vation, which, in spite of their utmost fury and malignity, is to renovate the world. Winter is a season which is evidently necessary. It is not unreasonable to suppose, that it is as useful as the spring. It purifies the air, and destroys those unwholesome and infectious gales which would fill our country with disease and death. It braces the human frame, and nerves the limbs with new vigour. It destroys innumerable multitudes of noxious insects, which, otherwise, like the locusts of Egypt, would "devour every green thing." It is the rest of nature, preparing for new exertion. The snows cover the corn, and shield it from the inclemency of the frosts. When this beneficial end is accomplished, " touched by the sun, or thawed by a softening gale, the furry vesture melts into genial moisture, sinks deep into the soil, and satiates its pores with the dissolving nitre, replenishing the globe with those principles of vegetable life, which will open into the bloom of spring, and ripen into the fruits of autumn." And are not the wintry storms of life necessary ? Has it not been good for us to be afflicted? As suredly it has. Often among the flock committed to my care, have I heard, from different characters, the following sentiments: "I never properly valued, or was thankful for my health, till I knew the loss of it. I was at rest among the creatures, till That I gave my mortal interest up, I lived without God, and with- ther! the guide of my youth!' Winter is a season, the unpleasantness and inclemency of which, to large classes of the community, is greatly alleviated by many mercies. We have reason to bless God, that it is not a perpetual succession of storms; we have many fine, as well as tempestuous days, in Winter. It is in this interesting season, that the family is frequently all together, and the parents survey their children, and children's children, with elevated joy and gratitude. Some ingenious and instructive volume, made vocal by one, edifies the whole company. Sprightly and entertaining conversation ensues; nor do we, in such truly rational society, deem the God who made us "An intruder on our joys, To fill the void of an unfurnish'd brain, That intimate, amusing, instructive, and protracted intercourse with agreeable friends, comfortable habitations, abundant fuel, suitable raiment, and many of the luxuries of life, are among the winter mercies of large classes of the community. Winter is a season when consigrave my revered parent Iderable numbers of our fellowcame exclaiming, From this creatures are in peculiar distress. time I will cry unto thee, my Fa- God, in his providential and grą, cious dispensations, acts as a sovereign. It ought to be the joy of the universe, that infinite righteousness, holiness, benignity, and love, reign for ever uncontrolled. He undeniably distributes health and sickness, riches and poverty, life and death, according to the good pleasure of his will. In harmony with his righteous arrangements, Winter, to many of our fellow-creatures, is a time of considerable suffering. What benevolent mind, in such a season, can help thinking of the poor prisoner, shut out from intercourse with his friends, deprived even of many of the commonest mercies; on whom perpetually the doors close, "on whose hinges grate harsh thunder;"-of those "who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; who mount up to the heavens, who go down again to the depths, whose soul is melted because of trouble;"of the multitudes of poor, "Sore pierc'd by wintry winds, How many sink into the sordid hut Of cheerless poverty;" O shall not our gratitude be awakened for the Divine mercies, and our sympathy be excited to visit and relieve our distressed brethren. "He who hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up the bowels of his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Winter is a season for which we make considerable preparation. It is for this part of the year especially, that we lay up our corn, and gather in our various stores. Thus we should be carefully provident of the winter of life. The sacred writers admonish us to attend, in our earliest years, to the things that make for our eternal peace; that old age, if we should be spared to see it, may be a scene of tranquil and holy enjoyment. And is it reasonable to make provision for Winter, and for the decline of life? Must it not then be folly, for which we have no name, not to make preparation for eternity? especially since this endless period of duration must be suffered, or enjoyed, by every individual of the human race; and the cha of the afflicted, who find the hours of Winter peculiarly tedious and painful;-of the aged, whose heads, silvered over by the revo-racter, whether it be good or bad, lution of many such seasons, tell formed in time, will be unalterable? Are we then changed by every visitant, that the days are come, in which, comparatively Divine grace? Are our sins parspeaking," they have no plea-doned, through the atoning blood sure." Many, doubtless, perish by the snows and frosts of this inclement period of the year. A few winters since, an excellent friend of mine was lost at an early hour of the evening, within a little distance of his own habitation. The affecting picture of the poet was then indeed awfully realized, of the Lord Jesus? Have we by faith embraced his spotless righteousness? Is the Redeemer precious to our souls? Do we hold perpetual intercourse with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ? Are we Christians in name only, or in reality? Winter is a season which is very transient. A few more weeks, and spring, in all its native loveliness, will again scatter its beauties around our path. Soon we shall again congratulate each other in the exquisite language of sacred | ben till within a few days after writ,the death of Luther. Southampton. "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away; For lo! the winter is past, the rain is over, is gone; The flowers are seen on the earth, The season of the song is come, And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: The fig-tree puts forth its green figs, And the vine's tender grapes yield a fragrance: Arise, my fair one, my companion, and come away." (COPY.) L. "To the most excellent Pastor in Christ's Church, Doctor Martin Luther, my most honoured Father, health! "HAVING observed that alThere is a world where there most all our French, who have is no Winter. Everlasting spring, left the darkness of Popery for and unwithering flowers, distin- the true faith, have yet made no guish that happy country. There alterations in their confessions, is no sorrow, no poverty, no and thereby continue to pollute death, no changes. This incom-themselves with the sacrilegions parable region is the rich possession, the inalienable inheritance, the eternal portion, of every humble follower of the Lord Jesus. O then, "Ye good distrest! Ye noble few! who here unbending stand LETTER FROM CALVIN TO LUTHER. To the Editors of the Baptist Magazine. idolatries of Popery, as if they never had any taste or knowledge of the true doctrine, I could not refrain from blaming such sloth and negligence, in the sharp manner which I thought it so justly deserved: for what can I attribute to that faith, which lyB. H.D. ing buried in the mind, produces no confession? or to that religion, which lies buried under the appearance of idolatry? But I do not propose to discuss this point now, having already treated that matter at large in two books, where you will more clearly see If it be not inimical to the pur- those books would not give you my opinion, if the reading of poses of your extensive and useful miscellany, I should be glad too much trouble. The reading to see the following letter of of them has already had a good Calvin inserted. It appeared upon some here, who beseveral years past in the Gentle-fore were entirely regardless of man's Magazine, and, probably, this matter, and set them upon is now almost forgotten, if not considering what was to be done. unknown to But, because it is a matter of many of readers. It is a convincing proof great difficulty, regardless of our of the esteem and respect which own interest, to expose our lives Calvin entertained for Luther, to danger, or to bear the imputaand also shews that this eminent tion of having given offence to man of God possessed much of our brethren, or to quit our forthe spirit of the primitive Chris- tunes, and undergo a voluntary banishment from our native tians. The original is now to be seen in the Library of Geneva, of country and friends; moved by which this is a literal translation. The date is February 12, 1545. The messenger, who was the bearer of it, did not reach Isle your effect *It is affecting to find, that nearly 30 years after the commencement of the Reformation in Saxony, that the Reformed in France still used the Popish Liturgies! these difficulties, many are bin- | wish I could fly to you, that I might have the happiness of an dered from entertaining any positive resolution, and for this backwardness, they offer some, and those specious reasons; though it is very apparent, that they lay themselves out to find specious pretences for this purpose: but as they acknowledge that they have many doubts, they wish to have your opinion upon this point; and as they deservedly entertain the greatest reverence for you, your opinion will have very great weight with them. They have, therefore, entreated the favour of me to send a particular messenger to you, who may bring to us your answer on this point; and I, knowing how highly it concerns them to be assisted FROM the History of the Reby your opinion, in order to re- formation in the Low Countries, move those doubts under which by Gerrard Brandt, we copy the they at present labour, and be- following, (page 68, Abridg.), to cause I should have done this show the obligations we are under upon my own particular account, to Divine Providence for the invahad they not desired it, I could|luable art of Printing :— "About by no means refuse to comply with their request. "Now, therefore, my most honoured father, I beseech you, by Jesus Christ, that you will not refuse to take this trouble upon you, as well for theirs as my sake; and first, that you read over the letter which goes to you in their name; and then, that you will read over my books; or, if that will take up too much time, then you will employ some other person to read them, who may lie the substance of them before you, and when that is done, that you will be so good to send us your opinion by the bearer. I own that it grieves me, in the many and great affairs in which I know you are engaged, to give you this trouble; but from your acknowledged goodness and humanity, when you consider the necessity I am under, I flatter myself with the hopes of your pardon. I JOHN CALVIN.” Value of the Art of Printing.' the year 1400, or somewhat later, Laurence Johnson Koster found out the art of composing letters, or Printing, which soon filled the world with numbers of books and sciences, and, at the same time, turned greatly to the prejudice of the Papacy, by publishing and dispersing such books as were writ against it. And whereas before, people used none but manuscripts, or written books, and for one copy of the Bible, tolerably written upon vellom, were wont to pay 4 or 500 crowns, it might now be bought for 60; and soon after, as the art grew more common, for 4 or 5 crowns. Thus the vulgar, who could not reach the price of manuscript Bibles, found it easy to read the Holy Scriptures in print." Since the establishment of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the price of the Scriptures has been reduced to three shillings! Juvenile Department. HISTORICAL ESSAYS. No. VII. On the Corruption of Christianity in bishop, however, who, in common with others, had sworn fealty to Matilda, was inflexible, till the base expedient of procuring the Steward of the Household to swear, that Henry, on his death-bed, had altered his intentions in favour of Stephen, was resorted to. The Archbishop, on this slight pretence, crowned Stephen king; who, by seizing the great treasure Henry had amassed at Winchester, managed the ecclesiastics during its continuance. The gross and awful corruption of the system that now passed under the sacred name of Christianity, was additionally exposed by the conduct of its head, who very readily pub lished a bull, ratifying Stephen's title. The clergy in England, acting with policy, took care in their oaths of allegiance to annex a condition, that they were bound as long as the king protected their liberties, and supported the church: nor was Stephen in a situation to object to terms so artful. Ir is not surprising, that the death of so able a prince as Henry, in times of such mental degradation, should have proved eventful; especially as his daughter, the Empress Matilda, was heiress to the crown. Henry had taken great care to insure her the throne; for the recollection of his own usurpation could scarcely fail to remind him, that hereditary right was an insufficient security. He had, therefore, endeavoured to secure her success by the admonitions of conscience, administering oaths of fealty to his vassals, both in Normandy and England. But what avail the most solemn oaths, which it is believed the sacerdotal power can absolve? and what is there to fear from a power, which reward can In this age of arbitrary power, the mould to its will? nobles, or barons as they were callAmong the most professedly de-ed, were petty sovereigns on their voted to the interests of Matilda, before the death of Henry, was his nephew Stephen, who actually contended with the Earl of Gloucester who should be first in swearing allegiance to her; yet, no sooner was the King's departure known, than he hastened to England, and boldly assumed the regal power, A. D. 1135. Attention to the clergy, who were now so formidable a body, was his first concern; indeed, he could not succeed without their concurrence, for very much depended, in this age of superstition, on the ceremony of coronation, which it belonged to them to perform. Stephen's brother, being Bishop of Winchester, greatly assisted the enterprise, and obtaining the good-will of the Bishop of Salisbury, these prelates waited on the primate, to require his perform ance of the ceremony. The Arch VOL. X. several estates, and often furiously waged war with each other, in which they employed the poor around them at command. Hence they erected castles for the aggrandizement of their power, or the defence of their property. The clergy, contrary to every sacred injunction and scriptural example, instead of reproving the arrogance, vanity, and tyranny of the barons, seeing how much their procedure augmented their importance, followed their conduct. Instead of inculcating the peaceful lessons of Christ, they employed military power against their enemies; and the Bishop of Salis bury, taking a bolder step in the career of power, had erected two strong castles at Sherborne and Devizes, and commenced a third at Malmesbury; and the Bishop of Lincoln, his nephew, built one at I |