fane traffic, Luther would scarcely have been heard of beyond the walls of Wittemburg; for that he continued faithful in his attachment to the Church of Rome, even after his Remonstrance, and Theses against the errors of Popery, there can be no doubt; but providentially, the impolitic rashness of Leo, and the frantic. violence of Tetzel, drove him to a more determined resistance, and afterwards led him to examine more severely all the other questionable

points of Romish faith and discipline. 1520. Accordingly he published, in 1520, his "Tract against the Popedom," in which, it has been well observed, he draws the sword; and then his "Babylonish Captivity," in which he throws away the scabbard. An open rupture was the consequence, which the violent and imperious conduct of Cardinal Cajetan was little calculated to heal. The thunders of Rome were already heard in the distance-a bull was issued condemnatory of his doctrines, consigning his books to the flames, and denouncing the severest punishments against himself and followers. This bull Luther publicly burnt, and

appealed to a general council. A diet 1521. was held at Worms the following year,

before which the Reformer pleaded his cause against the Pope's nuncio. He was, however, condemned, and would have suffered as a heretic, but for the powerful support he received

from Frederic, the Elector of Saxony. The Reformation, however, still advanced, and Luther and Melancthon in Germany, and Ulric Zuinglius in Switzerland, continued to fan the flame. which all the power of Rome was unable to extinguish. In 1529, at the famous Diet of Spire, the Reformers and their followers acquired the name of "Protestants," by their protesting against a violent decree which declared unlawful all changes in doctrine or worship which should be introduced previous to the decision of a general council. And in the year following, at the Diet of Augsburg, they presented their 1530. celebrated Confession of Faith, drawn up by the learned Melancthon, in which it was made to appear that the differences between Protestants and the Church of Rome were so many, and of such vital importance, that all hopes of reconciliation were at an end. Decrees, as usual, were passed at this diet against the Protestants, which had no other effect than that of uniting them more closely together for the purpose of mutual defence.

The year, therefore, had not closed when they assembled at Smalcald, and entered into a solemn league for the maintainance of their religious liberties, hence known by the name of the League of Smalcald. The Emperor, influenced by their determined carriage, concluded shortly after a treaty of peace with them 1592.

at Nuremburg, revoked the decrees of Worms and Augsburg, and left them to the full enjoyment of their religious emancipation. Thus the seed which our own Wickliffe sowed 150 years before, found a kindred soil in the fairest realms of Popery. Let us see how it returned in ample measure to bear an abundant crop on British soil.

CHAPTER VI.

Christianity, that pearl of great price, was hid with trash and filth, which the Romish Church had heaped upon it: our Reformers removed only what loaded and obscured it, and restored it to its first beauty and lustre."

THE proceedings of the German Reformers were watched with the most anxious attention by that portion of the people of England whose minds were imbued with the like spirit, and who only waited for an opportunity to throw off that yoke which neither "they nor their fathers could bear." The bold and heroic stand made by Luther and his followers, against the tyranny of Rome, was not therefore thrown away-his name was on every tongue-his writings, together with those of Huss, Zuingle, Melancthon, and others, were eagerly sought after, and as eagerly read. Tracts, with popular titles, such as "A Booke of the

Old God and New," "The Burying of the Masse," &c., were industriously dispersed among the people. Tindall's Translation of the New Testament also was now widely circulated: and though it was condemned by Lord Chancellor More, a bitter enemy of the Reformers, and many copies of it were burnt at Paul's-cross by Bishop Tonstall, it was nevertheless multiplied by foreign reprint, everywhere circulated, and greedily read. In vain were proclamations issued, and laws enacted against heretical books -in vain was the sharpest espionage resorted to-in vain were the fires kindled at Smithfield and the Lollards' Pit, and the utmost refinement in cruelty practised in the burnings that there took place. It was now beyond the power of man to curb the spirit of resistance that was rising in the majesty of its omnipotence against the whole system of Romanism—a higher hand was directing the destinies of England, and was "turning the fierceness of man to its own praise."

Little could it have been expected that Henry VIII., a proud tyrant, a gross profligate, and a zealous Papist, was to be the instrument for effecting the mighty work-little could it have been anticipated that the very man who acquired the title of "Defender of the Faith" for his spirited attack on Luther, should become the champion of the Church of England-and still less credible was it that the very method adopted by the Pope