*BANKS OF PIETY; and in its last Session issued a spirit-stirring decree against the Turks, and so terminated its labours.

• In popish countries, these Banks, or Monts de Pietė, as they are called, are very numerous. The plan observed in them of pledge, and sale, and per centage, is accurately described by DUPIN, vol. iii. p. 145; but he omits to tell his reader, that the proceeds descended into the papal treasury.

THE

AGE OF REFORMATION, OR SIX

TEENTH CENTURY.

́CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE EIGHTEENTH GENERAL COUNCIL, OR COUNCIL OF TRENT, A. D. 1545-1563.

ALTHOUGH the revival of learning, and the number of the men of genius, who sprang up with the Reformation, gave the first shock to the gloomy empire of superstition; the lordly Pontiffs, who wielded its destinies, could not bring themselves to apprehend a decline of their power. Within the entrenchments of Councils, Canons, and Fathers, they imagined themselves beyond the reach of danger, and therefore, treated with indifference, or contempt, the invectives and threats of their enemies; especially, as they had the power to punish the obstinate, or by rewards to gain over the mercenary to their interests. However, they themselves soon perceived, that their security was more fancied,

than real; and that there was more than empty sound in the Decree, which proclaimed the inferiority of papal supremacy to a General Council. This sentence of the Constantian Fathers, gave the first shock to their assumed Majesty, and would of itself, independant of the moral causes, which were then in active operation, have been sufficient to make them feel the instability of the foundation on which they stood.

The revival of Letters soon began to dissipate the clouds of ignorance, which still continued to hang over Europe, and fired the minds of many persons with the love of truth and sacred liberty. Among the most conspicuous of these, was Erasmus. This great man made the superstitions of the times, the sport of his wit; while he levelled his keenest satire against the vices of the Clergy of every grade, no less than against those of the Roman Court itself. Next in eminence to Erasmus, was Cajetan, who, although he opposed Luther in disputation at Augsburg, gave a judicious exposition of the whole Bible. Besides these, Isidore Clarius, Maldonate, and others, were distinguished by their commentaries on Scripture.

Contemporary with these great men appeared -one more eminent still; whose ardour in the cultivation of science, and of true religion, was only to be equalled by the energy and eloquence,

which he displayed in exposing the foul pollu tions of the Church of Rome.

MARTIN LUTHER,

⚫ an Augustinian Monk, and Professor in the philosophical chair of the University of Wittenberg, employed all the powers of his gigantic mind in the cause of reviving literature; he traced its progress, and gloried in the victory which he anticipated from the prosecution of his labours. His unwearied application, and a prodigious memory, enlarged his knowledge of the Scriptures, of ecclesiastical history, and other monuments of antiquity, almost to a boundless extent. With such extraordinary endowments, did he first achieve the overthrow of Scholastic

Theology; by proving, how much the pure doctrines of Christianity were corrupted by logic, and false philosophy. His success over the partisans of that philosophy, led the way to the splendid triumph, which has identified his name with the

REFORMATION.

On this important event, the personal character of Luther for uprightness, and integrity of

* Mr. Spencer Perceval, although in Parliament he lately designated Popery, "the foulest pollution of Christianity;" yet would he, as a matter of expediency, enable its professors in this unhappy land, to establish it on the ruins of our pure reformed faith!! Heu, paterna cædes!

principle had great influence; although torrents of * calumny have been discharged on him by the rage of party; attributing his zeal in prosecuting the cause of reform to jealousy and discontent, at not having been invested with papal authority to preach up Indulgences. Suffice a single word in the way of defence of this great man;-that neither the Edicts of the Popes of his time, nor the invectives of contemporary writers, contained any accusation of the kind. But, Luther's character needs no vindication from posthumous attacks. His work ;-the pride, and admiration of Protestant Christendom; speaks for itself.

At the period we are speaking of, the minds of men in general were unsettled, and ripe for

*The late Doctor Milner did not disdain the work of defamation; since he makes the midnight conference, which Luther, (Opera, tom. viii. p. 228,) speaks of having taken place between himself, and the infernal spirit, appear to be one of friendship: while he represents him as irreverently calling MOSES, (Table Talk, p. 98,) the chief of hangmen ! Thus shamefully does he pervert the Reformer's meaning in both places.

In the former case, Luther is to be understood as sustaining a part in a drama, and not literally in the latter, although the German-henker meister, is certainly, "master hangman," it was not used with the design of vilifying the divine lawgiver; but merely to point out a characteristic of severe inflexibility in his dealings with the Israelites. The first point is discussed at large in the Author's Defence of his Reply to the End of Controversy, pp. 195-197.