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on his journey home, and to secure These proceedings excited much a safe retreat for him. This was agitation at Wittenberg. Philip accomplished by means of armed Melanchthon and Justus Jonas, to horsemen, meeting him in a forest, whom alone the abode of Dr. Luwho forced him out of the carriage, ther was known, gave him inforplaced him on a horse, and hurried mation of what had taken place. with him to a castle named Wart- Luther did not hesitate, although burg. There he was disguised still in that state of great danger under the dress of a knight, a as to his life, in which he had been strange name being given him. placed by the declaration of baThus he remained concealed for nishment" pronounced against him, the space of nine months, nobody he quickly ventured forth to Witknowing what was become of Dr. tenberg in the garb of a knight, Luther. Yet the work of the Re- and speedily succeeded in restorformation was not hereby stopped. ing order and peace. For some No; that great cause was evidently time he kept himself concealed, advancing, for nothing can prevent but soon resumed his occupations; the accomplishment of whatsoever he taught, he put to print his transGod is pleased to foster. Dr. lated Bible, and he introduced a Luther here commenced the great better arrangement into the Chriswork of translating the Bible into tian service of God, with a view the German language; he also to a greater degree of edification. wrote many other good books, This was presently followed up by whilst his colleagues at Wittenberg similar changes at other places, were actively engaged in bringing and thus the work of reformaabout a salutary change at that tion succeeded in spite of all opplace. Many abuses were abo-position and persecution. The lished, a better style of preaching Prince Elector himself now dewas introduced, the holy sacra-clared, "This is the work of God ment of the Lord's Supper admi- whom no man can resist." In the nistered in a manner more consist-year 1524, Dr. Luther discontinued ent with the edification of the wearing the dress of a monk, and people, besides other improvements in the year following he was mareffected; and thus the Reforma- ried to Catharine von Bora, who tion was advancing at Wittenberg, even during Dr. Luther's absence.

Pretend not, feeble man, t'impede

had formerly been a nun. In the same year the Prince Elector of Saxony died, and was succeeded. The progress of the work of grace; in the government by his brother God's great design shall still succeed, John, a Prince of the same princiTo bless and save our fallen race. ples of piety, and who upheld the The zeal, however, with which reformed church and its doctrine. the men in the case before us, pro- In 1528, the reformation was spread secuted their good work, was very through the whole of the princinigh made the cause of a danger-pality of Saxony. In the followous crisis. They proceeded too ing year, at the Diet held at Speyer, hastily, perhaps, to abolish rites the Emperor ordained that the reand practices, which, from the want of more light in religious matters at that time, were still held sacred by many; they quickly removed all images from the churches.

formed religion should no where be received; against which, however, the Princes protested, declaring they could not, consistently with their own consciences, obey that order, and they were there

fore named Protestants; though to die in that faith which he had they are more properly called Evan- confessed whilst he lived, he regelical Christians. In the year plied: "Yes, yes," and fell asleep His remains were con 1530, a Diet was called by the in peace.

Emperor at Augsburg, at which veyed from Eisleben to Wittenberg, those of evangelical sentiments and there interred in the Palace delivered a confession of their Church, a funeral sermon being faith, which has since been called preached from 1 Thess. iv. 13-18. It was "But I would not have you to be the Augsburg Confession. drawn up by Philip Melanchthon, ignorant brethren, concerning them and approved by Dr. Luther. It which are asleep, that ye sorrow was read aloud at the Diet, and not, even as others which have no then handed to the Emperor. Most hope. For if we believe that Jesus European countries soon followed, died and rose again, even so them in embracing the Reformation, and also which sleep in Jesus will God For this we say at last in the year 1532, the Em- bring with him. peror's full permission was given for the reformed to teach and preach the Gospel, and to live agrecably to its precepts.

Thus the victory was gained; God having wonderfully caused all the craft and cunning of the evil disposed to come to nought, and the truth to prevail, the lives of its promoters being mercifully preserved.

This victory the great hero of the faith lived to see, he being spared till the year 1546, the 18th February, when, having attained to the 63d year of a life replete with glorious deeds he died in peace at Eisleben, full of hope and confidence in that God, who had so wonderfully sustained and protected him.

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unto you, by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then ́ we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

WE have no disposition to decline the accustomed salutation of the He was heard frequently, on the present season: for whether we last day of his life, to utter the fol- wish happiness to others, or delowing prayer: "Father, into thy sire it for ourselves, Christian prinhands I commend my spirit; thou ciples are alike favourable to our hast redeemed me, Oh Lord, thou design; their genuine influence is, God of truth and faithfulness." not only to produce "glory to Being asked immediately before God in the highest," but "peace he expired, whether he was willing on earth and good will towards

men."

It may, indeed, be said, that It is remarkable after all the hazards to these familiar salutations being gewhich the life of this great reformer had been exposed by his intrepidity, that henerally words of course, and emdied in the town where he was born, in the ploved without reflection, convey no definite meaning, and produce no lasting impression. Perhaps

house of the Earl of Mansfield. "Man is immortal till his hour is come."

so; yet before we abandon the | it surely ought not to be urged as courtesies of ordinary life, we should an argument for their omission; like to be informed what is pro- but merely as suggesting the proposed to repair, in our common priety of endeavouring to render parlance, the loss which would them more effective by an increasbe sustained by their withdraw-ed exercise of thought and earnestness when the opportunity for their mutual application recurs.

ment.

We by no means intend to advocate the cause of mere expletives, much less to defend the practice of insincerity; but we are also unwilling to become the patrons of incivility, or to countenance a system which, though it might effectually banish ceremony from our social intercourse, and restrain the spontaneous expression of kind feeling, would present no barrier to the intrusion of a repulsive coarseness, nor supply any connecting link by which the almost instinctive utterance of the lips, may be associated with the natural sympathy of the heart.

Indeed, while such a change would be obviously for the worse as to our manners, it is not at all certain it would be attended with any improvement of our morals; there being no necessary connection between the absence of politeness and the existence of moral excellence.

To desire that whatever impedes the attainment of happiness may be removed-that whatever contributes to it may be conferredand that the new date may be distinguished beyond any former period by its possession, is to wish for " a happy new year.”

It must, indeed, be confessed that personal afflictions, domestic trials, and commercial embarrassments, greatly imbitter the cup of human life; yet, if the heart be eminently under the sacred control of Christian principles, and is subdued into a pious submission to the good pleasure of our Heavenly Father; there will remain a source of happiness, which it will not be in the power of these calamitous events materially to affect ; for by its unparalleled influence it is possible to " glory in tribulations ;" and even to "count it all joy when we fall into divers Is there not, however, a desira-temptations." In our desire of ble medium, in regarding which, happiness, therefore, however we we may be equally secured from may be allowed to include the abviolating the acknowledged pre-sence of those distressing visitacepts of good behaviour, and at tions, we should be infinitely more the same time, from neglecting the concerned that a spirit of insuborsuperior obligations of truth and dination to the divine government, honesty? and a constant propensity to seek In reference then, to the saluta- for enjoyment in the paths of distion usually employed at this sea-obedience, may be mercifully reson of the year, it is only for us to pressed, by the continual presence reflect on what a mind imbued and efficient operation of divine with Christian benevolence may be grace. supposed to include in the expression, and adopt it ourselves with a similar comprehensiveness. Should it be objected, that so much as this rarely comes within the contemplation of the persons who exchange these annual civilities,

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Though to be ungrateful for the external comforts and accommodations of life would be highly unbecoming, yet, it ought ever to be recollected that" a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."

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Thanks to thy name for meaner things,
But they are not my God."

unexpected trials, yet a closer walk with God will make this the happiest year we have hitherto lived. How supremely excellent are The nearest approach we can make the sentiments and language of the on earth, to the sublime enjoyprophet! Although the fig tree ments of the heavenly state, conshall not blossom, neither shall sists in habitual communion with fruit be in the vines; the labour God. 66 Truly our fellowship is of the olive shall fail, and the field with the Father, and with his Son shall yield no meat; the flock shall Jesus Christ; and these things write be cut off from the fold, and there we unto you, that your joy may be shall be no herd in the stalls: yet full." Such a state of spiritual feliI will rejoice in the Lord, I will city, too, is inseparably connected joy in the God of my salvation." with thediligent occupation of every If wealth, distinction, and volup-appointed means of instruction, and tuousness secured happiness, then a conscientious endeavour stedgreat numbers who are now mise- fastly to pursue the directions of rable, would long ago have reach-Christian obedience: for, if we ed nearer to its summit. Alas! say we have fellowship with him, how often are these very things, and walk in darkness, we lie, and in the eager pursuit of which the do not the truth. This blessed energies of mortals are so fre- career will be attended with dequently put to their utmost stretch, vout solicitude for the spiritual and the principal cause of their anxious eternal welfare of friends and strandays and of their sleepless nights!gers, those that are nigh, and those "Riches certainly make to them- that are distant; and, as opportuselves wings they fly away as an nity and ability may be imparted, eagle towards heaven"-fame is with cheerful co-operation in every reluctant in its approach and un- liberal plan which the inspirations certain in its continuance, and the of heavenly charity has devised to

pleasures of sense, in more re-bless a fallen and benighted world.

spects than oue, resemble the Thus, living not to ourselves, but crackling of thorns under a pot." to him who "both died, and rose, To solid and lasting happiness it and revived that he might be Lord is essential that the Spirit of God both of the dead and living," we illuminate the understanding, sanc- shall earnestly desire the arrival tify the affections, and regulate of that period when "in every the conduct-the soul must pros-place incense shall be offered to per and be in health. In the ab- his name and a pure offering"sence of these substantial and du- when Jew and Gentile shall meet rable blessings, there may be vi- in the same temple and worship sions and dreams of happiness, but the same Saviour-when the whole they will entirely vanish, leaving earth shall be of one language, and behind nothing but mortifying dis- holiness unto the Lord shall be appointment" an aching void." inscribed on every object. In this "There is no peace, saith my God, manner to commence, and to perto the wicked." severe in conducting the transactions of the new year; receiving every common and special benediction with unfeigned thankfulness, bearing with meekness and resignation the burdens we may

Should, therefore, the new period of time on which we are now entering, be characterized by many external deprivations, and even by the presence of some heavy and

be called to sustain, exercising a generous sympathy to all around us who are in circumstances of depression, and wishing the universal diffusion of happiness in the world, we shall find no year we have yet lived so happy as eighteen hundred and twenty-eight.

HORE EVANGELICE,

Or the Truth of the Scripture History of our Lord Jesus Christ evinced by the Undesigned Coincidences to be found in the Histories of the four Evangelists, when compared with one another, and with the subsequent Books of the New Testament.

fidels of our own day, who have servilely copied their objections.

There is another point of view in which the superlative importance of internal evidence is clearly evinced-its universal adaptation to persons of every rank and character, whether learned or illiterate. It comes home to the judgment and conscience of every man, and leaves infidels of every description without excuse. No transcendent talent, no depth of learning is required to apprehend its nature, and to appreciate its force. The talent required is possessed by every intelligent creature the capability of comparing one thing with anWITHOUT depreciating the value other, and drawing an inference; of the external evidence of the and the only learning requisite, is truth and divine inspiration of the a knowledge of the Sacred ScripScriptures, it may safely be affirm-tures. A man of plain, common ed, that in several respects the in- sense, with the sacred volume in ternal evidence, arising from the his hand, is fully qualified to unsublimity of the doctrines, the pu-derstand and decide on every arrity of the morality, the extraordi-gument which may be adduced nary harmony, and the beneficial respecting its internal evidence. tendency of the whole, possesses Of such a man, if he honestly exan infinite superiority, and is en- amines this evidence, accompanied titled to a greater degree of cre- with humble and fervent dence than the former. for prayer Thus, the illumination of that Spirit by whatever pretences a book may whom the Scriptures claim to be make to authenticity and inspira- indited, it may justly be affirmed, tion, and by whatever weight of in the language of a distinguished external evidence it may be sup- prelate, on a kindred subject, that ported, if it contain immoral pre- "the whole compass of abstruse cepts, or real contradictions, we philosophy, and recondite history, should justly deem them sufficient shall furnish no to invalidate its truth, and to de- which the perverse will of man argument with stroy its pretensions. It is pre-shall be able to shake this learned cisely on this ground that we prove Christian's faith."

the non-inspiration of the Koran Of the various species of interof Mohammed, lofty as are its pre-nal evidence, that which arises tensions, much as it is extolled, from the undesigned coincidences and widely as it is received by the between the sacred books, appears followers of the wily Arab. For the most convincing and satisfacthe same reason, the apparent con-tory, and least liable to objections. tradictions in the Christian Scrip- It was first developed, in the most tures have been a favourite topic able manner, by the late Dr. Paof cavil with the enemies of divine ley, in his Hore Paulina; or revelation, from Spinosa down to the Truth of the Scripture History Voltaire, and the puny herd of in- of St. Paul evinced by a compari

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