presence of mind. Though he opposed the doctrines of the Romish Church, he greatly differed from the German reformer, and each unhappily paid little respect to the opinions of the other.

The followers of Zuinglius continued to increase, and, in bearing his name, they maintained some doctrines which were rejected by the other seceders from the jurisdiction of Rome. His followers afterwards generally adopted the sentiments of Calvin; but such as adhered to the tenets of Zuinglius were called Sacramentarians.

10. Erasmus was born in the year 1467. He was called Gerard, after his father; but afterwards took the name of Desiderius, that is "amiable."

Erasmus resided at different periods in Holland, Italy, Switzerland France, and England. In 1515, he went to Basil, with the intention of printing his New Testament, his epistle of St. Jerome, and other works. The New Testament appeared in 1516, and as it was the first time it was printed in Greek, it drew upon the editor the envy and the censure of the ignorant and malevolent.

About this time, Europe began to be agitated by the opposition of Luther to the papal authority, and the principles of the Church of Rome. It was to be expected that Erasmus would zealously co-operate with the German reformer; but he declined taking a share in the dispute. He was of a timid disposition, and though he ridiculed the indulgences of the pope, and the vicious follies of the monks, he greatly displeased the friends of the reformation by his neutrality.

Erasmus died at Basil, in the year 1536, at the age of sixty-nine. The inhabitants of Basil to this day speak of him with great respect. The house in which he died is still shown to strangers with enthusiastic ceremony. His cabinet, containing his ring, his seal, his sword, knife and pencil, with his will, written by himself, and his picture, is visited with veneration by the curious.

Rotterdam, also, has not forgotten the celebrity she derives, from giving birth to this favorite citizen. The house in which he was born is marked out to travellers by a becoming inscription; the college bears his name, and a beautiful copper statue of Erasmus, erected in 1622, adorns the city.

Great and respectable as the character of Erasmus is, he had his failings. He was a most learned man; and contributed, by the compositions of a long and laborious life, in opposing ignorance and superstition, and in promoting literature and true piety. But had he taken a more decided part with the reformers, he would have escaped the charge of lukewarmness and timidity, which has justly been brought against him, and would have aided that cause, to have aided which, is an honor sufficient for any man.

11. Frederick the Wise, Sec. 12, 23.

12. John, elector of Saxony, Sec. 34, 45, 60.

13. Charles V., Sec. 22, 23, 36, 37, and onward.

14. Martin Bucer was born in 1491, in Alsace, formerly a province of France. He settled in Strasburg, where, for twenty years, his eloquence was exerted to establish the Protestant cause. But, at length, becoming unpopular, he accepted an invitation from Cranmer to settle in England, where he was kindly received, and appointed theological professor in 1549. His death occurred in 1551.

In learning, judgment, and moderation, Bucer was not inferior to any of the great reformers; and with Melancthon, he may be considered as having been the best calculated to restore and maintain unanimity among the contending churches and opposite sects. His writings in Latin and German were numerous, and all on theological subjects.

15. John Ecolampadius was born in Franconia, in 1482. He became divinity professor at Basil, where he preached with success the doctrines of the reformation. He warmly entered into the dispute with Luther about the eucharist, favoring the cause of Zuinglius. His work on that subject is mentioned by Erasmus, with credit.

16. Peter Martyr was born at Florence, in 1500. Having embraced the doctrines of the reformation, he found it dangerous to continue in Italy, whence he removed into Switzerland; some time after which, he was invited to England by Cranmer. Martyr, as a writer, was learned and well informed; as a disputant, he was acute and sensible, and as much admired by the Protestants, as he was dreaded by the Papists. He was zealous as a reformer, but sincere; and in his greatest triumphs over superstition and error, he was wisely moderate and humble. He wrote several

books against the papists, or in explanation of the Scriptures; but his "Defence of the orthodox doctrine of the Lord's Supper," is particularly celebrated.

17. John Calvin, Sec. 48.

18. Theodore Beza was a native of Burgundy, where he was born in the year 1519. He was originally intended for the bar, but visiting Lausanne, he was elected to the Greek professorship in the school of that place, where for ten years he sustained the character of a respectable lecturer, and an accomplished scholar. In 1559, he settled at Geneva as a Protestant minister, where he became the friend and associate of Calvin.

His abilities were of the most comprehensive kind, and he exerted himself warmly in support of the Protestant cause. His death occurred in the year 1605.

Observation. Several other characters, who strictly belong to the period of the reformation, we shall find it more convenient to notice in the remaining period, as they acted a conspicuous part also in the earlier transactions of that, which we shall next proceed to notice.

THE PERIOD OF THE PURITANS WILL EXTEND FROM THE PEACE OF RELIGION, A. D. 1555, TO THE PRESENT TIME.

1. From the "Peace of Religion," concluded at Augsburg in the year 1555, with an account of which our last period ended, may be dated the establishment of the reformation; since from that time, the power the Roman pontiffs has, on the one hand, been on the decline, and the principles of the reformers have, on the other hand, been advancing.

2. The state of Europe, at this time, or a few years later, in respect to religion, stood thus: Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Belgic provinces under the Spanish yoke, continued their adherence to the Roman pontiff. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Prussia, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Holland, became Protestant. Germany was about equally divided. In Switzerland, the Protestants claimed a small majority.For a season, France, it was to be hoped, would forsake the fellowship of Rome; but, at length, she became decidedly papal, although she retained several millions of Protestants within her limits.

3. Since the establishment of the reformation, the body of professing Christians has been divided into several distinct communities, and called by different names. In treating the remaining history of the Church, we must, therefore, give a separate account of these communities, with their minor divisions, which we shall do under the following heads.

I. ROMAN CHURCH.
II. GREEK CHURCH.
III. PROTESTANT.

I. ROMAN CHURCH.

4. The loss which the Roman Church sustained by the reformation, was severely felt by her. Her gigantic power had been successfully attacked, and her wide spread influence was narrowing down.— A still deeper depression obviously awaited her, unless means could be devised, by which her authority could be sustained. Under this conviction, the Roman pontiffs were continually on the alert, and ready to take advantage of every facility, by which their power might continue as it was; or, if possible, be restored to its former lordly state.

5. The first means adopted for this purpose, was the employment of the order of Jesuits, formed in the year 1540, by Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish knight, whose business it was to go forth, as the advocates of

the papal power, to teach the world the propriety of submission to its authority, and its superior claims upon their respect and patronage.

Having formed the plan of the order of which he was ambitious to become the founder, Loyola submitted it to pope Paul III. for his sanction; declaring it to have been revealed from heaven. Paul, fearful of its effects, at first refused to grant it his approbation. But at length, Loyola removed his scruples by an offer, which was addressed to his pride and ambition. He proposed that, besides the three vows of poverty, chastity, and monastic obedience, common to other orders, the members of this should take a fourth, viz. obedience to the pope; binding themselves to go whithersoever he should command, for the service of religion, without requiring any thing for their support.

The acquisition of a body of men, thus peculiarly devoted to the see of Rome, and whom it might set in opposition to all its enemies, was, at this time, an object of the highest moment. The order of Jesuits was, therefore, confirmed; and the most ample privileges were granted to its members.

The beneficial consequences of this institution were soon apparent. In less than half a century, the society obtained establishments in every country that adhered to the Roman Catholic Church; its power and wealth increased with even greater rapidity than its patrons had anticipated; the number of its members multiplied to many thousands; who were distinguished for their learning, character, and accomplishments, and, by their art and address, were powerful auxiliaries in forwarding the plans of the court of Rome.

The government of this order was despotic. A general, chosen by the pope for life, possessed supreme and independent power; extending to every person and to every case. By his sole authority, and at his pleasure, he elected officers and removed them; controlled the funds and enacted laws. Every member was at his disposal, and subject to his commands.

Thus subservient to their leader, and he the indefatigable servant of the pope, the Jesuits went forth, and soon filled every land. Contrary to other orders, they sought

no seclusion; practised no austerities, adopted no peculiar habit. On the contrary, they mingled in all the active scenes of life; they became lawyers and physicians, mathematicians, painters and artists, that they might find a readier access to men, and exert more successfully their influence, in favor of the pope and his cause.

Before the expiration of the sixteenth century, the Jesuits had obtained the chief instruction of youth, in every Catholic country in Europe. They had become confessors to monarchs and nobles; and were engaged in nearly every intrigue and revolution. As they wore no peculiar habit, and observed no uncommon strictness, they lived in society, disguised as to their real character. Jesuits were known by Jesuits; but to the eye of the world, they passed unsuspected.

Such is a brief account of an order of men, who, at this time, enlisted in the service of papal Rome; and being actuated by an incredible attachment to that power, were ready to sacrifice, even life, for the purposes of its aggrandizement. Their exertions powerfully tended to keep alive the attachment of many others to the Romish faith, and to prevent so rapid an advance, as might otherwise have been, of the

Protestant cause.

6. A second means employed by the Roman Church, to secure and enlarge its declining authority, was an attempt to Christianize the heathen, in several parts of Asia and South America.

In the accomplishment of a plan, which promised an accession of no small influence and authority to the Roman church, the Jesuits were the chief actors. In the business intrusted to them, they exhibited a zeal and fidelity scarcely paralleled, in the annals of history. And their labors would have doubtless crowned them with immortal glory, had it not appeared evident, that they had more in view the promotion of the ambitious views of Rome, than the propagation of the Christian religion, or the honor of its Divine Author.

Of those who distinguished themselves in extending the limits of the Church, none acquired a higher reputation than Francis Xavier, a Spaniard, who is commonly called "the Apostle of the Indians." In the year 1541, he sailed for the Portuguese settlements in India, where he was successful in converting several thousands to the Romish faith. In 1549, he sailed to Japan, and laid the foundation of a church, which through the fostering care of other missionaries, in after years, is said to have consisted of six hundred thousand Christians. From Japan, Xavier proceeded to China, to attempt the conversion of that vast empire; but, when in sight of his object, he was suddenly cut off, in the year 1552, at the age of forty-six.

Subsequently to his death, other missionaries, of whom Matthew Ricci, an Italian, was the most distinguished, penetrated into China, and founded a church, which continued for one hundred and seventy years. Ricci so highly recommended himself to the nobility of China, and even to the emperor, by his skill in mathematics, that he obtained leave to explain to the people the doctrines of the Gospel. Other missionaries passed into the kingdoms of Siam, Tonkin, and Cochin China, and were instrumental of spreading the Catholic religion to a considerable extent. They also penetrated into India, and on the coasts of Malabar boasted of a thousand converts, baptized in one year, by a single missionary. Abyssinia, also, was the scene of extended efforts, and of great success. But in South America, their converts appear to have been more numerous, than in any other quarter of the globe. The whole of the continent they brought under the dominion of the pope.

In furtherance of the same design, the popes, and others, were induced to found immense and splendid missionary establishments in Europe. The first of these was founded at Rome, in 1622, by pope Gregory XV. under the name of "De Propaganda Fide," or, "The Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith." Subsequent popes greatly enriched it by magnificent donations; and by means of it, missionaries were sent to the remotest quarters of the globe; books of various kinds were published and circulated; the sacred writings were translated and spread abroad; seminaries were founded for the education of missionaries and pagans; and establishments created for the support of feeble and superannuated missionaries.

Other missionary establishments followed, in different countries, in succeeding years. Of these, none, perhaps, was on a broader foundation, or operated to greater