by the bitterness of invective, or by the frown of inhospitality. No, here was a mutual exchange of civilities; at the sight of which, Protestant and Catholic zealots would have been struck with horror, as at the sight of a spectre: but to the Benign of both parties, it would have been a day of high delight. We see throughout the whole of Calvin's behaviour to Eckius, a full confirmation that the rules of decency, and the practice of easy and obliging manners, may well comport with exalted genius and extensive learning-with elevated piety, with severe study, and with the most extraordinary usefulness.

The proffer of a Cardinal's hat was lost on Calvin. With him the HAT, and all its attendant honours, were light as the dust of the balance, when weighed against truth and a good conscience. The revenue which Calvin received from his people, and after which Eckius did not fail to enquire, though it did not show the riches of their liberality, yet it exhibited their pastor, as an illustrious proof, that "Godliness with contentment is great gain." Eckius put the Cup of praise to Calvin's lips, and what more palatable? He renewed his solicitations for him to come over to the Romish church, and who knows not, that the solicitations of a man of note, of influence and authority, have often removed

mountains? He held forth to him, the promise of a better stipend-the very game after which, mere hirelings of all communions have ever delighted to hunt, But Calvin neither dared nor willed, to barter the praise of God for the praise of man. He felt the superiority of evangelical considerations to powerful human persuasion; nor could he forego his faith for revenue, for he considered it as being much more precious than gold that perisheth.

It was liberal in Eckius to present the purse, and his reasons were commendable. Calvin, in his refusal, showed himself superior to the love of filthy lucre; and in accepting the gift, though with much regret, shewed he was not insensible to acts of kindness. Eckius, from appearances, thought he had been betrayed, and whispered his thoughts in the ears of Calvin. But happy for him, his secret was in the breast of a man, who kept faith with hereticks. The acknowledgement of Calvin, to the Syndics and officers of the church, of the worthy stranger's munificence, and his own prompt liberality in putting before them, all the gold into the poor's box, might well cause Eckius to admire the charity and modesty of Calvin. Indeed, -on either side, there was displayed a noble mindedness, more easily commended than imitated. It is interesting to observe the

renewed hospitality of Calvin, his attention in waiting upon Eckius to the inn, and his sociableness in walking with him a mile out of the territories of Geneva. Such was the spirit and conduct of that celebrated presbyterian Chief, at whom it has long been fashionable for culumny to hurl her envenomed shafts. Eckius and Calvin parted, not with the angry growl of bearish Bigots, but with those expressions of mutual respect which became them, as Professors of that common Christianity which enjoins, "Be courteous."

A series of facts have now passed in review before us, which, while they are calculated to arrest the attention and conciliate esteem, give to the name of cardinal Eckius, the Pope's Legate, an unexpected, pleasing, and just elevation: and in these series are also facts, which to the character of the highly distinguished, but deeply maligned Reformer, are both a shield of defence and a folio of commendation. But alas, as Archbishop Tillotson has justly remarked, "There is an odious spirit in many persons, who are better pleased to detect a fault, than to commend a virtue." Whether this spirit be from heaven or earth-from above or from beneath, let the Reader judge.

The Rev. Mr. Fleming, that eminent servant of God, speaking of the sufferings endured by those who lived godly in Christ Jesus, observes,-"I must add, that marvellous joy and resolution which the Saints in these late times, did in their greatest sufferings show, is known to the world, for their suffering was not in a corner; and we may say, hath not come short of the primitive Martyrs; but did witness the same spirit, and power accompanying them. I cannot pass this in general, without giving some touch, amidst such a multitude of convincing instances. Let us hear blessed Bradford at the stake, thus speak to his fellow sufferer, "Be of good comfort, for we shall have this night a merry supper with the Lord." Latimer to Ridley, "We shall this day light such a candle in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” Mr. Sanders, "I was in prison, until I got into prison," and at the stake embracing, cries, "Welcome the cross of Christ, welcome everlasting life." Doctor Farrar, to a Gentleman who bemoaned his death, and the painfulness of it, "If you see me once stir in the fire, believe not my doctrine," as did after appear, for he stood without moving in the midst of the flame. John Ardley, "If every hair of my head were a man, it should suffer death in the faith I now stand in.”

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Elizabeth Folkes embracing the stake cried, "Farewell world, farewell faith, and hope, and welcome love." Robert Arguvie's son, when at Lisle, in the Low Countries, suffered with his father for the truth, in the year 1556, did cry forth at the stake, "Behold millions of angels, and the heaven opened to receive us ; after he had sometime fixed his eyes on heaven, and when the fire was kindled, says to his father, "Yet a very little, and we shall enter into the heavenly mansion." Mr. Tims, an English minister, in Queen Mary's days, thus writes to his friends, “I am going to the Bishop's colehouse, but shall not be long there before I be carried up to my brethren, who are gone to heaven before me in a fiery chariot; follow you after me, where you shall find me singing merrily at my journey's end, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth." Algerius, an Italian martyr, thus writes from his prison a little before his death, "Who would believe that in this dungeon I should find a Paradise so pleasant; in a place of sorrow and death, tranquility, and hope of life; where others weep, I rejoice. O how easy and sweet is His yoke;" and this he subscribes from that delectable orchard of the Leoline prison. Guy de Bres," The ringing of my chain hath been sweet music in my ears, all my former discourses were as a blind man of colours, in respect