heat of the fire, before he was consumed by its flame. He was heard to cry, "O Lord God, have mercy upon me! have mercy upon me! Thou knowest how I have loved thy truth! This soul in flames, I offer, Christ, to thee!" They then consummated their malice by burning his garments, and throwing his ashes into the Rhine; " so that," observes Fuller," he might say with David, We went through fire and water *" Such was the tragical but triumphant exit of a man, whom all his enemies as well as friends were constrained to admire. Seldom has there been found in the same individual such an union of mental accomplishments and personal graces. He was powerful in argument, ready in wit, lively in imagination, distinguished in scholarship, copious in eloquence, graceful in manner. His voice was clear, sweet, and sonorous, adapted to the expression of varying passion. His memory was astonishing, inasmuch as he could bring so many historical instances to bear upon his defence, though all the while that he lay in prison he had no book to consult, nor pen wherewith to record. His form was dignified, and his countenance remarkable for manly beauty. His forehead was expansive, his eyes full of intelligence, his nose cast in the Roman mould, and his lips closed with a mixture of gravity and * Opera Huss. L. 2. fol. 354. et De Hardt. L. 4. p. 772. apud Lenfant. sweetness, while his redundant hair flowed gracefully on his shoulders. If in recording the virtues of those faithful witnesses who appeared in such an age of darkness, they have been occasionally dignified with the title of Reformers, the term is employed by way of anticipation. It is customary with ecclesiastical historians to consider such characters as Theodoric Urie, Nicholas de Clemangis, John Gerson, and others, who declaimed against the corruptions of the church at the Council of Constance, as indirect promoters of that blessed change which took place in religious matters after the lapse of a century. A respectable authority has observed, "While we adduce the sanction of these witnesses, we do not mean to imply that they contended for the truth in all particulars, or deserve to be classed with genuine Reformers. Far from it. But we would have it appear by these very judges, how corrupt and depraved was at that time the state of the church, and capable of reformation in no other mode but that in which it was accomplished." Of Wickliffe, Huss, and Jerome, however, it may be truly said, that, if God sent a gracious rain on his inheritance, and refreshed it when it was weary, they announced the approach of the cloud, as the big prelusive drops of the summer shower. * Gerdesii Hist. Evang. renovat. vol. i. p. 43. n. Africaner was, but a few years since, a powerful predatory chieftain, the terror of South Africa. He plundered the natives, destroyed the missionary stations, and carried fire and sword wherever he went; but even this man has been subdued by the power of the Gospel! He sits at the feet of the Christian teacher, docile as a little child; is anxious to make restitution for the wrongs he has done, to proclaim the grace of God, and to live in peace and charity with all men! Does not this simple fact speak volumes in favour of missions to the heathen? The following extract from the Rev. Mr. Campbell's Second Journey in South Africa, may well be added to our Correspondent's statement. "There was one circumstance in this meeting of a very affecting nature. I saw before me, at this moment, worshipping under the same tent, and receiving the glad tidings of the Gospel with much feeling, the noted Africaner, and Berend the Griqua captain. Till their conversion they were mortal enemies to each other. Berend was brought to feel the power of divine truth several years before Africaner. When the Namaqua chief was converted, he sent a message to the Griqua chiefs, confessing the injuries he had done them, and soliciting them at the same time to unite with him in promoting universal peace, and the improvement of the people. "Africaner and Berend are both judicious excellent Christians; and their own feelings must have been strongly excited upon the present occasion. These patriarchal men are now kings, fathers, and priests, in their domestic connexions. They instruct their families, preside among the people in the absence of Missionaries, and breathe nothing but peace on earth and good will to men. Thus, when God blesses his people, he makes them blessings to others. With all the particulars relating to these chiefs in view, what would Infidelity have said on contemplating so interesting a scene? To what agency would she have ascribed this marvellous change in the characters of these men? Could her favourite system have exhibited such fruits, she would have called upon all men to fall down and worship her! "The subject of address was- The invitation of God to the ends of the earth to look to Him, and to Him alone, for salvation.' Berend, on this occasion, engaged in prayer, and Africaner knelt at his side. Twenty-four years before this time they and their respective adherents fought, for five days against each other on the banks of the Great Orange River. Africaner has now some intention of leaving the west side of Africa, and of taking up his residence in the vicinity of Berend, for the remainder of his days." Scene-The Desert; Time-Evening.-Meeting of a Missionary and a Horde of Hottentots. MISSIONARY. O TRAVELLERS of the desert, say Why o'er these burning sands you stray, Beware how here you pitch your tent TRAVELLER. O stranger! hast thou ne'er been told He to the flames our dwelling gave, MISSIONARY. Dismiss your fears-the hour is come TRAVELLER. Blest be the hand, and well it sped, MISSIONARY. Wilt thou the brief assertion heed?- Hence let the stoutest sinner view THE NEW VILLAGE PASTOR. WHEN the feelings of a believer have been powerfully excited, nothing of an external nature can better contribute to restore composure, than a view of the works of God. The creation exhibits so much peace and concord; there is such a sweet consistency in the different objects and forms of a landscape; the plains with their variegated plots of ground, the mountains with their rocks and woods, the sky and clouds with their softly blending tints, present a picture which, when contemplated for a few moments with those feelings which the creature ought ever to possess in the presence of his Creator, leads us to partake in some degree of that eternal harmony of which the Lord is at once the centre and the cause *. -The boundless store Of charms which Nature to her votary yields; The warbling woodland, the resounding shore, The pastor experienced this as he drew nigh to the village. The road, shaded by ancient oaks, wound along the sides of the mountain, and unfolded new scenes at each successive moment. Sometimes were seen extensive meadows sprinkled with farm-houses and knots of trees; sometimes a forest appeared, in the depths of which the road seemed to be swallowed up; at another turn, the arrow upon the steeple glittered above the rounded tops of the walnut and lime trees, or the blue smoke rose in undulating columns from the half-concealed roof of the cottage. All these objects, whilst they charmed his eyes, were no less interesting to his heart, because they were connected in his mind with the work which he was going to undertake and to pursue in the midst of those villagers. Happy, thrice happy!" he exclaimed, "the man to whom the Saviour has 66 The pomp of groves, and garniture of fields: said, Go, preach my Gospel." All that the genial ray of morning gilds, And all the dread magnificence of heaven: * * These charms shall work thy soul's eternal And love, and gentleness, and joy impart. I could not but present the reader with If his heart is truly submissive to his Master-if he consecrates himself in sincerity to his service, it is no longer a painful and fatiguing task in which he is engaged; but it is his own happiness which he daily increases and improves. O how true is it, that to be a pastor is a good work *! But though his heart was thus pleasingly affected, he did not immediately enter into the village. His mind was powerfully attracted to serious meditation. Leaving the avenue which conducted to the nearest dwellings, he chose a winding pathway, and proceeded by the back of the village into the churchyard. He easily discovered what he sought for there. the foot of an aged alder, and beneath its flowering branches, in the most solitary corner of that silent abode, a stone newly hewn records At 66 the spot in which a faithful pastor sleeps. On it, these words are rudely engraven; My flesh shall rest in hope "Yes," said the young minister, "yes, my brother, what you have committed to Him, will be kept against that day by him to whom it has been entrusted, for he is faithful. At his voice, with which you were acquainted here below, and which you patiently followed through so many contests and afflictions, you will soon rise again from the tomb, and obtain that glory after which you have so often sighed. He will give it you for ever-for ever! How impressive the thought! Never, no, never can it be lost! A few years -a few passing days-a little, little while-and then eternity in the bosom of Jesus! Then, no more doubts-no more weaknesses -no more fatigues-no discouragements-no mournful sighsthe fulness of all joy--the perfect peace of the soul-all its desires accomplished, its thirst satisfied for ever! O my Saviour, how sweet the influence which this assured hope exercises over my soul! Servant of Jesus, this hope was thine. How often didst thou exhibit it by thy peacefulness, thy serenity, and thine affectionate confidence towards me! How often have I noticed on thy lips that rising smile which seemed to precede the enjoyment of this inestimable blessing! -66 My honoured friend, how often hast thou repeated to me those words, He that hath the Son hath life.' How often hast thou led me to feel that one thing only is needful for a poor child of Adam: that love to Jesus is his all, and his only blessedness! “And yet," said he, as he laid his hand upon the stone," in this very spot, yes, beneath this earth, rests the man who declared to me these things! Now, he speaks no Psalm xvi. 9. more. No smile, no brilliant thoughts, no heavenly joys illume that countenance; all is extinguished, all is gradually mouldering away to dust! His soul is no longer here!..... And it is here," added he, casting a glance over the surrounding churchyard, "it is. doubtless here that I also shall await with him the hour when the voice of the archangel shall burst the tombs, and proclaim that there shall be time no longer. Amen. Lord! Amen. Let my life, which is thine, be consecrated to thy service: and when I have finished the work which thou hast appointed me, may I be laid near this thy ransomed one, to await thy coming, O my Redeemer!" As he uttered these words, he bent his course towards the parsonage, where the elders of the church and some neighbouring friends were assembled, expecting with a holy and solemn joy the arrival of their pastor-of the worthy successor of him who had beheld the birth of most of them, and of whom nearly all were children in the faith. All was tranquil in the village. It was the eve of the sabbath, and that sabbath was but the second on which they were no more to hear the paternal voice of their faithful pastor. Some families were sitting in front of their houses, conversing on the loss they had sustained, and on the love which the Lord continued to manifest in still granting them an evangelical minister, to enlighten them with eternal light, and nourish their souls with the bread of life by the knowledge of Jesus. They rose on all sides to welcome the new pastor, Parents pointed him out to their children, whilst the old men went forward towards him, took his hand, and wished him unnumbered blessings. They followed his steps till he entered the room where the elders, rendered anxious by his de |