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things, it determined "That the books to which the designation of apocryphal is given, are of equal authority with those which were received by the Jews and primitive Christians into the sacred canon;-that the traditions handed down from the apostolic age, and preserved in the Church, are entitled to as much regard as the doctrines and precepts which the inspired authors have committed to writing;—that the Latin translation of the scriptures made or revised by St. Jerome, and known by the name of the Vulgate translation, should be read in Churches and appealed to in the schools as authentic and canonical." In the name and pretended authority of the Holy Ghost, anathemas were denounced against all who denied the truth of these declarations.

The Protestants, being persuaded that the emperor, under the cloak of zeal for religion, was laboring to destroy the liberties of Germany, Maurice, elector of Saxony, emboldened by a secret alliance which he had formed with the King of France, and several of the German princes, fell suddenly, with a powerful army, upon the emperor, while he lay at Inspruck, with only a handful of troops, and compelled him to make a treaty of peace with the Protestants, and to promise to assemble a Diet within six months, in which all difficulties should be permanently settled. The Diet, however, did not meet until 1555. It then assembled at Augsburg; and there was concluded the famous Peace of religion, which firmly established the reformation. In this it was provided, "That the Protestants who followed the confession of Augsburg, should be, for the future, considered as entirely exempt from the jurisdiction of the Roman pontiff, and from the authority and superintendence of the bishops; that they were left at perfect liberty to enact laws for themselves; relating to their religious sentiments, discipline and worship; that all the inhabitants of the German empire should be allowed to judge for themselves in religious matters, and to join themselves to that Church, whose doctrine and worship they thought the purest and the most consonant to the spirit of Christianity; and that all those who should injure or persecute any person under religious pretexts, and on account of their opinions, should be declared and proceeded against as public enemies of the empire, invaders of its liberty, and disturbers of its peace."

Through the bold and unremitted efforts of Zuinglius and others, the doctrines of the reformation had gained firm

footing in Switzerland. Zuinglius was a man of genius. He revolted from Rome before he had any intercourse with Luther; but would never probably have dared to attack the Pope as Luther did; or, if he had, have done it as effectually. The Papists early saw his greatness, and endeavored to bribe him with gold. He differed from Luther on many points, and his followers were called Sacramentarians.

In 1525, he was attacked by the Anabaptists. They declared him, as they had Luther, to be wanting in spirituality; called him the old dragon; re-baptized the people in the streets, and made re-baptization the criterion of the visible members of the Church of Christ. Zuinglius confuted them with arguments in a public conference; but they became furious, and ran throngh the streets and cried, "Wo to Zurich! Wo to Zurich! Repent or perish;" and seemed desirous to seal their doctrine with their blood. Finding them excessively riotous, the senate made their profession capital, and one or two suffered death.

The cantons of Berne and Zurich had publicly avowed the reformation. But the other five cantons declared in favor of Rome, and war ensued. Zuinglius was slain in battle 1529, aged 47. Some Catholic soldiers found him in his blood, directed him to pray to the Virgin Mary, and offered to bring him a confessor. But he made a sign of refusal. 'Die, then, obstinate heretic!" said they, and pierced him through with a sword. His remains were found and burned by the Catholics.

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Another distinguished luminary soon arose, shedding divine light on the Swiss Churches. This was John Calvin. He was born at Noyon, in Picardy, July 10, 1509. He was educated at Paris, for the Church, and obtained a benefice. But, disgusted with the superstitions of Rome, he turned to the profession of the law, in which he made rapid advances. Becoming, however, acquainted with the doctrines of the reformation, he applied himself to the study of the holy scriptures, and resolved to renounce connexion with Rome, and defend the truth. In private assemblies in Paris, he became active in illustrating and confirming the doctrines of the Bible, and was near falling a sacrifice to the Inquisition. The queen of Navarre protected him, and he escaped to Basil. There, in 1535, he published his great work, "Institutes of the Christian religion," which he dedicated to Francis I. His object was to show, that the doctrines of the Reformers were founded in scripture, and that

they ought not to be confounded with the Anabaptists of Germany.

After publishing this work, he happened to pass through Geneva, where the reformers, Farel and Viret, entreated him, by the love of souls, to remain with them, and aid in their labors. Calvin yielded; and, in 1536, became their preacher and professor of theology. But the Genevese, though reformed in name, were not in life. The severity of his doctrine and discipline raised against him a spirit of persecution, and he and his companions were expelled from the city. "Had I been," said he, "in the service of men, this would have been a poor reward; but it is well. I have served him who never fails to repay his servants, whatever he has promised."

Calvin retired to Strasburg, where he established a French Reformed Church, and became professor of theology.

After two years, the Genevese earnestly desired his return, to which after much solicitation, he consented, September 13, 1541. He immediately established a consistorial government, with power to take cognizance of all offences, and entered himself on a most arduous course of labors. Here he continued in the theological chair, until 1564, when he calmly slept in Jesus.

He was a man of great mental powers, indefatigable industry, flowing eloquence, immense learning, strict morals, and ardent piety. Besides his Institutes, he published a valuable commentary on most of the sacred scriptures; he composed many works in favor of the reformation; carried on an extensive correspondence with all the great reformers of Europe, and exercised a watchful care over the Protestant Churches, by which he was reverenced as an oracle. His writings were printed in twelve volumes, folio.

The terrors of the Inquisition compelled the nobility of the Belgic provinces in 1566, to form an association for the purpose of gaining some religious liberty. To quell their tumults, a powerful army was sent from Spain, under command of the duke of Alva. A bloody war ensued; and under the heroic conduct of the prince of Orange, both the Spanish and Roman yoke were cast off, and the reformation was completely established upon the German model, in 1578. A few Scotch nobles early conveyed the light of divine truth from Germany into their own country; but the power of the Papacy prevented its spread. Two distinguished preachers, Patrick Hamilton and George Wishart were

burnt alive, for opposing her corruptions. Providence, however, raised up John Knox, a man of astonishing boldness and zeal, who broke down every barrier, and gave truth free course. This great reformer was born in 1505. The writings of Jerome and Austin opened his mind to the abominations of popery, and led him to preach boldly at St. Andrews. From the arm of persecution he retired into England, and became chaplain to Edward VI. At the accession of queen Mary, he went to the continent, and associated freely with Calvin. His enemies at home accused him of heresy, and burnt him in effigy at Edinburgh, which drew from him his "First blast of the Trumpet, against the monstrous regiment of women," meaning the queens of England and Scotland. In 1559, he returned to Scotland; and in a very short time, by the power of truth, completely overturned the Papal dominion, and established the Presbyterian form of government. He died November 4th, 1572. His funeral was attended in Edinburgh, by many nobles, and by Morton the regent, who exclaimed over his grave, "There lies he, who never feared the face of man."

In Ireland the affairs of religion assumed much the same character as in England.

Throughout Spain and Italy, great numbers of all ranks and orders became dissatisfied with popery, and rejoiced in the light of the reformation. In Naples, great commotions were excited by the preaching of Bernard Ochino and Peter Martyr. But the inquisition, by racks, gibbets, and other tortures, prevented any great and lasting change in the religion of those countries.

The fundamental principle of the reformers, was the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, as a rule of faith and practice. They rejected, therefore, the authority of tradition, of popes and councils. They believed that no man is able to make satisfaction for his sins, and that the only way of justification, is by faith in the blood of Christ. They rejected, therefore, penance, indulgences, auricular confession, masses, invocation of saints, pilgrimages, monastic vows, purgatory and other ways of salvation, devised by the Church of Rome. They believed in the doctrine of the Trinity, in man's entire depravity, in predestination, in the renewing and sanctifying operations of the Holy Ghost, and in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and endless misery of the wicked. These were their leading sentiments, and have since been called the Doctrines of the Reformation.

In the monarchical governments of Europe, there was but little change in the form of Church order; as the dioceses and jurisdiction of arch bishops and bishops corresponded with the civil divisions and ordinances; and as the episcopal government was calculated to uphold the regal. But in Switzerland and the Low Countries, where republicanism was established, and men were left to conform more to the simplicity of the Gospel, a form of government extremely simple, and preserving a purity of rank, was generally adopted. Knox saw its conformity to the Gospel, and recommended it to his countrymen, by whom it was received notwithstanding the power and influence of the reigning monarchy, and the English Church.

The blessings of the Reformation can be duly estimated only by those who have a full view of the evils of Popery, as existing in the middle ages. By it, the world was delivered from a most horrible yoke of spiritual bondage; life and immortality, as revealed in the gospel, were brought to. light, and the way was opened, that in Jesus Christ, all nations of the earth might be blessed.

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Modern Christendom. Roman Church. Her efforts for self-preservation. Order of the Jesuits. Missionary operations and establishments. Persecution of the Protestants. Expulsion of the Moors from Spain. Massacre on St. Bartholomew's day. Edict of Nantez. Its revocation. Inquisition. Auto de fe. Downfall of Popery. Reverses in the East. Disaffections in Europe. Suppression of the Jesuits. French Revolution. Principles and rites of the Roman Church. Character of her Popes and Clergy since the reformation. Monastic orders. Present state of Popery in the World.

‚THE reformation formed a glorious era in the history of the Church and world. We no longer find one ecclesiastical power reigning supreme and universal. The Man of Sin is broken. Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Belgic Provinces under the Spanish yoke, remained Papal. But Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Brandenberg, Prussia, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Holland, had become Protesant governments. Germany was about equally divided. In Switzerland the Protestants had a little the preponderance. France was often near changing her religion, but finally became decidedly Papal, though she retained in her bounds millions of Protestants.

Neither uniformity of faith nor ecclesiastical government has existed among those who have received the scriptures as

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