Erasmus died at Basil, in the year 1536, at the age of 69. 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, con taining 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 favourite 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 deci ded 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 honour 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 20 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, judgement and moderation, Bucer was not inferior to any of the great reformers; and with Melanc thon, he may be considered as 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, favouring 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 His death occurred in the year 1605.

cause.

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.

Sec. 1. From the "Peace of Religion,' concluded at Augsburg in the year 1555, with an account of which our last period concluded, may be dated the establishment of the Reformation; since from that time, the power of 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.

Sec. 2. The state of Europe, at this time, or a few years later, in respect to religion, stood

Sec. 1. From what year may be dated the estab lishment of the Reformation? Why?

Sec. 2. What countries continued their adhesion to

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.

Sec. 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; this we shall do, under the following heads. I. Roman Church.

II. Greek Church.
III. Protestants.

I. ROMAN CHURCH.

Sec. 4. The loss which the Roman Church sustained by the Reformation, was severely felt by her. Her gigantic power had been the Roman pontiff? What countries became Protestant? What is said of Germany? Of Switzerland? Of France ?

Sec. 3. How have Christians been divided since the Reformation? Under what heads will they be considered?

Sec. 4. How did the Roman church feel, in view of

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. Aware of this, 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.

Sec. 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, 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. At length, however, Loyola removed his scruples by an offer, which was addressed to his pride and ambition. He proposed that, besides the three vows of poverty, of chastity, and of 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 highher losses, by reason of the Reformation? What did she do to sustain and restore her power ?

Sec. 5. What was the first means adopted by her? Who formed the order of Jesuits? When?

On forming the plan of the order, to whom did Loyola submit it? Why did not Paul sanction it? What removed his scruples? What