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ed, (concerning which Calvin uttered not a sentiment, except as he strove to mitigate the kind of death,) he sent for Calvin two hours before his execution, and begged his pardon.

"Calvin, in reply, told him, that he had never thought of revenging himself on him for any personal injuries; and admonished him with all mildness; reminding him that sixteen years before he had endeavoured, even at the risk of his own life, to reclaim him, and that it had not been through his fault that Servetus had not by repentance been restored to the friendship of all religious persons.' After this, Calvin added, he had treated with him in private correspondence, without wishing to draw public attention, to the same purport; and had omitted no office of kindness, till, irritated by his faithful reproofs, Servetus had poured forth a torrent of abuse against him. Calvin then exhorted him to seek forgiveness of God; but, finding his admonitions unavailing, he desisted and withdrew."-pp. 427, 428.

And what were the prevailing sentiments of the best and holiest, the most humane and moderate men, at the time when it occurred? The gentle Melancthon expressed surprise that any objection should be raised. Bucer, Bullinger, Farel, Viret, Peter Martyr, and Beza were of the same mind; nor does it appear that one dissentient voice was raised against the proceeding by any except one personal and avowed foe of our Reformer. No apology was ever deemed necessary; and his bitterest enemies, Bolsec and Maimbourg, bring no charge against him on that head.

We cannot then but consider the case as settled for ever; and we rank Mr. Scott's impartial examination of it, as one of the most important services which he has rendered to the Christian world. The of Calvin, and the prevaage lent state of the laws in that age, as it respects toleration, we again condemn as loudly as any of his bitterest calumniators; but to judge fairly of Calvin's personal conduct, we ought to place ourselves in the circumstances of the age in which

he lived, before the intolerant notions which the Reformers had imbibed from the persecuting church in which they were educated, were shaken off. It is impossible to justify or palliate the deed; it would be revolting to every feeling of humanity and religion to do so; but Calvin's conduct we believe to have been thoroughly conscientious, and, according to his own full conviction, salutary and Christian. Would it be equitable to visit on Judge Hale, or any other individual, the moral guilt of those inflictions of severity upon supposed witches and wizards, which we now know to have been fearfully barbarous and cruel; but which at the time were considered wise and just, as well as legal visitations? Why then visit upon Calvin what belonged not fairly to the individual, but to the age?

We now hasten to the instructive narrative of the closing days of this eminent man, in which there is a remarkable union of the deepest piety, genuine lowliness of heart, fervent love for the brethren, zeal for the glory of God, and anxiety to improve every moment of existing life, to the welfare of survivors. We know of no case on record of a more distinguished person conducting himself in a more dignified, consistent, and wise manner. It will be more satisfactory to quote rather than abridge: and if our extracts are long, our readers will require no apology at our hands.

"Amid all the sufferings under which he languished for three months, we are told not an impatient word escaped him. Sometimes he would direct his eyes upwards, and simply say, 'How long, O Lord? a phrase which during his health he had often had on his lips when he received tidings of the calamities of his brethren, or reflected on the oppressions of the church or he would repeat the words of David, 'I held my peace because Thou didst it or those of Isaiah, 'I did mourn as a dove.' And again he was overheard saying, 'Thou bruisest me, O Lord, but it

amply suffices me that it is Thy hand.' Still he persisted in dictating and writing as he was able, and, when entreated by his friends to forbear, he replied, 'Would you have my Lord find me idle when he cometh?' What a triumph was here exhibited, not only of mind over matter, but still more of pious zeal over the demands of nature for repose.

"On the 10th of March, his brother ministers coming to him, as they frequently did, found him sitting at the table at which he was accustomed to study. He sat silent for a short time, resting his head on his hand, as his manner was when thinking; and then, with a kind and cheerful countenance, he warmly thanked them for all their attentions to him, and told them he still hoped at a fortnight's end (when the stated time recurred,) to meet them in the consistory, but for the last time; for by that period, said he, 'I think the Lord will manifest his pleasure concerning me, and will probably take me to himself.' He accordingly did attend the consistory on the 23d of March; and when the business was over he observed, that some further continuance seemed to be appointed for him. He then took up a French Testament with notes, which he was correcting, and asked his brethren's opinion on some points. He suffered however for this exertion. On the 27th, having a new regent or tutor to propose for the college, he caused himself to be carried to the senate-house, and being supported by his friends walked into the hall; when uncovering his head he returned thanks to the senate for all the kindness they had shown him, especially during his illness. With a faultering

voice he then added: 'I think I have entered this house for the last time:' and took his leave, tears being shed on both sides. On the 2d of April, which was Easter day, he was carried to church, and received the sacrament from the hands of Beza, joining in the hymn with such an expression of joy in his countenance as attracted the notice of the congregation. On the 25th, he sent for a notary and dictated his will, which he signed, and the next day caused to be read over to Beza and the other ministers, and attested by them in his presence."-pp. 473–475.

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"After having thus despatched the business of his will, Calvin sent to inform the syndics and all the members of the senate,' that he wished once more to address them in their hall, whither he hoped the next day to be carried for the purpose. They begged him to have regard to what his health would bear, and promised to attend him at his own house. Accordingly they 'all' came to him the next day 'from the senate-house.' After mutual salutations, and an apology on his part for bringing them to wait upon him instead of his

waiting upon them, he proceeded to address them to a purport which he had for some time wished to do, but had chosen to defer till he had a sure foresight of his approaching dissolution. He renewed his thanks for the great kindness he had experienced from them, the honours they had conferred on him, and the forbearance they had manifested towards his infirmities, particularly his vehemence,' which he confessed had 'sometimes exceeded due bounds.' He was bound to acknowledge, he said, that God had been pleased to employ him in rendering them some service, and in his heart he had been ever devoted to their republic; but he was conscious of his many deficiencies. Where he had failed he hoped they would forgive him, and impute it to his want of ability rather than his want of will to serve them: and he trusted that God had pardoned all his offences. With respect however to his doctrine, he could solemnly declare that he had not taught rashly and uncertainly, but had delivered purely and sincerely the word of God with which he was put in trust. Had he done otherwise, he must have been as much assured of God's anger impending over him, as he now was that his labours as a teacher had not been unacceptable to the Divine Majesty. 'And this,' said he, 'I am the more anxious to testify, because I cannot doubt that Satan, as his practice is, will raise up heady, light-minded, ungodly men to corrupt the sound doctrine which you have heard from me.'"-pp. 478–480.

He

"Again I pray you to pardon all my infirmities, which I acknowledge and confess before God and his angels, and here before you, my venerable lords.' prayed Almighty God to shower down upon them more abundantly the gifts of his grace and good providence, and by his Holy Spirit to direct all their consultations to the good of the whole republic. He then shook hands with each of them, and they took their leave of him with tears, parting from him as from a common parent.'

"The following day (April 28,) by his desire all the ministers under the jurisdiction of Geneva came to him, and he addressed them to the following effect: 'Stand fast, my brethren, after my decease, in the work on which you have entered, and let not your hearts fail you, for the Lord will preserve this church and republic against all its enemies. Far from you be all discords among yourselves: embrace one another in mutual charity. Think what you owe to this church, in which the Lord hath stationed_you, and desert it not.

When first I came to this city, the Gospel indeed was preached, but every thing was in disorder-as if Christianity had consisted in nothing else than the overturning of images. Not a

few wicked men were found in the church, from whom I suffered much shameful treatment; but the Lord our God so strengthened me, even me who am by nature far from bold, (I here speak what is the fact,) that I yielded to none of their attempts. I afterwards returned thither from Strasburg, in obedience to a call which was against my inclination because I thought it tended not to usefulness: for I knew not what the Lord had appointed; and the situation was full of most serious difficulties. But, proceeding in my work, I found at length that the Lord had really blessed my labours. Do you therefore also persist in your vocation: uphold the established order: and see that the people be at the same time retained in obedience to the doctrine delivered to them: for some are yet wicked and contumacious. Things, as you see, are now not ill settled on which account you will be the more criminal before God if by your neglect they are suffered to go to decay.-I avow that I have lived united with you, brethren, in the strictest bonds of true and sincere affection: and I take my leave of you with the same feelings. If you have at any time found me harsh or peevish under my affliction, I entreat your forgiveness.' He then returned them his warmest thanks for having taken upon them the burden of his duties, while he was unable to discharge them; shook hands with them all; and we took leave of him,' says Beza, with sad hearts, and by no means with dry eyes.'

"On the second of May, having received a letter from Farel, (now an old man of seventy-five, and in infirm health,) stating that he had determined to come to see him from Neuchatel, he wrote to him the following brief and affectionate reply; 'Farewell, my best and most faithful brother! and, since it is God's pleasure that you should survive me in this world, retain the remembrance of our friendship, which has been useful to the church of God, and the fruits of which await us in heaven. Do not expose yourself to fatigue for my sake. I respire with difficulty, and continually expect my breath to fail me; but it is enough that to Christ I both live and die, who to his people in life and death is gain. Again, farewell with the brethren. Geneva, 2d May, 1564.' The good old man, however, came to Geneva according to his purpose, and,

after an interview with his sinking friend returned the next day to Neuchatel.

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"The remainder of his days,' Beza tells us, ' Calvin passed in almost perpetual prayer. His voice indeed was interrupted by the difficulty of his respiration; but his eyes (which to the last retained their brilliancy,) uplifted to heaven, and the expression of his countenance, showed the fervour of his supplications. His doors,' he proceeds, must have stood open day and night, if all had been admitted who from sentiments of duty and affection wished to see him; but, as he could not speak to them, he requested they would testify their regard by praying for him rather than by troubling themselves about seeing him. Often also, though he ever showed himself glad to receive me, he intimated a scruple respecting the interruption thus given to my employments: so thrifty was he of time which ought to be spent in the service of the church.' The 19th of May was the day on which the ministers were again to meet on the affairs of the church, and at this time with special reference to the celebration of the sacrament at Whitsuntide. On these occasions he was accustomed to partake of a friendly meal with them: and he would now have the meeting held and supper prepared at his house. When the time came, he caused himself to be removed from his bed to the room in which they were assembled, and thus briefly addressed them: 'I come to you for the last time, never more to sit down with you at table.' He then offered up a short prayer, took a small portion of food, and conversed with them for a little time in a cheerful manner but before supper was finished, he was obliged to be carried back to his chamber. He looked pleasantly npon his friends as he went out, and said, 'This will not prevent my being present with you in spirit.' He never afterwards left his bed. On the 27th of May, he spoke with less difficulty and in a stronger voice but this was the last effort of nature. At about eight o'clock in the evening the symptoms of dissolution suddenly came on. Beza, who had recently left him, was sent for, and on hastening to the house found that he had expired. He had departed without even a sigh, and in the full possession of his powers to the last."-pp. 481-484.

(To be continued.)

Literary and Philosophical Intelligence, etc.

London contains 30 square miles, and on the north side of the Thames, about 140,000 houses, and 850,000 inhabitants; and on the Southwark side, 50,000 houses, and 350,000 inhabitants; of course a total

of 190,000 houses, and 1,200,000 inhabitants; besides 50,000 strangers. The Thames is 310 yards over at Londonbridge, and 400 yards at Waterloo-bridge.

[graphic][graphic][merged small]

INDIAN ANTIQUITIES.

No. 1 represents an earthen vase, found in digging a cellar, three or four years since, in the town of Wheeling, Virginia. It was first owned by Dr. J. W. Clemens, of that place.

No. 2 represents a bottle made of earthen ware, found in Scott county, Mississippi, twenty feet below the surface of the ground. It is difficult to conjecture to what use this antique bottle was applied. It was most probably used in burial ceremonies, or was in some way connected with superstitious rites. I have seen some ancient Grecian lachrymatories, not very unlike it in figure; and perhaps the aborigines of the west, employed this vessel to gather the tears in honour of the dead. On the upper part of the body of the vessel, there are four representations of the head of some quadruped.

That bottles ornamented with various devices, were sometimes used by our aborigines, for idolatrous purposes, is quite certain, from the one found at Natchez, and now in the cabinet of the American Antiquarian Society, and also from the three-headed bottle, discovered in a mound, on the Cumberland river. These heads are supposed by Mr. Atwater, to represent the three principal idols of India, Brahma, Vishnoo, and Siva. He, therefore, is of opinion, that the authors of our ancient works in the west, originated in Hindostan. These works, we know, are located near our principal rivers. "To the consecrated streams of Hindostan, devotees assembled from all parts of the empire, to worship their gods, and to purify themselves by bathing in their sacred waters. In this country, the sacred places of the aborigines were uniformly on the bank of some river, and who knows, but that the Muskingum, the Scioto, the Miami, the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Mississippi, were once deemed as sacred, and their

No. 2.

banks as thickly settled, and as well cultivated, as are now the Indus, the Ganges, and the Burrampooter." J. G.

Both of these fine relics of ancient art are now in the Lambdin Museum at Pittsburg, Pa.

A particular description of these vases, with some remarks on American antiquities, by Jacob Green, M. D., may be seen in the Cabinet of Natural History, Vol. I. p. 197.

Necessity for Atmospheric Pressure.From experiments made by a barometer, it has been satisfactorily ascertained that the atmosphere presses with a weight of about fifteen pounds on every square inch of the earth's surface, and consequently its pressure upon the body of a middle-sized man is about 14 tons. But immense as is this weight which we carry about upon our shoulders, it is absolutely necessary to human existence. Were it removed, the elastic fluid contained in the finer vessels of men and animals would burst themselves and extinguish life. It is a well attested fact, that persons ascending high mountains, or rising to great elevations in balloons, suffer much from the swelling of their limbs, and violent pains in their heads, stomachs, &c. Acosta, in his relation of a journey among the mountains of Peru, states, that "he and his companions were surprised with such extreme pains of straining and vomiting, not without casting up of blood too, and with so violent a distemper, that they would undoubtedly have died had they remained two or three hours longer in that elevated situation;" and Count Cambeccari, and his companions, who, in 1783, ascended to a great height in a balloon; "found their hands and feet so swelled that it was necessary for a surgeon to make incisions in the skin." These effects are easily accounted for. The atmosphere, near the earth, is much heavier than at a considerable eleva

tion. The blood is constantly struggling to expand, and in the cases abovementioned, the persons ascended to so great a height that the atmospheric pressure was insufficient to counterbalance the pressure of the fluids of the body. When we think of the immense weight which every man supports, and take into view the means provided by an All-wise Creator to prevent fatal consequences,-when we reflect upon the properties of the atmosphere we breathe, and with which we are surrounded, and realize that for the Almighty to extract only one of its constituent parts, would be death to the human species,how forcibly comes home to us the declarations of holy writ, "in Him we live, and move, and have our being." "In His hand is the soul of every thing living, and the breath of all mankind."

Immensity of Creation.-Some astrononomers have computed that there are no less than 75,000,000 of suns in this universe. The fixed stars are all suns, having, like our sun, numerous planets revolving round them. The Solar System, or that to which we belong, has about 30 planets, primary and secondary, belonging to it. The circular field of space which it occupies, is in diameter three thousand six hundred millions of miles, and that which it controls much greater.-That sun which is nearest neighbour to ours is called Sirius, distant from our sun about twentytwo billions of miles. Now, if all the fixed

stars are as distant from each other as Sirius is from our sun; or if our solar system be the average magnitude of all the systems of the 75 millions of suns, what imagination can grasp the immensity of creation! Every sun of the 75 millions, controls a field of space about 10,000,000,000 miles in diameter. Who can survey a plantation containing 75 millions of circular fields, each 10 billions of miles in diameter!-Such, however, is one of the plantations of Him-" who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with a span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance;" he who "sitting upon the orbit of the earth, stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in."

Human Nutrition.-At the Academy of Sciences in Paris, a letter was lately read from M. Roulin, a young physician of eminent ability, in which he vindicated the nutritive properties of gelatine, and pointed out the absolute necessity of salt entering into the regimen of animals upon whom the effect of different elementary substances was to be tried.

As a proof of the manner in which animal strength may be supported, he related

the remarkable fact, that in travelling through some forests in Columbia, in 1825, he and his guides, being entirely without provisions, were compelled to eat five pair of sandals, (made of untanned leather, softened by the damp) and a deer skin apron, which they roasted and masticated. In the latter operation, two hours were occupied in getting through the part of the sole of a sandal. This singular aliment supported their strength, and though the journey which was to have lasted only two days, occupied fourteen, they arrived at its termination in good health. They occasionally eat the core of the palm trees, but found that it sustained their strength much less than a piece of the roasted leather.

A Storm of Mud.-The following account of a natural phenomenon is from the Cosmopolitan, a paper published in Buenos Ayres, dated on the 15th ult.

"On Saturday last, between one and two o'clock, a dense black cloud was observed approaching from the westward. The haste and apparent terror of street passengers at the time, indicated to us the nature of the coming storm, and we turned to behold an object most terrifically sublime. The cloud at first resembled black smoke rolling onwards with indescribable rapidity, driving before it flocks of affrighted birds, screaming in terror at seeming approaching destruction.-In a moment it was over our heads-the sun was hid from us-we were in darkness-utter darkness. We stood before an open window, but, for the space of nearly a minute, could not perceive that it was one. Then was heard a loud peal of thunder, which was immediately succeeded by a shower of "mud," thick mud," and there was light"--the dark veil which enveloped us had been rent, a part falling to the earth, mingled with water. On the reappearance of light, surrounding objects presented themselves in a different colour. The fronts of the houses, which, but a moment before, appeared to our view white as snow, now wore a dingy robe.

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