tion of the Lord's death was had; the bread was broken in the remembrance of Christ's body torn upon the cross; and the cup was distributed in the remembrance of Christ's blood shed; and both were communicated unto all that were present, and would receive them, and they were exhorted by the minister so to do.

"All was done openly in the vulgar tongue, so that everything might be both easily heard and plainly understood by all the people, to God's high glory, and the edification of the whole Church.

"This Church had of late the whole Divine service, all common and public prayers ordained to be said and heard in the common congregation, not only framed and fashioned to the true vein of holy Scripture, but also all things were set forth, according to the commandment of the Lord and St Paul's doctrine, for the people's edification, in their vulgar tongue.

"It had also holy and wholesome homilies in commendation of the principal virtues which are commended in Scripture, and likewise other homilies against the most pernicious and capital vices, which, alas! reign in this realm of England.

"This Church had, in matters of controversy, articles so penned and framed after the holy Scripture, and grounded upon the true understanding of God's Word, that, in short time, if they had been universally received, they should have been able to have set in Christ's Church much concord and unity in Christ's true religion, and have expelled many false errors and heresies, wherewith this Church, alas! was almost overgrown.

"But, alas! of late, into this spiritual possession of the heavenly treasure of these godly riches, thieves are entered. in, who have robbed and spoiled all this heavenly treasure away. I may well complain of these thieves, and cry out upon them with the prophet, saying (Psalm lxxix), 'O Lord God, the gentiles, heathen nations, are come into thy heritage,

they have defiled the holy temple, and made Jerusalem an heap of stones:' that is, they have broken and beat down to the ground thy holy city. This heathenish generation, these thieves of Samaria, these Sabæans and Chaldeans, these robbers, have rushed out of their dens, and have robbed the Church of England of all the aforesaid holy treasure of God. They have carried it away, and overthrown it, and in the stead of God's holy Word, the true and right administration of Christ's holy sacraments, as of baptism and others, they mixed their ministry with men's foolish fantasies, and many wicked and ungodly traditions."

Of the glorious army of the English martyrs, including, as it did, Tindal, Bradford, Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley, Philpot, and Hooper, we know not that we can better take leave than by quoting the following letters written from prison by the Rev. Lawrence Saunders. They are all the more remarkable when it is remembered that the writer was not distinguished for his natural courage; but, as in many similar instances, his want of self-reliance made him cast himself the more entirely on help from on high. That help was abundantly vouchsafed. "The power of Christ" rested on him, and through a fifteen months' imprisonment, ending in a fiery immolation, his faith never faltered. He was rector of All-Hallows, Bread Street, London; but he was burned at Coventry, the neighbourhood of his earlier administrations. When he reached the stake, he clasped it in his arms and kissed it, exclaiming, "Welcome the cross of Christ: welcome everlasting life!"

Saunders' Letters.

"Wife, you shall do best not to come often unto the grating where the porter may see you. Put not yourself in danger where it needs not; you shall, I think, shortly come far enough into danger by keeping faith and a good conscience, which,

dear wife, I trust you do not slack to make reckoning and account upon, by exercising your inward man in meditation of God's most holy Word, being the sustenance of the soul, and also by giving yourself to humble prayer; for these two things are the very means how to be made members of our Christ, meet to inherit His kingdom.

"Do this, dear wife, in earnest, and not leaving off, and so we two shall, with our Christ and all His chosen children, enjoy the world of happiness in that everlasting immortality; whereas, here will nothing else be found but extreme misery, even of those who most greedily seek this worldly wealth, and so, if we two continue God's children, graffed in our Christ, the same God's blessing which we receive shall also settle upon our Samuel. Though we do shortly depart hence and leave the poor infant, to our seeming, at all adventures, yet shall he have our gracious God to be his God; for so He hath said, and He cannot lie. I will be thy God, said He, and the God of thy seed; yea, if you leave him in the wild wilderness destitute of all help, being called of God to do His will, either to die for the confession of Christ, or any work of obedience, that God who heard the cry of the poor infant of Hagar, Sarah's handmaiden, and did succour it, will do the like to the child of you or any other, fearing Him and putting your trust in Him.

"And if we lack faith, as we do indeed many times, let us call for it, and we shall have the increase both of it and also of any other good grace needful for us, and rejoice in God, in whom also I am very joyful. O Lord, what great cause of rejoicing have we to think upon that kingdom, which He vouchsafes for His Christ's sake freely to give us, forsaking ourselves and following Him. Dear wife, this is truly to follow Him, even to take up our cross and follow Him; and then, as we suffer with Him, so shall we reign with Him everlastingly. Amen. Shortly, shortly. Amen.

A SHEEP APPOINTED TO THE SLAUGHTER.

69

"My dear friends, Master Harrington and Master Hurland, pray, pray, and be joyful in God, and I beseech you as you may, let the good brethren abroad be put in mind of our dear tried brethren and sisters, who have, the Lord be praised, made known their constancy in confessing the truth, to the glory of God, and comfort, I doubt not, of His Church abroad. Thus have they sown spiritual things, confessing Christ. I trust they will not be forgetful that they may reap of those who are of ability and at liberty, their carnal things. Hereof I speak now, because of my tender desire towards these dear brethren here now in bonds, and in other places, and also that I doubt whether I may have wherewith to write hereafter. The keeper saith he must needs see that we write not at all. The devil roareth, but be of good cheer; he will shortly be trodden under foot, and the rather by the blood of martyrs. Salute, in my most hearty manner, good Mistress Harrington, and my good Lady F. I am theirs as long as I live, and pray for them. Desire them to do likewise for me, and for

all us sheep appointed to the slaughter.

"A prisoner in the Lord, LAWRENCE SAUNDERS.”

TO HIS WIFE, AND OTHERS OF THE FAITHFUL, AFTER HIS CONDEMNATION TO THE FIRE.

"Grace in Christ, with the consolation of the Holy Ghost, to the keeping of faith and a good conscience, confirm and keep you for ever vessels to God's glory! Amen.

"Oh! what worthy thanks can be given to our gracious God, for his unmeasurable mercies plentifully poured upon us: And I, most unworthy wretch, cannot but pour forth at this present, even from the bottom of my heart, the bewailing of my great ingratitude and unkindness towards so gracious a God and loving a Lord. I beseech you all, as for my other many sins, so especially for that sin of my unthankfulness against

God, crave pardon for me in your earnest prayers, commending me to God's mercy in Christ.

"To stand to number these mercies in particular, were to number the drops in the sea, the sands on the shore, the stars in the sky. O, my dear wife, and ye, the rest of my friends that love me in the Lord, rejoice with me; rejoice, I say, with thanksgiving, for this my present promotion, in that I am made worthy to magnify my God, not only in my life, by my slow mouth and uncircumcised lips bearing witness unto His truth, but also by my blood to seal the same, to the glory of God, and confirming of His church. And as yet I testify unto you, that comfort in my sweet Christ doth drive from my thoughts the fear of death.

"But if my dear husband, Christ, do for my trial leave me alone unto myself, alas! I know in what case I shall be then; but if for my proof He do so, yet I am sure He will not be long or far from me. Though He stand behind the wall and hide Himself, as Solomon says in his mystical ballad (Cant. ii.), yet will He peep in by a cleft to see how I do. He is so tender-hearted a Joseph, that though He speak roughly to His brethren, and handle them hardly, yea, and threatens grievous bondage to His best beloved brother, Benjamin, yet He cannot contain Himself from weeping with us, and upon us, with falling on our necks and sweetly kissing us. Such, such a brother, is our Christ unto us all; wherefore hasten to go unto Him, as Jacob did, with his sons and family, leaving their own country and acquaintance. Yea, this our Joseph hath obtained for us His brethren, that Pharaoh the infidel shall minister unto us chariots wherein at ease we may be carried to come unto Him; as we have had experience how our very adversaries do help us unto our everlasting bliss by their speedy despatch; yea, and how all things have been helpings unto us, blessed be our God! Be not afraid of fraybugs which lie by the way: fear rather the everlasting fire;