also is a pure fabrication. The assertion rests on no evidence whatever. The Reformers openly and continually declared that they were following implicitly the guidance of the Word of God; and there is no reason why the sincerity of these declarations should be called in question. Dr Wordsworth, in Theophilus Anglicanus '-used as a textbook for students (Ed. 1863, p. 105)-gives most of the passages handed down from the days of Bancroft and Durel, endeavouring to prove that the Reformers were forced into Presbyterianism against their real convictions of the scriptural authority of Prelacy. Thus from Melancthon's apology for the Augsburg Confession :— 'We are exceedingly anxious to preserve the ecclesiastical polity and the orders in the Church, ALTHOUGH APPOINTED BY HUMAN AUTHORITY. For we know that this Church polity was ESTABLISHED BY THE FATHERS in the way that the ancient canons describe with a good and useful design.' Melancthon then throws the blame of overthrowing this established order upon the Romanists, asserting that the other side were willing to yield. the bishops their jurisdiction, 'if they would only cease to rage against our churches.' This quotation, with the words in capitals left out, was recently quoted by the Rev. Mr Chadwick, a prelatist in Belfast, as if (1.) it were part of the Augsburg Confession, instead of the apology, and (2.) as if it expressed the real views of John Calvin, who signed the confession. He also tried by the same process to pervert the words of Beza, but has been admirably exposed by Dr Watts. Beza, after quoting from Nazianzen, a Greek Father of the fourth century, an important testimony against Prelacy, adds:'I wish that it were again and again weighed by those who rightly condemn the abuse of that authority and desire its reformation, but yet conceive that those grades are to be retained in the Church, to whom I will then yield when they show one man absolutely free from all ambition, or a sure method of restraining those who are ambitious.' Calvin, it is true, was moderator of the Presbytery of Geneva as long as he lived. One good reason was that no other would take the chair when he was present. After his decease Beza declined to have a similar mark of respect paid to him. He insisted that the practice of having a constant moderator should be abandoned, as likely to lead to injurious consequences. Experience has amply testified that the tendency of such an arrangement is to introduce a proper Prelacy. Garbled extracts, apart from their real meaning, are also quoted from Calvin, or those in which the words Episcopus or Episcopate are used in their scriptural sense, to make an appearance of support to the Prelatic assertion. Calvin's own declaration is unmistakeable :-' In that I call these who rule the churches bishops, presbyters, pastors, ministers, indifferently, I do so according to the usage of Scripture, which employs these terms as synonymous, giving the title of bishop to all who discharge the ministry of the Word' (Instit. lib. iv. cap. iii. 8). In reference to Melancthon's apology, it should be remembered that, overwhelmed with danger to the Protestant cause; that Reformer was far too ready to make any concession for the sake of peace. Considering both the place and jurisdiction of bishops to be of human appointment, he was ready to concede not only bishops but the supremacy of the Pope, jure humano— if only the gospel were safe-as if such a thing could possibly be. So acting, he was a thorn in Luther's side, who wrote-'I have received your apology, and wonder what you mean by wishing to know what and how much you may yield to the Papists. For my part, I hold that there is only too much yielded to them already in the apology.' § 4. PRESENT CONDITION OF SWITZERLAND. All Christian sects are tolerated, but the order of the Jesuits is vigorously excluded from every part of the Republic.' The government of the Protestant Church, Calvinistic in principle and Presbyterian in form, is under the supervision of the magistrates of the various cantons, to whom is also entrusted, in the Protestant districts, the superintendence of public instruction. Education is very widely diffused, particularly in the north-eastern cantons. of Switzerland is divided into twenty-two cantons, three of which are subdivided. In 1870 it had a population 2,266,095, of whom Roman Catholics form two-fifths, and Protestants three-fifths, the number of other sects and Jews being about 5000 each. The number of the Reformed was 1,567,003-an increase of 149,087 since 1850. The Council of Neuchâtel, in Switzerland, has, by a majority of a single vote, decreed the complete separation within the canton of Church and State. The worst article in the constitution of 1848, which expressly reserved 'the spiritual supremacy of the State' in all matters, was abolished in 1858. In its stead it was enacted that the administration of the Church in all matters spiritual belongs exclusively to the synod.' But then the acts of the synod, whatever they were, required to be countersigned by the Council of State-in cases of suspension and deposition of ministers, there lay an appeal to the civil powers -and, to complete all, it was expressly provided that all disputes about the meaning or application of the constitution were to be absolutely settled by the civil courts. The income derived from ecclesiastical property (for there is to be no confiscation or secu larization of the endowments) will be paid over each year to the representatives of the churches and parishes to which that property respectively belongs; the glebe houses will be appropriated, as before, as dwellings for the clergy, and the churches will be at the command of the various religious communities for the celebration of public worship, the majority in each district having first choice of the hours of service. How will this work? It is said that, among these cantonal churches, there exists a complete and open apostasy from the doctrines of the Reformation, so that it is feared the evangelical members will be obliged to secede; but there is little discipline exercised, as they have no proper elders, and every native being entitled to membership. QUESTIONS. 1. What testifies that God's Spirit brought about the Reformation? 2. Give an account of Zwingle's life, labours, opinions, and death. 3. Prove that Calvin did not invent this polity, and show what his great work in connection with it was. 4. Expose the artful practices of prelatists; name some who have endeavoured to promote this mode of controversy, and refute some of their assertions. 5. What is the present condition of the Swiss Churches? CHAPTER VI. FRANCE AND REFORMATION. "The medal, faithful to its charge of fame, § 1. PROGRESS AMIDST PERSECUTION. THE Sorbonne, or University of Paris, condemned Luther and his works in 1521 as insolent and blasphemous. Two years later, multitudes throughout the provinces were opposed to the doctrines and practices of Rome. The first evangelical Church formed was at Meaux. Bishop Brissonet permitted this to be accomplished by the labours of a few men, specially elevated by the hand of God. These were James le Fèvre, William Farell, and General Roussel. But in 1533, Parliament ordered an investigation. Then Brissonet drew back, the Reformed opinions were condemned, and the disciples were dispersed to sow the seeds of the kingdom throughout the French provinces. One of the Meaux preachers, John le Clerc, in denouncing indulgences, represented the Pope as Antichrist. For this he was brought to receive the martyr's crown. Not only was he beaten, he was also branded with a hot iron. Fleeing to Metz, there at length he expired. Frances I., the king, was for a time inclined to listen to Margaret, his sister, the Queen of Navarre. Embracing the Reformed religion, she earnestly desired that Melancthon should be invited to come and reside in France. The king, however, only favoured the Reformed, when thereby he could inflict a chastisement upon his enemy, Charles V. So soon as, by the labours of pious men, religious societies increased, and some commotions occurring, he protected the Papacy. Calvin sought shelter in Geneva, Le Fèvre and Roussel at Navarre. Bearne and Guienne became full of evangelical Christians. Margaret was rebuked, and ordered by Francis to proceed no further in this direction. The Queen promised to stop if the following practices were adopted :-viz., that there should be(1.) No private masses; (2.) No elevation or (3.) worship of the host; (4.) Communion in both kinds; (5.) No adoration of Mary, or the saints; (6.) Common bread in the Supper; and (7.) No compulsion of celibacy in priests. These requests were refused, and the sword was unsheathed. About the year 1534, the blood of the Protestants flowed throughout the country, atrocities being greatest in the mountains of Provence. Cardinal Tournon was the instigator, but the King consented to these bloody deeds. He was filled with remorse, and professed to repent, and from his bed of death exhorted his son to act a different part. This advice was disregarded by Henry II. The Huguenots, as they were contemptuously called by their enemies, experienced greater sufferings. From 1547 to 1559 persecution was most determined and unsparing, estates and books were confiscated, and very many imprisoned and put to death. The Parliament, however, refused to ratify the King's decree, that no appeals were to be heard by the civil courts, and that all magistrates must execute the orders of the ecclesiastical. Henry II. died of a wound in the eye, received at a tilting match, and was succeeded in 1559 by Francis II., husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Young and feeble, he was used as a tool by the princes of Guise. The Prince of Condé they condemned to death; but they were arrested by the death of Francis, and the ascension of Charles IX. Charles being yet a child, a triumvirate was formed, and Protestant worship declared to be unlawful in 1561. The queen-mother, Catherine de Medicis, for party purposes, acted for a time as |