which he has richly, powerfully, and graciously given unto us in this life.

"But if it should be the divine will, that you should yet longer be kept from that better state, that you should still see and hear with us the sorrows and afflictions of this sad vale of tears, or with all Christians endure and conquer them, he will give you grace to do all willingly and obediently. Yet this wretched life is nothing else than a vale of sorrows, in which the longer we remain, the more we see and experience of sin and iniquity, misfortune and distress, without cessation or diminution, until we are cut down by the scythe of death; then must it all cease, and we shall sleep quietly in the peace of Christ, until he comes and awakes us again with joy. Amen."

**

Although I trust that your pastors and ministers will show their faithfulness unto you, so that you do not require my words; yet I could not fail thus to make up for my absence from you, which, God knows, makes my heart sad.

"My Kate, little John, Nelly, nurse Betty, and the whole family greet you heartily and pray earnestly for you. Greet my dear mother and the whole household. God's power and grace be and abide with you "Wittemberg, 15th February, 1530.”

for ever.

Amen.

We add one more epistle, somewhat humorous in its character, and intended probably as a playful satire upon the contentions and divisions in the German Diets.

A jesting letter, addressed to some of his companions.

"Grace &c. Dear gentlemen and friends,

- I have received all your letters and understand by them, how things are going on with you. That you may know in return, how things fare with us, I have thought best to inform you, that we, viz myself, masters Victor and Cyrus, are not gone to the Imperial Diet at Augsburg: we are come, however, to another diet.

"There is a small wood just before our window, in which the crows and the rooks have assembled a diet; there is such a journeying to and fro, such an incessant screaming through the night and day, as if they were all crazy or bewitched; they caw all together young and old : still I wonder how their voice and breath can hold out so long. And I would gladly know if such noblemen and knights-errant are to be found likewise with you; for methinks all that the world contains must be gathered together here.

"I have not yet seen their emperor; but their nobles and great personages are continually hov

-

ering and flying about before our eyes, not very splendidly attired, but simply in an uniform color, all equally black, all with grey eyes; they all sing the same song, yet with a pleasant difference betwen young and old, great and small. They care not for great halls and palaces; for their hall is roofed by the beautiful wide-spreading sky; its floor is merely turf, its tables beautiful green branches, and its walls extend to the extremity of the earth. Neither do they ask for horses and carriages; they have winged wheels with which they fly from the sportsman, and withdraw from the angry passions of their companions.

"They are great and powerful lords; but I do not yet know their decrees. Thus much I have learned from an interpreter, that they are projecting a vigorous attack upon wheat, barley, oats, rye, and all sorts of corn and grain, and there are many knights among them who are to perform great actions.

"Thus, you see, we sit here in the midst of the Diet, looking and listening with great delight and affection to the cheerful singing and merry lives of the princes, nobles, and chief men of the kingdom. But we have particular pleasure in seeing them sharpen their bills and put on their armor, that they may be victorious and acquire honor in their contests with corn and barley.

We wish them safety and success, and trust, that they will not all be impaled on some sharp pointed hedge.

"I think, however, that the crowd which are just before me can be nothing but sophists and Romanists with their preachers and scribes, who have come that I may hear their harmonious voices and preaching, and see what useful people they are to destroy every thing upon the earth, and then yawn for something to do.

"To-day we have heard the first nightingale; for they are not willing to trust themselves in April. It is now very fine weather with us; it has not rained at all, except a little yesterday. Perhaps it is otherwise with you. God's blessing be with you and support your house.

"From the Diet of Maltese Knights, 28th April, 1530,"

CHAPTER IX.

DEATH OF FREDERIC OF SAXONY DIET AT SPIRES -THE PROTEST-DISPUTE AMONG THE REFORMERS CONCERNING THE LORD'S SUPPER SECOND DIET AT SPIRES- DIET AND CONFESSION OF AUGSBURG -LEAGUE OF SMALCALD PEACE OF NUREMBERG.

1526-1532.

FREDERIC, Elector of Saxony, died in 1525, soon after the defeat of the peasants. He had been a cautious, but on the whole a firm friend of Luther, and his loss would have been severely felt, had not his brother and successor John been decidedly in favor of the reform, and a man of bold and independent character. Being a convert to the new doctrines and believing that the time had come when a choice between them and popery must be publicly made, this prince directed Luther and Melancthon to form a set of rules for the government of the churches throughout his dominions. His example was followed by other noblemen, and thus a new impulse and greater dignity was given to the Reformation. Steps so decided aroused the bitter and active opposition of those who still adhered to the papal see; and had it not been for the lukewarmness of the Emperor and the distracted state of the empire,