their corpses, which they covered in costly garments; and while the clergy who were of the party of Huss exclaimed, "These are the saints who have sealed the testimony with their blood," formed a procession, and interred them in Bethlehem chapel, covering them with aromatics, and reverencing their memory as martyrs *. The magistrates, knowing the unpopularity of their proceeding, published a defence of their motives, and assembling some principal divines, caused them to draw up a censure of forty-five of Wickliffe's propositions, asserting in their preface the authority of the Romish church, and accusing the Hussites of sedition. The Reformer on this occasion had a very difficult part to act. He felt it his paramount duty to protest against the doctrine of indulgences and pardons, but desired that his followers as Christians should be obedient to the civil authorities of their country. He was deeply grieved that his friends should have lost their lives from attachment to him and his cause; and had much ado to convince the nobility and commonalty who were on his side, that the breach of faith on the part of the government would not justify an insurrection. The ecclesiastical dignitaries, not rightly appreciating his conduct, mistook his moderation for fear. They assured the King that now was the time to strike a blow at the Gospellers, panic-struck as they were at the death of some of their ringleaders. Wenceslaus scarcely knew how to proceed amid the contest of parties. He ordered Huss, however, to retire from the city, which injunction he was not unwilling to obey, in hope of promoting the public peace, and choosing rather to attack the prevailing tyranny * Cochlæi Hist. Hussit. L. 1. Fascicu lus Rer. expetund. fol. 149. and superstition by the pen than by the sword. During his retreat at Hussenetz, he composed his celebrated treatise "Upon the Church." There is, he maintains, but one holy, universal, or catholic church, which consists of all the predestinate, and whose head is the Lord Jesus Christ that the Pope and cardinals are simply members of it as others, and that other bishops were successors to the Apostles as well as themselves; and that, in fact, no one is obliged in conscience to obey them if their commands are contrary to the law of God; and that an excommunication which is groundless is altogether nugatory. He also caused a placard to be fixed at his chapel door, charging the clergy with six errors: 1. Of believing that the priest, by saying mass, becomes the creator of his Creator: 2. Of saying, that we ought to believe in the Virgin, the Pope, and the saints: 3. That the priests can remit the pain and guilt of sin: 4. That every one must obey his superiors, whether their commands be just or unjust: 5. That every excommunication binds the excommunicate: 6. That they were guilty of simony. He also wrote several treatises on Tradition, the Unity of the Church, Evangelical Perfection, the Mystery of Iniquity, and the Discoveof Antichrist. ry The citizens and students who were attached to him could ill brook his absence. The people cried out against the chief dignitaries as the authors of his exile, and accused them of scandalous vices. The King made a handle of these accusations to fill his own coffers. Because the reforming party laid it down as a maxim, that "tithes were mere temporal endowments, and might be resumed by the temporal lord when the priest was undeserving," he fined the offending clergy heavily for their immoralities. This measure created fresh confusion, and divided the enemies of Huss among themselves. At length, he was permitted once more to return to the city, and, according to his light and ability, proclaim from his pulpit the truths of the everlasting Gospel. [To be continued.] REJOICING IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD. EYE hath not seen, nor ear hath heard the tale, Come, heralds of my gracious Lord, and say, Where Israel's prophets cease to mourn and weep, There are who love to muse upon the theme, That tells when mould'ring hearts possess the grave, Charm'd with this dream, which flesh alone inspires, And roves in fancy down Arcadian vales, In that blest state where saints and angels dwell, All, all are happy, pure, belov'd, and blest, Through life's rude journey pilgrims sometimes meet, S Their views, and hopes, and fears, and path the same, These, whether friend, or wife, or child we style, A bliss peculiar shall their souls inspire, And friendship's joys shall tune their heav'n-strung lyre. These live when time and worlds have pass'd away! Can ne'er in heaven that heavenly bond forego. Can earth-born conflicts and sweet friendship's ties, Yes; 'midst the bliss of uncreated light Our thoughts shall range, and Mem'ry wing her flight And looks through time, and all life's little day; Again behold them, and with them rejoice; With them once more approach thy Father's throne, Could aught in death my struggling soul assure, RHYMER. THE NEW VILLAGE PASTOR. I READ with much delight the following tale in its original language; perhaps my regard for its author might excite in my heart feelings to which others who peruse it must necessarily be strangers: I hope, however, that it will afford pleasure and edification to every reader. The individual from whose pen it originally proceeded, is the same to whom one of your correspondents has alluded in a narrative entitled, "An Evening Walk in the neighbourhood of Geneva;" and, however uninteresting it may be to others, I cannot close these introductory lines without declaring myself one of a threefold cord which will not, I trust, be quickly broken-the friend of R. T. and of the author of this interesting narrative. We have wept together on earth; and we hope, through the blood of the Lamb, to rejoice together in that kingdom where God shall for ever wipe all tears from our eyes. 1 remain yours, away THE NEW VILLAGE PASTOR. In one of the most delightful valleys of our beloved Switzerland*, is a village well known for stores, Flowers of all hue, and murm'ring waters fall the opulence of its inhabitants, and their justly acquired character of piety and probity. The sabbath is perhaps there more religiously and holily observed, and the name of God more duly reverenced, than among any other people. It is truę that they have enjoyed, through the infinite mercy of the Lord, the unspeakable happiness and blessing of being guided for a long course of years by faithful pastors, by a succession of evangelical men, whose hearts being fully devoted to the Lord Jesus, consecrated their whole lives to the advancement of his kingdom; and so loved the souls of their people as to declare unto them all the truth, and to point to Christ as the only source of blessedness to man. The pastor of this happy parish had returned to his God, to receive the crown of the faithful disciple: and the assembly of the ministers and elders of the canton, after having consulted the flock, had made choice of a new shepherd, whom they had solemnly charged in the name of the Lord to feed, with love and devotedness, that portion of the Lord's inherit ance. He was a man of about twentyseven years of age, who for a considerable period had been devoted to Christ; one full of that living faith which takes up its habitation in the heart, and becomes there the source of all that the Christian is able both to undertake and to do up for The expression in the original is," de notre Suisse." Those only who have seen that beauteous country, that "Happy rural seat of various views, Where the irriguous valley spreads her for his Redeemer. Trained his labours in the church of under the guidance of faithful servants of the Lord Jesus, he had derived from the treasures of their true piety the sentiments by which he was animated; and his life appeared to belong only to Him who had redeemed it, and without an interest in whom the soul of man Down the slope hills dispers'd, or in a lake, That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams," PARADISE LOST, Bk. iv. can know the feelings of its inhabitants when they say, "notre Suisse." must sink into irretrievable misery and ruin. On the day which preceded the sabbath, he set out to enter upon the charge of his flock. His true friends, Christians like himself, had assembled; and after having entreated for him in fervent prayer, the gift of the Spirit of Christ, they had thus addressed him: "Go, Ŏ our brother, go whither the Saviour sends you! Declare the Gospel*: be not ashamed of the cross; and may the Lord open unto you the door, that you may proclaim the mystery of Christ! Go, man of God! our prayers shall follow you, and shall fight for you."-" Amen," said the pastor, and began his way towards his new abode. To reach it, it was necessary to pass over a mountain which encloses the valley on the south. As he slowly ascended it, he retraced in his heart, as in the sight of his God, the multiplied duties of the Minister of the Gospel. The office of an ambassador of Christ, which he was going to fill-that repentance to which he was to direct his fellow men-that mystery of love and grace which he was to make known unto them-that salvation by the cross of the Son of God, which he was going to publish in the midst of the opposition which the heart of man has always manifested against it—that great * The French is, in this instance, very expressive, "évangélisez les ames;" literally, evangelize souls." There is a similar expression in the Greek, in our Saviour's commission to his disciples, Matt. xxviii. 19, “ μαθητεύσατε παντα τα έθνη;” translated, “teach all nations," but literally, "disciple all nations." Henry's remark on this passage is so valuable, and so much in unison with the spirit of the narrative, that I need not apologize for introducing it. "MaInlevσale-admit them disciples; do your utmost to make the nations Christian nations: not, Go to the nations and denounce the judgments of God against them, as Jonah against Nineveh, and as the other Old Testament Prophets (though they had. reason enough to expect it from their wickedness), but, Go and disciple them. work of awakening souls upon pray! O unite in prayer, that 'God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ.'" (Col. iv. 3.) Then sitting down, he began to reflect upon the object of his mission, and especially on the duty of the Minister of the Word. Happy the man who feels like the pastor represented in this narrative. May I be excused for calling the attention of the reader more particularly to this important allusion to the necessity of divine support? Much, doubtless, of the want of success in Ministers, especially young Ministers of piety, arises, is it not to be feared, from undervaluing the only source from which our sufficiency proceeds? If this should meet the eye of any who are conscious that they have too much depended on themselves, and whose labour has been but too ineffectual, let it stimulate them henceforth to fix their dependence more wholly and simply on the power and grace of Christ. Should it also meet the eye of one who, on entering into a most important sphere of ministerial duty, lately edified his people with a discourse from the Apostle's words, 2 Cor. i. 16, I would take this opportunity to beg of him, as his leisure moments permit, to resume his contributions to your Publication, that not only we amongst whom he resides, but your readers also, may be edified by his labours. |