St. Peter had converted to christianity by his preaching.” The people were taught that the moment any person had paid the money for the indulgence, his salvation was secured; and that the souls, for whom the indulgences were bought, were instantly released from purgatory.

Doctor Martin Luther was, at that time, Professor of Theology and Philosophy in the University of Wittemberg, in Saxony, then only 34 years of age, vigorous both in body and mind. "His genius," says a celebrated ecclesiastical historian, "was truly great; his memory vast and tenacious; his patience in supporting trials, difficulties, and labours incredible, his magnanimity invincible, and his learning most extensive for the age in which he lived." The conduct of Tetzel attracted his attention, and led him deliberately to examine, by the word of God, the nature and tendency of indulgences, and the authority by which they were published. Finding this shameful traffic unsupported by any divine warrant, and preferring the decisions of Scripture to the dictates of fallible men, he raised his warning voice against this disgrace to religion; and, in ninety-five propositions, maintained publicly at Wittemberg, in September, 1517, he censured this extravagant extortion, plainly pointing out the Roman pontiff a partaker in the guilt, as he suffered the people to be thus seduced from placing their confidence in Christ, the only proper object of trust. This was the commencement of that memorable revolution which humbled the grandeur of the lordly pontiffs, and eclipsed so great a part of their glory.

The doctrines of Luther were received with approbation through the greatest part of Germany, but the votaries of Rome were filled with horror and indignation. Tetzel vainly attempted a refutation of those opinions, and, by virtue of his power as an inquisitor, ordered the Reformer's writings to be publicly burnt. The Pope commanded Luther to justify his principles and conduct before Cardinal Cajetan; and in October, 1518, he appeared before him at Augsburg to defend himself. The Cardinal required Luther, in an overbearing tone, to renounce his opinions, without even attempting to prove them erroneous; and insisted on his respectful submission to the Roman pontiff. The conference continued for three days, and terminated by an appeal, on the part of Luther, from the present decisions of the Pope to those he should pronounce on receiving better information. In June, 1520, Leo issued a bull, in which forty-one pretended heresies, extracted from the writings of Luther, were condemued, and his compositions

ordered to be publicly burnt; and in which he is required to confess and retract his errors within the space of sixty days, on pain of excommunication. Unmoved by these proceedings, Luther had a pile of wood erected without the walls of the city of Wittemberg, on the 10th of December, 1520, and there, in the presence of a multitude of all ranks and orders, he committed to the flames both the bull, published against him, and the decretals and canons relating to the Pope's supreme jurisdiction, declaring by this act that he was no longer a subject of the Roman pontiff. The Emperor Charles V., through the influence of the Pope, summoned Luther to appear at a diet, assembled at Worms, in 1521. These diets were not only political assemblies but provincial councils: his friends, fearing for his personal safety, endeavoured to dissuade him from attending; but, notwithstanding their remonstrances, he appeared, and on the 17th of April and the day following pleaded his cause before that assembly, with the utmost resolution and presence of mind, and solemnly declared that he never would abandon his opinions and change his conduct, until he was convinced by the word of God, or the dictates of right reason, that the former were erroneous and the latter unlawful. Frederick, Elector of Saxony, caused him to be seized by masked horsemen on his return from Worms, on the 8th of May, and carried to the castle of Wurtemberg. By this interposition he was saved from the rage of his enemies, who, notwithstanding the safe conduct granted by the Emperor, were bent upon his destruction. In this retreat, which Luther called his Patmos, and in which he continued ten nonths, he rendered important service to the cause of pure Christianity by his various writings; but his leisure and retirement were principally employed in translating the New Testament from the original Greek into the German language. This translation soon circulated through Germany, and was hailed with joy and read with avidity by persons of all classes. By this means, and by his other works, which were generally diffused, the principles inculcated extended to Ergland and the Low Countries; and were encouraged and confirmed in the minds of the people, where they had been previously received, although vigorously opposed by the strong arm of authority and clerical tyranny.

A diet assembled at Spires, in 1526, where Ferdinand, the Emperor's brother, presided, ended more favourably to the friends of the Reformation than they could have expected. The troubles of Europe led the Emperor's ambas

sadors to recommend the adoption of moderate measures; and it was agreed that the princes and states of the empire should, in their respective dominions, be at liberty to manage ecclesiastical matters in the manner they should think most expedient, until the calling of a general council. A second diet was convened by the Emperor at Spires, in 1529, at which the decree of the former was revoked, and every departure from the Romish faith pronounced unlawful. The members, however, were by no means unanimous in thus rescinding their former resolution: six princes, and the representatives of thirteen imperial cities entered their solemn PROTEST against it, on the 19th of April, as a violation of their most sacred rights; from which circumstance the name of PROTESTANTS is given to all such western Christians as renounce the peculiar doctrines and unreasonable usurpations of the church of Rome.

Ulric Zuingle, Canon of Zurich, began to explain the Scriptures to the people of Switzerland, in 1516; and in 1519, with heroic resolution and singular success, opposed the sale of indulgences; so that between the years 1524 and 1531, the authority of the Pope was rejected through the greatest part of that country.

Olaus Petri was the herald of the reformed religion in Sweden; in which he was powerfully seconded by the brave and public-spirited Gustavus Vasa. Under the auspices of this monarch, the Reformation was established in that country, and the Scriptures translated into the Swedish language, and printed at Upsal, in 1541.

By the encouragement of Christiern II., the Reformation was extended into Denmark, in 1521; and established there, in 1539, by Christiern III., a prince equally distinguished for piety and wisdom.

The Reformation was introduced into France, by the favour of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, and sister to Francis I. This princess encouraged several pious and learned men, whose sentiments were similar to her own, to diffuse their principles, about the year 1523.

We now come to England, which is indebted for the Reformation to one of those singular interpositions of Divine Providence by which the wrath of man is made to praise God, and even the bad dispositions of the wicked are overruled to the accomplishment of the most important purposes. "God's ways," as Bishop Burnet remarks, " a great deep, who has often showed his power and wisdom in raising up unlikely and unpromising instruments to do great services to the world; not always employing the best

are

men in them, lest good instruments should share too deep in the praises of that which is only due to the Supreme Creator and Governor of the world: and therefore he will stain the pride of all glory, that such as glory, may only glory in the Lord."

Henry VIII. was a man of most violent passions; and so great an enemy to the Reformation, that, in the abundance of his zeal, he undertook to write a confutation of Luther's heresy, and a defence of the Romish church.

This royal volume, presented with great pomp to Leo, procured for the zealous monarch the golden perfumed rose of Papal benediction, and a title in which he particularly gloried, "Defender of the Faith." A dispute, however, afterwards arose between Henry and the court of Rome, concerning a divorce which the Pope, Clement VII., through fear of the Emperor Charles V., delayed to grant, contriving various pretexts to evade a positive answer.

This so displeased Henry, that, on the 20th of March, 1534, an act of parliament was passed, by which all connection with the See of Rome, was for ever abolished. Thus the fears of the Pope, and the displeasure of the king, were over-ruled to the introduction of the Reformation into this country; which, whether contemplated in a political, social, or moral point of view, has been an incalculable blessing for the last three hundred years.

Gratitude should be excited in considering the gracious direction given to the minds of properly qualified persons, leading them to translate the Holy Scriptures into the languages of the people; thus dispelling the darkness which prevailed, and unfolding to them, in their own tongues, the wonderful wisdom and infinite love of God in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ.

It may be mentioned, in passing, that about 285 years before the Christian era, in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus, King of Egypt, the Old Testament was translated into Greek, either for the use of the Jews, who spoke that language, or, as a curious work, to be placed in the library of Alexandria. This version is called the Septuagint, because, as some suppose, it was made by seventy or seventytwo learned Jews; or, as others think, because it when completed, examined, approved, and allowed as faithful, by the seventy or seventy-two elders, who constituted the Alexandrian Sanhedrim. The Hellenist Jews continued the use of this version, till about the end of the first century of the Christian era, when they began to disuse it, and formed another for themselves. This version

was undertaken by Aquila, a native of Sinope, a city of Pontus.

"By this translation of the Scriptures into Greek, Divine Providence was preparing the way for the preaching of the Gospel which was then approaching, and facilitating its promulgation amongst many nations, by the instrumentality of the finest, most copious, and most correct language ever spoken, and which became common to all the countries conquered by Alexander. To this version, many of the most celebrated heathen philosophers were indebted for their most correct notions of the being and perfections of God, as well as for their best and purest sentiments of moral duties."

Within the two first centuries, the whole, or parts of the Sacred Writings, were translated into the Syriac and Latin,-two of the most ancient versions of the New Testament,—one of which was spread throughout Europe and the north of Africa, and the other propagated from Edessa to China.

But our attention will be principally directed to some of the translations of the Scriptures into the languages spoken in England, and which were formed by Englishmen at different periods of our history.

In the seventh century, Caedmon, a monk of Whitby, employed his poetical genius in the composition of a metrical version of the most remarkable portions of the sacred history. This is the earliest specimen of Saxon poetry. Caedmon died in 680.

The Psalms were translated into Saxon, about the year 706, by Adhelm, or Aldhelm, the first bishop of Sherborn, in Dorsetshire. This excellent man was born among the West Saxons, and was a near relation of King Ina, but educated under Adrian, at Canterbury. He was one of the most learned men and best poets of the age in which he lived. His learning and poetic powers he devoted to the most benevolent and pious purposes. Before his advancement to the bishopric, and while abbot of Malmesbury, he employed his poetical genius in a singular manner for the instruction of the people. Observing his barbarous countrymen to be inattentive to grave instructions, he composed a number of little poems, ingeniously interspersed with passages of Scripture; and having an excellent voice, and great skill in music, he frequently placed himself upon a bridge that joined the town and country, and professing himself skilled in singing, stopped the passengers, while he sung his poems in the sweetest manner. By this means,