Sovereign chose to have about his prove a powerful preacher ; and person when at dinner, and whom my desire is to prefer him that way; he was often pleased to detain in and in that way I will deny you some protracted theological dis- nothing for him.” His Majesty course on the points in controversy then condescended to solicit him between the Calvinists and Armi. earnestly to embrace the sacred nians, the hierarchs and noncon profession ; but he deferred his comformists, or the Romanists and pliance for three years, from a desire Protestants. On one of those to apply himself to the diligent occasions, the conversation turned study of textual divinity, and acquire on a question respecting the obli- a more competent knowledge of the gation on Roman Catholics to take original scriptures. He also felt the oaths of allegiance and supre deeply unworthy of a holy function, macy; and his Majesty was so much and wished to prepare himself for struck with the arguments used by it by imploring God's grace and Mr. Donne, that he commanded heavenly benediction. him to draw them up in regular At length in the spring of 1614 form, and bring the manuscript in he was ordained by Dr. John King, person. He set about the task Bishop of London, who was his immediately, and having completed good friend, and had been Chaplain it in six weeks, brought to the to the Lord-keeper Egerton, at the scholastic monarch a treatise en same time that he had been secretitled “ Pseudo-Martyr.” His tary. His Majesty immediately Majesty approved highly of the made him one of his chaplains in performance, which was afterwards ordinary. He preached his first published with a dedication to his sermon at Paddington, and preroyal patron, and a preface ad. ferred exercising his ministry at dressed to the priests and jesuits, some village churches, till his and to their disciples in this king- Majesty appointed him to preach dom. This encreased his Majesty's before him at Whitehall, when the wish that the author would enter whole court was much affected into holy orders, for which he had by his earnest eloquence. In the for some time past considered him summer he attended the King in a peculiarly qualified. One day, progress to Cambridge, where he when the Earl of Somerset was was created Doctor in Divinity at with the King at Theobald's, Mr. his Majesty's recommendation. It Donne received a message from pleased God, that immediately on that nobleman requesting his im- his return from Cambridge he mediate presence, and on his arrival should lose his beloved wife, who found that he wished him to succeed died on the seventh day after the to the place of one of the clerks birth of her twelfth child. This of the council, who had died the event so much distressed him, that preceding night. “Mr. Donne he was fain to retire for a time from (said the Earl) to testify the reality the public services. He was left of my affection, and my purpose to with seven children, to whom he prefer you, stay in this garden till gave the voluntary assurance never I go up to the King, and bring to bring them under the subjection you word that you are clerk of the of a stepmother. The first time he council. Doubt not my doing this, left his house was to preach where for I know the King loves you, his deceased partner was buried, in and that he will not deny me.” St. Clement's church near Temple James, however gave a positive Bar, taking for his text, Lamenta. refusal, remarking, “ I know Mr. tions iii. 1. “I am the man that Donne is a learned man, has the hath seen affliction.” ability of a learned divine, and will

(To be continued.)

TOUR THROUGH THE COUNTRIES BORDERING ON

THE RHINE.-No. VI.

THERE can be no doubt that the German protestant youth are considerable laxity of opinion bas generally instructed by their spiritual prevailed in protestant Germany pastors and masters before they are on subjects connected with revela admitted to the holy communion, tion, and I know not to what and that the holy writings are no cause to refer it with more truth, doubt read before that season in than to the neglect of the reading private : still it is, I apprehend, of the scriptures in the public chiefly the New Testament. But services of the church. Other in order to be thoroughly undercauses do no doubt concur, such as stood, the whole Bible must be the direct and indirect influence constantly heard or read. It is not of popery, but I conceive this to be possible for the minds of the a very material one, and worthy generality of men to arrive at the of most serious consideration. I silent and almost unnoticed conam persuaded that we little know clusion which is made by the mass in England what great benefits of society in England; that Moses, accrue to our population generally, the Prophets, and the New Testafrom that regulation of our church ment writers do all harmonize, and establishment, which provides for tell one story, unless the respective the reading of the whole book of books of which they are the authors, God. Accustomed as we are from are habitually listened to, and our earliest youth to hear both the silently collated by the mind : even Old and New Testament without as I believe it impossible for any any distinction, and to note the person to fail in drawing such a copious references of the latter to conclusion, if those means are the former, no room is ever left afforded him. Again, I repeat, for the mind to conceive one that I am writing, not of that faith thought, tending to the disparage, which gives a man a personal ment of the credibility of either interest in redemption, and is a

Now I am not aware of any vital union with the Redeemer, but regulation in the protestant churches of that which is very properly of the continent, whereby that mass called historical. Now it is the of information which is contained want of historical faith that bas in the records of both the covenants been so much complained of with concerning the dealings of God respect to Germany. For it is by with man, and his expectation from no meaus uncommon to hear perman, is statedly brought before the sons say, they do not conceive the mind of the worshippers as it is Old Testament is entitled to any with us. Which of us (I allude credit as an inspired book, or that even to such as have not yet known Moses was indeed a messenger of a change of heart) who has been the Most High. I grant that the led from youth up to the house contempt which is now felt for the of God, would ever think of Jews as a nation, may contribute questioning the divine legation of to strengthen an opinion founded Moses? We have been accustomed in ignorance, and upheld by neglect to receive from the lips of our of investigation. They transfer to divine Redeemer that Moses wrote that people in its former state all of Him ; and from the testimony the sentiments produced by the of his Apostles we learn that the squalid misery which too often law was a shadow of good things marks the persons, and the unto come. It is perfectly true that righteous cupidity which attaches to the erroneous practices of so subject. To this I could only many of them in the present day. answer, that if that part of the New Did these objectors know the full Testament was a figure, what part contents of that volume which fore is otherwise ? Why is not every told the awfully interesting fact, other historical point a figure likethat they should become a bye wise ? According to this mode of word and a proverb among the na interpreting Scripture who can tions whither they were scattered, establish any one fact or doctrine, they would not be so perverse as or who can prove that Jesus him-to turn into an argument against self either lived, spake, died, or the truth of the Jewish scriptures, rose again ? all may be allegory. what is in fact an undeniable testi- My friend could make no reply to mony in their behalf.

this, but that the existence of evil I have several times beard the spirits seemed to him incredible, name of Moses mentioned with and that he had never considered great disrespect, and all his claims that revelation was to be taken to divine authority denied. He literally on those points. Within a was indeed allowed to be a dis- few days afterwards, I conversed tinguished politician, a deep and again with two other persons who penetrating mind, full of able con- were both men in years, and of trivances, but guided by expediency, literary pursuits, and I found like and using what is called pious fraud: scruples. To what cause can such and without any pretensions to the superficial views and immaturity of notice of the present day : a mere thought be referred, but to that Jew, and interesting only to that neglect of the Holy Scriptures as a nation. But we know that he was whole, and as a book essential to a faithful servant in his house, and public religious instruction, wbich so divine a prophet and leader, that marks the ecclesiastical regulations he who was the son over his own of protestant Germany ? It is, I am house and not the servant, acknow persuaded, not enough for the minisledged bim to be like himself. ter to preach and pray, and for the

As frequently have I heard the people to hear and sing. Moses existence of evil spirits questioned. must as in old time, in his own •What, believe in a devil ? ' said land, and since the reformation in a young German friend, who had our land too, have those that read just finished with credit his earlier him, and his brother prophets, academical studies at a Gymnasium, every Sabbath day, in the synaand was then proceeding to the gogue. For though it is awfully University; · Believe in a devil ! true that all that listen to Moses No, nobody shall ever persuade me bave not that heart in them so to do. There is no other devil which corresponds to his words, or than what is in myself: I am my to God's wishes; (Deut. v. 29.) own devil.' I asked if he were a yet if he be not listened to, that believer in revelation and acknow- heart will be found no where. ledged at least the New Testament? Moses is the minister of judgment • Certainly,' he replied. I referred and righteous condemnation, and to the fourth chapter of Matthew, when that blessed truth is felt, that containing the history of our Lord's in Jesus is remission of sin, and all temptation, where the being and things pertaining to life and godliagency of Satan is so distinctly ness, then shall we delight to perceive recognized.' Oh, but that may be how to Him gave all the prophets otherwise explained; it is by no witness, and find that all Scripture means necessary to suppose that a is given by inspiration of God, yet real being is there meant : it is only not to perplex the mind, but rather a figurative mode of stating the to stablish, strengthen, and settle it.

AUGUST 1828.

2 P

I am led to these remarks at this the Romish was best for the multitime, by a conversation which took tude, by reason of its imposing place when we left Cologne for ceremonies, whereby the mind was Boon, in the public diligence, early somewhat awed, and the purposes on the morning of Monday, Oct. 1. of public order subserved. These Our travelling companions offered opinions were likewise assented to me abundant materials for conver- by our second fellow-traveller. I sation; England, Prussia, education, did my best to reply to all this — and religion were the topics. One declared the depravity of man to be of the party desired to visit Eng- now natural to all and hereditary, land to see our works of art, and and to flow from one sole polluted buy books beautifully printed and fountain, the first of our race. But hound. Speaking of the present this universal depravity had its full state of the Prussian Rhenish pro and sufficient remedy in the mediavinces, he observed, how necessary tion of the Son of God; that reliit was that the King should hold gion was as intelligible to a plain the priests in check, because they man as to an educated one, consistwere a class who in his opinion, if ing rather in the play of the affecthey received an inch would take an tions and in the moral habits, than ell: he added, they are gradually in mental culture: that popery restoring to their several churches could not possibly be best adapted inany of the valuable articles which to the wants of society, inasmuch at the time of the French revolu- as it kept back much of that light tion had been secreted by them, which is the life of the soul : and He rejoiced in the attention which that we must be very cautious bow was now being paid to education, we admit the notion that there is but regretted that so much time no devil or evil spirit, because such was bestowed upon Latin and unbelief would infallibly leave to Greek, to the neglect of the modern him the ascendency over the mind; languages. This sentiment was inasmuch as all jugglers, tricksters, afterwards repeated by another well- and deceivers take the utmost care informed individual at Bonn, who to remain concealed, that their added—it is a plan plainly at plans may arrive at a greater degree variance with common sense; the of maturity, and produce more languages chiefly wanted should general and more lasting results. certainly be most cultivated.

I left the party thoroughly acMost extraordinary were the quainted with the fact, that my religious opinions of this speaker. opinion was the opposite of theirs, In his view there was neither angel that I could not but regard theirs nor evil spirit; he considered men as without hope and relief for man, to be born without sin, and that and that I considered the too comthere was no original depravity; mon opinion, that the devil had no that a new creation took place existence, to be the very masterevery time a man came into exis piece of all his works. The contence, and that this new creation versation was earnest, but we parted produced a being who had within in peace. him both good and evil, and a free After a hasty breakfast at Bonn, will besides, for the exercise of we sallied out to find Professor N. which he became accountable; that to whom I had an introduction. the Old Testament was not to be He was kind enough to show us regarded as a Divine Book, and the beautiful prospect towards the that Jesus of Nazareth was a good seven mountains, from the Bastin, and wise man. He added, that on the Rhine, the garden leading religion generally was above the to Poppelsdorf, the university buildcomprehension of the poor, but that ings, and the library. There are

a thousand students in Bonn, and After a ramble through the town, about forty professors; among them and a visit to the well-known ProMr. Walten enjoys very consider- fessor of Political History, we set able reputation in the medical de- out on foot to reach the ferry, partment. The building, now we then crossed the Rhine, and appropriated to the University, was working up it to Königswinter, formerly a palace: below are the proceeded with the aid of two asses lecture rooms; up stairs is a hos- to mount the celebrated Drach pital, where the medical students enfels. The view from thence is attend the patients under the eye indeed enchanting: both 'art and of the lecturers, and another de- nature conspire to make it so. partment of the same building con. Tradition reports that a fierce dratains a lying-in hospital. I have gon once dwelt in a cave near often been impressed with the the top of this eminence ; hence great attention which the public its name, Dragon's Rock or Crag. weal is now receiving at the I would recommend every traveller hands of the Prussian government. who has leisure, to enjoy the view Professor N. observed, " I have of the seven mountains. It was here nearly forty colleagues, who evening before we reached our Inn direct their attention, and that of in Bonn, returning in a boat down their pupils, to every branch of sci- the Rhine. ence, and yet there is not one who Reverting to the subject in the receives a farthing, but what is the beginning of this letter, I mean reward of his labour.” He was the state of religion in Protestant thoroughly acquainted with that Germany, I would once more inlamentable system, so. prevalent vite attention to the scriptural chastill in our own country, which racter of that faith which is preached leaves places of honour and gain, at Cologne; and I do so the more both in church and state, in the cheerfully from a conviction that hands of some who have very the Lord has among that congregasmall personal qualifications for tion a people who serve him acceptpreferment, and have to ascribe it ably in reverence and godly fear, to family or political influence. I remembering that he is a consuming found that the Prussian clergy fire. Specially do I wish to mengenerally are acquainted with that tion, to the honour of his grace, system of pluralities, and non- the aged and excellent Mr. E. M. residence, which, together with who will probably, at no very disother causes, diminish so exceed- tant period, be called to his eternal ingly the efficacy of our church, as rest in Jesus. Mr. Pastor N. a means of public spiritual health. already mentioned in a former

The palace of Poppelsdorf, dis- letter, in a printed discourse before tant half-a-mile from the Univer- me, thus expresses himself. “The sity buildings, and within the plea- christian church is a society of sant grounds that adjoin them, believers, who are hereby knit contains a museum of natural together, in that they acknowledge curiosities and achemical laboratory one only pure source of religious The neighbourhood of Bonn is knowledge, namely, the divine very agreeable : I cannot recollect scriptures of the Old and New Tesa more pleasing residence for a tament, which they revere as a young Englishman to pursue his revelation of God, through the foreign studies. The Protestant Holy Spirit, worship of the University is con The Christian church has one ducted by two gentlemen of piety, only faith, namely, in Jesus Christ, both of them professors of theology whom they receive and honour as

their only Saviour, Redeemer, re

in the University.