be added the hazard of much theo logical dispute. Others were of opinion that it ought to be answered, and that decidedly and forcibly; holding it culpable to compromise the truth, from regard to the peace of the church, or out of respect to any individual, however exalted for learning or piety. They deemed it expedient also to answer it as soon as possible; as, in case of Luther's death, their defence would appear of less weight. The task of reply was assigned by common consent to Bullinger, who issued his Apology" in 1545, to which he subjoined the writing of his opponent, that the public might have a fair opportunity of judging be tween them. In this " Apology" he treated, first, of the Marpurg conference, and the concord agreed on between Luther and the Helvetians; next, gave an account of the faith and doctrine of the Swiss churches; and, lastly, rebutted the charge of heresy. He sent it to many princes and cities of Germany, accompanied with a letter, expressive of the unwillingness of the Zurich ministers to engage in the controversy. This work was much read both by friends and enemies, and is said to have been instrumental in leading numbers to renounce the dogma of consubstantiation. Albert Hardenberg, of Frieseland, Gerard Westerburg, of Cologne, and George Latus, of Augsburg, came to Zurich to converse with the author. In consequence of the public interest excited, he wrote another work on the Sacraments, which he submitted to Calvin and John a Lasco, and then published in Lon don *. Some writers have imagined that Luther was provoked to write his "Brief Confession," from a wish to clear himself of all suspicion of inclining to the low view of the Zuinglians; and it is probable that *Simler, p. 21. some persons who were not friendly to the reformed tenets practised upon his warm temper, and instigated him to engage in disputa-> tion, that they might keep alive the unhappy spirit of division, and make it a pretext against Protestantism. It is said, that a physi cian of Zwickau, paying a visit to him, and heated with wine, told him, that many leading characters in Misnia suspected him of vacillation, because he protested against the elevation of the sacrament, and that his authority had been much shaken on that account. Such a tale, among others, is reported: both by Hospinian and Bossuet; but Seckendorf thinks, that in its transmission the former was too credulous and the latter too malicious. And certainly, it ought not to be forgotten, that some hasty spirits among the Zuinglians caused him much vexation by declaring, that "he was no better than a Papist; as, after all, he ate his God." Had all the Reformers been like Melancthon, Bucer, and Bullinger, such infidels as Voltaire and Bayle, and such Romanists as Varillas and Bossuet, would have wanted one great handle of calumniation †. To close an account, to which historical fidelity obliges us, however reluctantly, to refer, it only remains to be added, that the decease of Luther in the following year, was attributed to vexation, because he could not answer Bullinger's Apology; while the Helvetians were reported to give way to indecent exultation over a fallen antagonist. Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, acquainted Bullinger with these reports, who returned him a judicious answer: first, thanking him for his zeal in endeavouring the peace of the church, and informing him of such rumours; and afterwards, expressing his grief, that + Hospin. P. 2. Hist. Sacram. fol. 189 Bossuet, de Variationibus, L. 6. n. 12.— Seckendorf, p. 515. evil-minded characters should seek to alienate the affections of his Highness from the Helvetians. He declares, that on the contrary it was the custom of him and his colleague to speak of the Saxon Reformer as a brother in Christ, and an honour to the church; but takes the opportunity of complaining to the Landgrave, that some Lutheran divines used unwarrantable language in their sermons and lectures, and particularly requests him to enjoin Dr. Thammer, a lecturer in his own university of Marpurg, to be more temperate. "We cannot, indeed, say with Luther, that the bread is agrees the natural body of the Lord, of " "AS YET THERE IS ROOM."-LUKE, XIV. 22. O length and breadth of covenant love! His arms to save their souls from doom He spreads, and cries, "there yet is room." For sinners still the Saviour feels; To penitents his grace reveals: He dies; but rising from the tomb Lives aye, and cries, "There yet is room." The Spirit, like a tender dove, Hovers on wings of holy love; Descends to earth with silver plume, And peaceful whispers, “Yet there's room." The myriads who surround the throne, Or fly around the shining dome Of the New Zion, cry, "There's room." Heralds from age to age declare The theme's the same, "There yet is room." Strengthen her stakes, extend her cords; From hither sea to distant hill. They flock that royal tent to fill; From Mecca, Babylon, and Rome, J. W. M. *Prov. ix. THE COTTAGE IN THE WOOD, &c.-PART V. WE were now gradually approaching the cottage where this venerable couple had resided. Our walk had been pleasant; and our way, beguiled as it had been by the interesting narrative of my friend, had been imperceptibly shortening. The wood which embowered this retreat of piety in its grateful shade, a protection from the sun by day and a shelter from the storms of night, was already at hand. The little mansion, however, which had been visible to us at a distance, seen through the opening of the trees that grew around it, was now shut from our view by the intervening foliage. Many and various were the emotions with which we drew near this peaceful abode. Years had fled upon the wings of time, since my companion had bid adieu to these sweet retreats. What had occurred in the interval he knew not. Disease might have reduced his aged acquaintances to poverty and distress, and laid them on the bed of languishing; the sons of violence might have broken in upon their quiet; the sounds of war (for war had since scattered devastation over many a once happy scene) might have spread alarm through their seclusion; their children might have been snatched from their embraces; the youths, whom they had nourished with parental solicitude, to fill the ranks of usurpation; the daughters, whom they had hoped might rock the cradle of their declining age, left widowed and helpless; or they themselves might have yielded to that stroke which must ere long reach us all, and gone into the world of spirits. With hearts solemnized by such reflections, we continued our route, and my friend resumed. "Assaulted, however, as this good woman was, and plied by the tempter's direst arts,' her faith AUGUST 1824. and hope were yet firmly fixed on God. Though troubled on every side, she was not in despair; cast down she was, but not destroyed. With the holy Job, she could say, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.' I asked her, if her uneasiness was on the subject of God's willingness to receive the returning sinner. She answered, with a deep-drawn sigh: 66 6 Sixty and five years did he bear with me, and will he forsake me at the last?" 66 6 No,' I replied, 'No, assuredly! Return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon thee; and to our God for he will abundantly pardon.' 66 6 Yes,' she said, such is the language of the prophet; and dare I deny it?" "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.' "Ah!' she replied, so spoke the blessed Jesus. And yet-and yet-' "Can you disbelieve him, Mrs. Duplin?' I rejoined, in a tone of affection that seemed to reach her heart. Can you doubt his gracious promise? He may for a season have hid his face from you, but is he not still your Saviour? Is there any other on whom you would rely?' No, Sir, none. He is the way, the truth, and the life;' and deeply am I persuaded, that none 1 can come unto the Father but by him; with him is the fountain of living waters, and there I must drink or die.' "This she uttered in a supplicating voice, as if she would have said Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." "Look unto me and be saved; all the ends of the earth!' Nothing is expected, nothing else 2 P required,' I proceeded, but to believe and live.'They shall look on me whom their iniquities have pierced. Therefore I will look unto the Lord: I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.' Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins. As I spoke, I perceived her eye, lately suffused with tears, brighten. Her countenance became more animated; and at length, in the moment that I concluded, a smile of joy irradiated her faded cheek, and she exclaimed, “O Lord, I will praise thee! Though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid.'' He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?' -Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?' No; I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord!"" "Ah!" I said, filling up a pause in the narrative, for my companion had stopped as if overpowered with the war of feeling within; "who that has experienced similar will not sympathize with mercy, your good old friend? Endure we may awhile the ills of life, and stand unbending beneath outward calamity; but, who would not sink under the apprehension of the wrath of God? A wounded spirit, who can bear? O, what pencil can delineate, what tongue pourtray, the extasy of a soul just delivered from the burthen of guilt? O my friend and brother, my bosom glows in the remembrance of sorrows I have suffered, of pleasures I have known. Not such they were as would dwell upon a thoughtless mind; sorrows the world is unacquainted with, pleasures it cannot understand; yet, O how abiding was the impression they left! Then, indeed, did I go out with joy, and was led forth with peace. I was anointed, as it were, with the oil of gladness. No more was my soul cast downno longer disquieted within me; while with those who loved his salvation, I said continually, THE LORD BE MAGNIFIED!" True, true," said my companion in a tone of solemn melancholy, yet with an aspect illuminated by a smile of praise. Neither am I unmindful myself of seasons similar to those you describe, when, raised up from days of mourning and months of bitterness, I cried exultingly, Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth; for the Lord hath comforted his people.' When the agitation of her spirits had subsided," he continued, returning to his subject, "I asked to see her husband, and she sent the little girl, whom I have before mentioned, to let him know that I was there. In the interval we spoke of Bethlin. For many years previous and subsequent to his marriage, this hardy Switzer had followed the dubious and dangerous pursuit of arms. He had enlisted in the guards then in the service of the King of France; and being remarkable for his tall and soldier-like appearance was frequently noticed by personages of the Court, and even by some of the members of the royal family; and would doubtless have been promoted, had not the pride of the ancien régime prevented any from holding rank in the army but those who were of noble descent. Fortunately for Bethlin, however, or should we not rather say, providentially, he had had a quarrel with one of the younger officers of the corps to which he was attached, and, being accused of disorderly conduct, was dismissed, as they were unwilling to inflict severer punishment on a man who was so much beloved by the regiment. This very corps was afterwards cut to pieces by the infuriated mob in front of the palace of Versailles, under the eyes of its unhappy master, Louis the 16th; who was unable to afford his faithful band the smallest protection; and who, as we are all aware, was himself ultimately conducted to the scaffold. From this period, Bethlin and his wife, tired of the busy and frivolous world which had so long surrounded them, and disgusted too with a nation by which they believed themselves ungratefully treated, retired to their native mountains, and, taking the little farm which they now occupied, passed their days in comparative quietude. Here they had educated their children,, five of whom were still living, three sons and two daughters; and here they had constantly resided, until the time of God's appointment arrived, and they went to visit Bern, as I have already related, when Mrs. Duplin's mind was first seriously impressed. Led to the knowledge of the truth herself, she could not refrain night or day from endeavouring to guide her husband, whom she very tenderly loved, into the way of peace. Long did he resist her entreaties and her prayers, and had frequently even acted with great unkindness towards her; but the season finally came, when the word went forth, and accomplished the divine purpose-and Bethlin was humbled at the foot of the cross. "Bethlin was now approaching us, walking with the little girl, who was jumping about him with all the antic glee of infancy; while ever and anon the venerable patriarch smiled, and stooped down to breathe a grandsire's blessing upon her head. I observed his eyes raised to heaven as if he would have prayed on her behalf'Ah! sweet babe, mayest thou be as the lily among the thorns, and may the rose of Sharon bloom upon thy breast!' 66 Presently he came in. I rose and took his hand, and I saw the big tear rolling along his cheek as he returned my pressure. His countenance had an air of mournful but placid solemnity; and I could read in it the unuttered sadness of his bosom. Indeed, poor man, I believe his heart was full. He had heard that I was going to remove from his neighbourhood, and had been much affected, as 1 was informed, at the intelligence; fervently ejaculating, The will of the Lord be done!' Poor as had been my endeavours to build up his faith, and guide him through the dreary tracts of this waste howling wilderness, he yet was conscious, that in losing me he would be deprived of one who at least cared for his soul; and therefore was he sorrowful. He was to be left, so he seemed to feel, alone and helpless on the ocean of the world; like a ship unhelmed, and tossed pitilessly on the stormy tide without a hand to direct it, or a beacon to point it to the haven of its rest." "I tenderly participate in his emotions," I replied; "I remember well, and not many years have since elapsed, when the friend, the nearest and dearest relative I have on earth, who was made the instrument of God to me for good, and to whom I owe what Phile |