completely reformed (which before had been but partially attempted) after the temperate system of Luther, and not after the plan of subversion, rather than of reformation, which Calvin had recently exhibited at Geneva (7). Nor were any alterations of importance, one point alone excepted, made at their subsequent revision. At the same period also, the first book of Homilies was composed; which, although equally Lutheran, yet containing nothing upon the subject of the Sacramental presence, has remained without the slightest emendation to the present day. The benefit of Melancthon's personal services was again and again solicited; but they seem to have been too highly valued at home to be transplanted into a foreign country (3). Another circumstance likewise, which seems to have been little noticed, no less directly proves the favourite quarter, to which our Reformers looked for information. Cranmer, who had never concealed the bias of his sentiments, now more openly and generally avowed them. He translated a Lutheran Catechism, which he edited in his own name, dedicated to the King, and recommended in the strongest terms, as a trea

tise admirably adapted to improve the principles, as well as morals, of the rising generation (9).

The opinions therefore of the Primate were at this time perfectly Lutheran; and although he afterwards changed them in one single point, in other respects they remained unaltered. And it should be recollected, that he it was, who principally conducted our Reformation from its earliest commencement under Henry to its termination in the reign of Edward, exerting his influence over the mind of the former, and his credit in the councils of the latter, to effect that which it was the prayer of his heart, and the pride of his life, to behold advancing towards perfection. Almost the whole merit of our ecclesiastical renovation must be imputed to him, who, stilling the chaos of theological contention, produced harmony from discord, and beauty from deformity. To ascertain his peculiar attachments is to ascertain those of the Reformation; for under his direction, and with much of his individual aid, were prepared the Offices of our Church and the Articles of her Creed.

If his conduct, connexions, and writings are duly considered, little doubt will exist

C

with regard to the tendency of his principles; nor ought his zeal for Lutheranism to be deemed questionable, because he patronized talents, wherever he found them, and respected good men of all persuasions. For his views were enlarged and liberal beyond his times; his heart and his purse were open to ability of every description : nor, although a strenuous advocate of truth, was he ever uncharitably and inflexibly severe towards those who persisted in error, but exercised on all occasions a patience and forbearance, which his very enemies applauded, but which few of his friends were disposed to imitate. Actuated by a conviction, that what he advanced in the cause of Christianity, his conscience, as he energetically expressed himself, would be "able to defend at the great day in the sight of the everliving God," (10) he was by no means wavering and unsteady in his sentiments; yet at the same time, experiencing how reluctantly the human mind relinquished inveterate habits, he felt compassion instead of resentment for the prejudices of Papists, relieving them by his bounty when distressed, and honouring them with his friendship when deserving it. Towards Protestants, as might have been expected,

his munificence was unlimited. Neither was he scrupulously solicitous to discriminate between those, who supported different tenets on inferior points: to Zuinglians no less than Lutherans, uncharitable towards each other, his hand was incessantly extended, and his house afforded a common asylum in calamity.

But whatsoever we may conceive his principles to have been, it should be remarked, that a writer of eminence seems to withhold from them no small share of supposed public influence, by representing him as having been incapable of displaying them with ability. The principal Historian of our Reformation asserts, that he possessed no great quickness of apprehension, nor any closeness of style, which was diffused and unconnected; and that, conscious of his deficiencies, he borrowed the assistance of a more able pen, when any thing was to be drawn up, which required nervous composition ("). This censure, which, if just, would considerably diminish the importance of his aid in the compilation as well of our Articles, as of our Homilies and Liturgy, were it less allied to my subject than it really is, the love of truth and a due regard to the memory of one, who

has endeared his name to every true Protestant, would not suffer me to pass by wholly unnoticed.

If we consult the testimony of his contemporaries, with the exception of such only as was given by those, who wrote from party spirit, and experienced an interest in misrepresenting him, we shall find, that he was never reputed to be deficient in quickness of apprehension; but, on the other hand, that his parts and acquisitions were deservedly held in the highest estimation (12). Yet even this is unnecessary. Let us but examine with impartiality his celebrated work upon the Sacrament, and all further enquiry will prove superfluous. In this production the great stores of theological literature, with which his capacious mind was enriched, were exhibited in a manner, which places his reasoning powers in the most conspicuous light; which proves, that the clearness of his conception, his acuteness in discrimination, and his address in argument, were equal to the extent of his information; and that, distinguished by an unsophisticated regard for truth, he possessed the singular faculty of persuading without any apparent attempt to persuade, and without art by candour alone of enforcing conviction.