rich and costly, so everything in night, and striking into unusual this is of canvas and old clouts, paths. Three days successively with a mitre and a pall of the same they underwent examination, and suit, done upon him in mockery, on the third they resolved to wit- and then the crosier-staff was put ness the good confession, and there- in his hand. This done, after the fore made the following declaration, Pope's pontifical form and manner, through Andriamanana, one of Bonner, who, by the space of many their number, whom they had ap- years, had borne, as it seemeth, no pointed as their spokesman: "Since great good will towards him, and you ask us again and again, we now rejoiced to see this day wherein will tell you. We are not banditti he might triumph over him, and nor murderers; we are impivavaka take his pleasure at full, began to (praying people); and if this makes stretch out his eloquence, making us guilty in the kingdom of the his oration to the assembly after Queen, then whatever the Queen this manner of sort: This is the decrees, we submit to suffer." "Is man that hath ever despised the this, then," said the interrogator, Pope's holiness, and now is to be your final reply, whether for life judged by him. This is the man or death?" "It is our final reply," who hath pulled down so many they said, "whether for life or churches, and now is come to be death." "Who," asked the ex- judged by the church. This is the aminer, "sent you from Tanana- man that condemned the blessed rivo?" "No one," they replied; sacrament of the altar, and now 66 we went forth of our own free is come to be condemned before will." After the Christians made that blessed sacrament hanging these declarations, it is said that over the altar. This is the man they felt inexpressible peace and that, like Lucifer, sat in the place joy. They had prayed, they had of Christ upon an altar to judge confessed Christ, and now that others, and now is come before an concealment was at an end, and altar to be judged himself.'" The they could freely open their over- story of Cranmer's recantation, burdened hearts, they said to each signed by him on a promise of life, other, "Now we are in the situation which was afterwards violated, is of Christian and Faithful when they known to most readers. After he were led to the city of Vanity Fair." had signed it, Dr. Cole received And so it proved when a majority secret orders from the court to of them underwent the martyr's preach in Cranmer's presence, in death after the example of Faithful. one of the churches at Oxford, an anticipation of his funeral sermon. 829. Vindictive Malice. -Per- On the day appointed, the Archsecution for religious opinions as- bishop was placed upon a stage in sumed the most terrific form in the front of the pulpit in a ragged gown, reign of the sanguinary Mary. with an old square cap, to hear the Among the proceedings of the sermon, which was performed by furious Bonner, there is none more Dr. Cole to admiration. After exaffecting than the trial of Arch- patiating on the justice of his senbishop Cranmer for treason and tence, the preacher addressed the heresy. The following extract audience, and bade them take from the "State Trials " exhibits a warning by the fate of so great a lively portrait of the degradation man; then, directing himself personof Craniner, and the exulting pride ally to Cranmer, he lauded him for of his enemy:-"Then they invest his conversion, and exhorted him ed him (Cranmer) in all manner of to imitate the "rejoicing" of St. robes of a Bishop and Archbishop, Andrew on the cross, and the

66

'patience" of St. Lawrence in the

lively in him expressed. More than

gushed out abundantly, dropping down his fatherly face. They which were present do testify that they never saw in any child more tears than burst out from him at that time, all the sermon while, but especially when they recited his prayers before the people. It is marvellous what commiseration and pity moved all men's hearts, that behield so heavy a countenance and such abundance of tears in an old man, and of so reverend &

fire. The account of Cranmer's twenty several times the tears shame and remorse during this edifying harangue is very pathetic and striking. It is a powerful specimen of old English writing. "Cranmer in all this meantime, with what grief of mind he stood hearing the sermon, the outward show of his body did better express than any man can declare; one while lifting up his hands and eyes unto heaven, and then again for shame letting them down to the earth. A man might have seen the very image and shape of perfect sorrow dignity."

PERSEVERANCE.

1 Sam. xii. 20; Prov. iv. 18, 25-27; Matt. xxiv. 13; Luke xxi. 19; 1 Cor. xvi. 13; Phil. iv. 1; 2 Thess. iii. 13.

830. Bruce and the Spider. - 831. Discovery of India. The Robert Bruce, the restorer of the discovery of India, to which such Scottish monarchy, being out one great advances had been made by day reconnoitring the enemy, lay Prince Henry of Portugal, was, at night in a barn belonging to a thirty-four years after his death, loyal cottager. In the morning, accomplished through the heroic still reclining his head on the pil-intrepidity of the illustrious Vasco low of straw, he beheld a spider de Gama. The voyage of Gama climbing up a beam of the roof. has been called merely a coasting The insect fell to the ground, but one, and therefore much less danimmediately made a second essay gerous and heroical than that of to ascend. This attracted the no- Columbus or Magellan. But this, tice of the hero, who with regret it is presumed, is an opinion hassaw the spider fall a second time tily taken up and founded on igfrom the same eminence. It made norance. Columbus and Magellan a third unsuccessful attempt. Not undertook to navigate unknown without a mixture of concern and oceans, and so did Gama, who curiosity, the monarch twelve times stood out to sea for upwards of beheld the insect baffled in its three months' tempestuous weather aim; but the thirteenth essay was in order to double the Cape of crowned with success-it gained Good Hope, hitherto deemed imthe summit of the barn; when the passable. The tempests which afKing, starting from his couch, ex- flicted Columbus and Magellan claimed, "This despicable insect are described by their different has taught me perseverance! I historians as far less tremendous will follow its example; have I not than those which attacked Gama. been twelve times defeated by the From every circumstance, it is enemy's superior force? On one evident that Gama had determined fight more hangs the independence not to return unless he discovered of my country." In a few days India. Nothing less than such a his anticipations were fully real- resolution to perish, or attain his ised by the glorious result to Scot-point, could have led him on. It land of the battle of Bannockburn. was this resolution which inspired