have for each other. There are those in prison (we have heard it said) who rejoice if they may but go to the rack for the sake of those they love, since they then would be more closely united to each other in spirit, although they might not in person come together. How then, my beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, if the world have such love, O, what love ought not we to have who wait for such glorious promises? I have before my eyes a beautiful resemblance in a bride, how she ornaments herself to please the bridegroom of this world. O, how ought we, then, to adorn ourselves to please our Bridegroom! . . . I beseech the Lord, night and day, that he will give us such an ardent love that we may not regard whatever torments they may inflict upon us; yea, that we may say with the prophet David, 'I fear not, whatever men may do unto me.' This our suffering, which is light and temporary, is not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Since, then, the will of the Lord is that, with Daniel, I should lie long in the lion's den, and await howling and ravening wolves and lions, and the old serpent that was from the beginning and shall be to the end, I entreat all my dear brethren and sisters, that they forget me not in their prayers. I will likewise cheerfully remember them according to my ability. O, my dear friends, how can I sufficiently thank my heavenly Father that he hath thought it meet for me, a poor sheep, to lie so long in bonds for his name's sake! Night and day do I pray the Lord that this, my trial, may prove to my soul's salvation, to the praise of the Lord, and to the edification dear brethren and sisters. Amen."1

of

my

Jeronimus was burnt at the stake, at Antwerp, on September 2, 1551.

Lysken, who had been long kept in prison, till she should be delivered of her child, was at length brought to the bar, to undergo her final trial and receive her sentence. The natural tendency of the peculiar situation in which she had been placed, was to render her timid and apprehensive. But she felt no embarrassment, and 1 Braght's Martyrology of the Baptists, vol. i., p. 413.

betrayed no symptoms of timidity in the presence of her judges, and of the multitude assembled to witness the proceedings. Her examination is imperfectly recorded by the chronicler of her sufferings; but she answered the questions put to her concerning baptism, and the other points on which it was common to examine the martyrs, without hesitation, and in a tone of firm determination. Her answers not satisfying her judges, they stood up, and after consulting together a short time, pronounced sentence upon her, condemning her to be drowned in the Scheldt on the following day. On hearing this sentence she could not forbear reminding them, that for the injustice dealt out to her they would one day have to answer at the tribunal of the righteous judge of the world. "Ye are now judges, but the time will come when ye will wish that ye had been in the humblest station, for there is a judge and Lord who is above all, he shall, in his own time, judge you; but we have not to wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, and powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world." Irritated at this appeal to their consciences, and to the justice of heaven, they ordered her to be removed from the bar.

Whilst the officers were removing her, curiosity drew after them a crowd of people, to whom she said, "Know that I do not suffer for robbery, or murder, or any kind of wickedness, but solely for the incorruptible Word of God." As she was passing by the Barg church, reflecting on the purposes to which it was appropriated, the superstitious doctrines taught, and the idolatrous worship practised within its precincts, by which the people were deceived and their souls ruined, she exclaimed, "O thou den of murderers, how many souls are murdered in thee!" When near the prison, the officers bade the crowd stand aside and make way for her. "They do not hinder me," said Lysken, "they are welcome to see me, and to take an example by me, even all that love the Word of the Lord;" and, while speaking these words, she re-entered the prison.

The people were greatly moved, and deeply sympathized with the martyr. In the afternoon some of her Christian friends, followed

1

for

by many others, went to the prison to encourage and comfort her. "It is well," said they, "that you suffer only for well-doing, and not any wicked work" (1 Peter ii. 20); and she felt the full force of this consolatory consideration. Two monks, ignorant or hypocritical, perhaps both, also came to endeavour to prevail upon her to abjure her principles, and they were shut up with her for some time; but she was not now to make shipwreck of her faith when so near the haven of everlasting rest, and she would in no wise listen to them. "Go till you are sent for," said she, " for I will give no ear to you. Had I been satisfied with your leaven, I should not have come here." One of her Christian brethren, who was present, exhorted her, in opposition to the persuasion of the monks, to strive manfully, at which they indignantly vociferated, "Here is another of her people encouraging her, more deserving of burning than she is;" and failing to make any impression upon her mind, they departed, mortified and enraged.

She was now shut up in the cell fronting the street, where she had been hitherto imprisoned, and none was permitted access to her save the jailers. Towards evening a Christian brother came to the window of her cell, and had a long interview with her. But their conversation at length attracting many of the passers by, he took farewell of her, bidding her, at the same time, stand up and show herself, by looking from the window. This she immediately did; and as she looked out upon the people collected in the street before her, some voices from the crowd cried out, "Dear sister, strive piously, for the crown of life is set before you." These encouraging words quickened in her heart the holy resolution to meet death with unshaken courage. Addressing herself to the people, she said, "Drunkards, whoremongers, and adulterers are borne with, who will read and talk of the Scripture, but they who live according to the will of God, and walk consistently therewith, must be harassed, oppressed, persecuted, killed." She then began to sing a religious hymn, and some, as this strain, it may be of rustic but also of heavenly melody, fell soothingly upon their ears, cried, "Sing out

Lysken;" but before she had finished the hymn, the magistrates with the officers came to the prison, and they drew her from the window, after which, the evening coming on, she was then no more

seen.

The dreadful morning arrived-the morning of her executionand many who took a lively interest in her fate, full of anxiety and with deep emotion, rose early, some before day, others with the daylight, to cheer her with their presence and with comfortable words to the last. But the unsleeping vigilance of the crafty murderers had anticipated them. Before the dawn they had taken her from prison, and conducting her to the Scheldt, put her into a sack, and drowned her in that river between three and four o'clock, ere a concourse of people should assemble. Some, however, witnessed the tragedy, and they bore testimony that she went with unfaltering steps and an intrepid heart to death, and that the last words which dropped from her lips were, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

MRS. ROBERT OGUIER,

OF THE TOWN OF LISLE.

XTENSIVELY spread as were the reformed sentiments in the Netherlands, there were few places in which they were preached with greater boldness, and received with greater cordiality, than in Lisle, one of the most flourishing mercantile towns in the province of Flanders. For the space of three years preceding the date of our present narrative, which is the spring of the year 1557, the reformed faith had been preached in that town; and though, in consequence of the persecuting violence of the times, this was done secretly in private houses, in the neighbouring woods, fields, and caves, yet the thirst of the people for instruction in the truth was so great that they were not to be deterred, even at the peril of their lives, from frequenting these meetings. Powerful were the effects which followed. Many were thus enlightened in the knowledge of the doctrines of Christianity, and brought under their saving power. Among other conspicuous features of this Christian resuscitation, was the enlarged Christian liberality to which the hearts of the converts were opened; for, after the example of the primitive church, they ordained deacons to collect their freewill offerings for the poor; and their works of charity were not limited to their own party, but extended to whoever around them were in destitute circumstances. From small beginnings this church rapidly increased in numbers,

pure