earnest prayer, especially on Bertgen's behalf, (not from any fear of the consequences to himself, but from the spirit of Christian benevolence,) that his mind might be enlightened, and delivered from all prejudices against the truth. The sequel will show that his prayers were not in vain.

On February 7, 1811, Bertgen came again to Gallneukirch. His first words to Boos were, "I could not sleep the whole of last night; I have been reading the Council of Trent on Justification; I never, in my whole life, felt so much pleasure on coming to Gallneukirch as I do to-day." "So much the better," said Boos; the inquiry will be more in our favour." "Do not talk about the inquiry," said the commissioner, "I am come merely for a friendly conversation, that I may be able to stop the mouths of the censorious, and prevent them from annoying you."

After listening to the explanations of Boos, Bertgen desired the two curates to withdraw, and then sitting down with Boos, asked him to state his views of the doctrine of justification. "I understand it," Boos replied, "in the same way that the Council of Trent explains and understands it:" and he quoted several passages from chapters 7 and 8.

Bertgen then asked what disposition he thought was required on the part of man for this justification. Boos replied, (referring again to the Council of Trent,)" the disposition manifested by Cornelius, (Acts x.) by Peter

in the ship, by the penitent woman at the feet of Jesus, by the thief on the cross. Men must be poor in spirit, must acknowledge, feel, repent of, and confess their sinfulness; must forsake their sins; and believe that God for Christ's sake will not impute our sins to us, but forgive us, and impute to us the righteousness of God and Christ which Adam had lost for himself and us, freely and of grace for the merits of Christ."

Bertgen. "And is this the doctrine you preach ?"

Boos. "Yes; my sermons, which I submit to your inspection, will prove it."

Bertgen sprang from his seat, and lifting his hands, said, with strong emotion, "What fools! to call this heresy-the most consolatory doctrine in all theology! They ought rather to be thankful that you preach it so decidedly."

Boos. "Persons who understand us, do thank us most cordially. But it is not so with all; and, like the Ephesians in the marketplace, they cry out, Diana! Diana!' without knowing what and wherefore. But we

must have patience with them 'till the day dawn, and the day-star arise in their hearts.'"

Bertgen then took up a manuscript of Boos containing the fifteen propositions which his adversaries regarded as heretical. He listened patiently to every explanation, and at the close, said to Boos, "Make yourself easy; I will defend your living faith' against your enemies, in the consistory. I perceive that

6

the truth of the case is totally different from what they and the consistory supposed it

to be."

This interview lasted from eight o'clock to twelve. At four o'clock Bertgen set off for Lintz, taking with him the sermons and other • papers which had been put into his hands. He sent Boos word back by the coachman that "he might sleep in peace."

CHAPTER XI.

Boos defends his cause-Appears before the vicar-general.

Ar the first sitting of the consistory after the conversation with Boos narrated in the foregoing chapter, Bertgen gave a report of all that had passed on that occasion, and pleaded in behalf of Boos with so much address, that all further proceedings seemed to be quashed. But the complainants were not to be thus silenced. They reproached Bertgen with having misunderstood or misrepresented Boos's sentiments, and accused him of partiality, and even of heresy. Nor did they stop here; they harassed the consistory with their accusations, and represented Boos as a dangerous man, who must be got rid of at any cost. In consequence, he was cited to appear before the vicar-general, Ferdinand Mayr, on the 12th March, 1811. The following account is given by himself in a letter to one of his friends:

"I wrote, not long ago, to inform you, that owing to the exertions of Bertgen, everything had been comfortably settled; but it was only

a truce.

On the 3rd of this month (March) I received from the vicar-general a letter in the following terms:

"Reverend Sir,—I hear that several of your parishioners have been perplexed by the doctrine you have taught at Gallneukirch, and have consulted other pastors on various points which were not clear to them. As the matter is one of extreme importance, I wish to have a conversation with you upon it, at the earliest opportunity you may have of coming to Lintz. If you can fix a day on which you could conveniently come, I should prefer it. Meanwhile, I request that you would either not touch on the points of doctrine which have excited doubts in your public discourses, or refer to them with the utmost delicacy and prudence. 666 ""I am, etc.'

"In consequence of this communication, I appointed yesterday, the 12th of March, for the conference. I sent the letter on the 5th to Bertgen, and asked his opinion whether I should venture to present myself before this new inquisition. His answer was as follows:

"Keep yourself at ease, and take care of your health. You must not give up preaching, though I need not say it must be with proper caution. As for the rest, comply with the contents of the letter. I shall be glad to see you, and speak with you beforehand.'

"When I saw Bertgen yesterday, at seven in the morning, he said, What do you think is the reason why you are again cited to appear?