this community, says Rainerus, an Inquisitor in the thirteenth century, 66 were found in almost every country." Another writer of the same creed, confesses that they were multiplied through all lands;" another that "they infested a thousand cities ;" another, that "they spread not only through France, but also through nearly all the European coasts, and appeared in Gaul, Spain, England, Scotland, Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Saxony," &c. &c. A crusading army of 300,000 was raised to exterminate these simple shepherds of the Alps, whose numbers were so formidable as to threaten the very existence of the Papacy. These illustrious Protestants (they protested for twelve hundred years against the tyranny and superstition of Rome) sent out to the field 100,000 champions of religious liberty, to repel the aggressions of ecclesiastical despotism. Nobly did they guard the lamp of life during the long and dreary reign of darkness: nor could all the power of the "Beast," combined with the sublety of the "False Prophet," extinguish that lamp, until the long suppressed light of the Reformation broke out simultaneously in various parts of Europe. It was caught by the son from the dying grasp of the martyred father, and there were never wanting Elishas to receive the falling mantles of those who, from THE REFORMERS. 359 the burning stake and the gory battle-field, ascended to the mansions of eternal peace, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. "Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold, Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old, To Heaven. Their martyred blood and ashes sown The Reformation occurred in a rude and barbarous age, when governments were despotic, the people vassals, and society broken up into clans. Both clergy and people were ignorant in the extreme; their manners were gross; and the ordinary language of even the respectable classes was coarse to a degree that would be absolutely intolerable at the present day. The artificial refinement-the conventional proprieties of speech, which gild over the offensiveness of an idea—the graceful euphemism, that decorates deformity, and calls disgusting objects by melli fluous names. were totally unknown to the plain-spoken Reformers, and their no less indeli cate opponents. But those who should compare their modes of expression with those that prevail at the present day, and thence infer that the fastidious moderns greatly surpass Luther and his cotemporaries in moral purity, would betray their ignorance of the progress of society, and the principles of our fallen nature. Had Luther and Knox been like those fine gentry, that, by the softness of their address and the pliancy of their manners, seem "to beg pardon of all flesh for being in the world," they could never have roused by their eloquence the inert masses of society, nor torn up by the roots a despotism that had been the growth of centuries. Their rudeness of speech and their violence of manner were the faults of the age, and should not be judged by a modern standard. God over-ruled even their failings for good. They were fit instruments for the materials they had to work upon. The Gospel, with its two attendant luminaries, Literature and Civilization, were just beginning to move over the chaos of Bigotry and Barbarism; and some time must have elapsed before their commingling radiance could penetrate and purify the social system, especially CHARACTER OF THE REFORMERS. 361 while the "prince of the powers of the air" was rolling to the illuminated regions dense masses of darkness, with a view to extinguish the rising light. During this conflict of principle this earnest struggle between the hostile forces of truth and error-when tyranny put forth its fiercest energy, and corruption exerted its vilest influence, was it to be expected that the Reformers would be all gentleness and politeness? much for the violence which your writers lay to the charge of the Reformation. So They also assert, that that great event originated in the vices of princes and priests, who were impatient of the restraints of religion; and by way of proof, we have been incessantly referred to Henry's divorce and Luther's marriage. The restraints of religion, indeed! Did you ever hear of the Bull of LEO X., and the preaching of Tetzel on the subject of indulgences? Did you ever read a history of the middle ages? I am almost tempted to turn over a few pages of that history, that you may see how truly your church, in her palmy state, has been styled the "mother of abominations." I might quote passages from your own accredited writers, describing the unblushing profligacy and shocking impurity that had corrupted all ranks of the clergy, and which were not only tolerated, but X encouraged, by the heads of the church; but I will not pollute these pages with such revolting records. If, however, you are incredulous or curious on this point, you may consult the last chapter of Mr. Edgar's "Variations of Popery," where you will find some well-authenticated illustrations of celibacy in the dark ages. If the Priests are prudent, they will "talk no more with such exceeding arrogancy" on this point. It betrays great ignorance to ascribe the English Reformation to HENRY VIII. Reformation usually begins at the basis of society, and ascends gradually to the summit. The Lollards and the Wickliffites had sown the seeds long before. They were not sown in vain. The Word of God had taken deep root in the hearts of the people. The hardy seed outlived the winter of persecution, and only waited for the genial sunshine of liberty "to blossom at last." According to Mr. H. L. Bulwer, M.P., who is no bigot on our side of the question, the Reformation in England is to be ascribed to the education that had previously enlightened the middle ranks of society, through the medium of the Grammar Schools which were in great numbers established. But I beg to produce a still more unexceptionable witness on this subject-no less a personage than LADY MORGAN, |