We believe many a parent, many a mother at least, would value such opportunities. They have many difficulties to struggle with, much responsibility upon them in the training of their children; and we have but to look around to be convinced how much even Christian parents fail in this important duty of married life. With these imperfect hints we leave the subject, commending it to the consideration of those whom it more immediately concerns, and to the elucidation of a more able pen. “A Consolatory Epistle, 66 FROM THE THEOLOGIANS IN MISNIA,* TO THE PASTORS IN THE DISTRICTS OF BOHEMIA AND LUSATIAT WHO ARE NOW SUFFERING PERSECUTION ON ACCOUNT OF THE PURE EVANGELICAL DOCTRINE; ANNO 1555." com "WHEN Ferdinand I. of Bohemia discovered, in 1548, that the Brethren of the Unity were not concerned in any conspiracy; but that the orders of the kingdom of Bohemia, in consequence of an ancient treaty with the Saxon and their recent affection for the protesting Evangelicals, had declined to take up arms against the Saxon, be turned his attention to persecuting the purer Calixtines likewise, or Lutherans, in Bohemia. Therefore having convoked a diet, in 1549, he confirmed the ' pactata,' and promulgated a decree forbidding the toleration of any other sects, meaning the Brethren and the Lutherans, i.e. the purer Calixtines. The effect of this decree was, to invest the mere Calixtines and Papists with greater powers and facilities to harass the Evangelicals with indignities, calumnies, and wrongs. At length, in 1555, such ministers às had been ordained in Germany, and were married, to the number as some writers state of nearly two hundred, were by the King's mandate, instigated probably by the crafty jesuit, Peter Canisius, who this year settled in Prague by the invitation of Ferdinand,§ removed from the cities and towns and proscribed from the kingdom. These, when dispersed throughout Meissen (Meisnia) and the Palatinate, were addressed in consolatory letters by Philip Melancthon and others. "A collection of these pious and useful letters, especially consoling to those suffering persecution for their confession of the truth, was published at Strasburg, in 1565."|| The one whose title we have given above, and of which the following is a Misnia (Meyssen) situate on the north of Bohemia and Voghtland, and on the south of Upper Saxony; having Lusatia on the east and Thuringia on the west, and containing the residence of the Dukes of Saxony. + Lusatia (Lauznitz) situate on the west of Silesia and on the east of Misnia and Upper Saxony; having Marchia on the north and Bohemia on the south. i.e. The four points conceded to the Calixtines of Bohemia by the Council of Basil, in 1431. § Schmidl. Hist. Soc. Jesu. Lib. 1. . | Regenvolscius, p. 205, 206. Hist. Persecut. Eccles. Bohem. p. 53, 54. translation, is in Latin and German, and bears date the ides of February (13th January) 1555, old style. It was printed at Dresden, by Matthew Stöckel. It is indeed a precious document, and will no doubt be read with interest and to purpose at the present time, when Antichrist is again rearing his blasphemous forehead against the evangelic faith in our beloved land. D. BENHAM. TO THE VENERABLE MEN DISTINGUISHED FOR ERUDITION AND VIRTUE, PASTORS TEACHING THE INCORRUPT DOCTRINE OF THF GOSPEL, IN THE DISTRICTS OF BOHEMINA AND LUSATIA, OUR FRIENDS, WE WISH HEALTH. VENERABLE MEN AND DEARLY BELOVED BRETHERN, The Divine word has foretold two things; that, in the feebleness and dotage of this the old age of the world, confusions among mankind will be greater than ever were before; and yet, that the Son of God will continue, amidst the ruins of kingdoms, until he recall the dead to life, to collect the eternal church by the voice of the Gospel, and by that only. These have been foretold to induce us to prepare our minds to endure our common toils, and not to abandon the propagation of the doctrine; seeing this labour is not in vain. We have learned and with deep sorrow, that through hatred of the pure doctrine, Pastors in your district are driven out of their churches; and innocent and righteous men are now wandering in exile, with their affectionate wives and little bands of children. Greatly do we lament your own calamity, and also the bereaved state of your churches; and we implore the Son of God, who has said, "I will not leave you destitute," to alleviate those evils and to grant his aid to us all. Knowing that the fountains of consolation are well known to you, we at present write the more briefly to you, and only to exhort you, that so long as you are allowed to address your churches your endeavour should be to confirm them, lest, because of your calamity, they should doubt concerning the doctrine. Nothing more effectually supports the mind than a clear comprehension of what the doctrine really is. Let the contrast, therefore, between the two kinds of opinions be rendered strikingly apparent. The papal faction defends many manifest idols and prayers to the dead, with many monstrous superstitions arising therefrom. They impiously convert the Lord's Supper to gain; and, in the horrible spectacle of carrying it about, they adore bread, although nothing can be accounted sacramental beyond its constituted use. They silence the voice of the Gospel respecting true penitence; invent many foolish satisfactions; and give exquisite pain to pious minds in the torture of confession. They annihilate the consolation offered in the knowledge of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, they resolutely maintain many kinds of false worship. When it is apparent that the dissension involves matters of such vast importance, the people will not think that we are raising unnecessary contests. For that purpose, let a summary of the true doctrine also be often repeated; and let the most severe sayings be employed-" Avoid idols""If any one teach another Gospel let him be accursed"-and, "If any one speak blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him." Such thunderbolts as these have no effect on the enemies of the Gospel, many of whom, while knowingly they oppose the truth, speak peace to themselves, feign pretences, and cunningly conceal their real object-the establishment of idols; saying, 'that they are preserving order in the church, that the Lord's Supper cannot be administered by men who have not been initiated by those who have the title of bishops,'' nor by married men.' Unjust as such pretences are, still more unjust, and a still greater evil, is the object aimed at by these false assumptions,-the suppression of true doctrine and of true invocation. Of these insidious artifices the people ought to be warned. But respecting the pretences themselves, we must observe that it is manifest tyranny to say that married men cannot administer the Lord's Supper; since it is quite certain, that in the ancient church married men performed that office, and the marriage of priests has been so clearly established by numerous writers as to render a long disputation quite unnecessary here. Paul says that" the prohibition of marriage arises from devils." Rejoice that ye are not "followers of the counsels of devils, and doubt not that God will be the defender of your marriages against devils." The other pretence, that ordination must be obtained from Bishops, is clearly refuted by Paul, when he says, "If any one teach another Gospel, let him be accursed." It cannot, therefore, be that the rites of ordination are to be sought from those, who, although, with their title of Bishops and their prerogative of regular succession (as they call it), they rule as Lords, yet are open enemies of the Gospel and defenders of idols. That assembly only which declares the true doctrine is the church, and in this church is the ministration of the Gospel as it is written to the Ephesians. In this church really are, what the Son of God calls the keys of the kingdom of heaven; consequently, in this same assembly is the right of calling and of ordaining the ministers of the Gospel, because it is necessary to avoid enemies of the Gospel as persons accursed. But supposing we were to seek the rite of ordination from them, they cannot give it without binding us to abandon the true doctrine, and imposing upon us other impious bonds. True churches, therefore, ought not to be without pastors, without the keys, without the voice of the Gospel, without the remission of sins, because the tyranny of bishops drives away or refuses to appoint proper ministers. We do not disturb order in not seeking ministers of the Gospel from tyrants who themselves do not belong to the church. But it would be confusion of order to seek shepherds from wolves. It has always been the right of the true church to call, and to elect from among its own assembly, proper ministers of the Gospel; as the Nicene Synod expressly states. And when they had been so chosen by the judgment of the church and examined, they were ordained, not by heathen tyrants, but by those who were then presiding over orthodox churches. And as this ancient custom is observed by us, to accuse us of disturbing order, is a most false charge. Since, then, it may be beneficial, both for your own consolation and for establishing the minds of your hearers, to consider the causes for which cruelty is exercised upon you, and the pretences alleged for such treatment, often bring before both yourselves and your people the whole body of doctrine. You yourselves will bear your sufferings with more tranquillity of mind, when you reflect, that cruelty is excrcised upon you, not for reasons appertaining to yourselves only; but because, being piously called by the churches, you have taught true and necessary doctrine concerning God, whilst false pretences are searched for wherewith to effect its suppression. Such considerations as these will also encourage many among the people to embrace the doctrine, steadfastly and earnestly to defend and cherish the churches. We have written these things to you briefly, that ye may be assured of our sympathy, both for your own distress and for that of your churches. And we implore the Son of God, that being the Xoyos-the WORD of the Eternal Father, he would preserve the ministration of the Gospel in many regions, and teach and govern and protect both us and you. These churches of the neighbouring countries will not fail you, whenever it may be in our power to alleviate, by offices of hospitality, your suffering in exile. 13th of January, 1555. (Signed by) Fare ye well. Dr. JOHN PFEFFINGER, pastor and superintendent, Leipsic. Dr. ALEXANDER ALESIUS, professor of Theology in the university Dr. JOHN FORSTER, professors of Theology in the celebrated JEROME OPPICIUS, pastor of the old Church, Dresden. CHRISTIAN SAGITTARIUS (Schutze), preacher in the palace of the most illustrious Prince and Elector of Saxony, Augustus, &c. Minutes OF THE MINISTERS' CONFERENCE, HELD AT HERRNHUT, [THE Ministers' Conference annually held at Herrnhut, under the presidency of a Bishop of our church, is generally attended by from sixty to eighty ministers and candidates for the ministry, of the Lutheran and Reformed communions. Subjects connected with their ministerial and pastoral duties are discussed, and communications read from corresponding members in almost every part of Europe. It has long been a means of encouragement, especially to pastors in isolated situations, and has helped in no small measure, to keep alive the pure flame of evangelical truth in many a district. Next year, it will complete its centenary, on which occasion a sketch of its rise and progress will be given. We regret to notice the absence, for the last two years, of the interesting correspondence from the Tyrol and other parts of the Austrian empire.] First Session, from 10 to 12, A.M. After singing and prayer, Br. Currie, the president, in a short introductory discourse, remarked, that notwithstanding the many changes which had passed over the Church of Christ since the first meeting of the little band of ministers at this Conference, its formation had remained immoveably the same, according to the text for the day, " Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord." (Eph. ii. 20, 21.) Imperfect as this building still was, there were many cheering promises which directed our eyes onward to its latter-day glory; and our labours, with all their imperfections, would, if faithful and earnest, cooperate in bringing round that blessed consummation. Even in the darkest period of the church's history, the Lord had manifested his power, and wrought wonders beyond all human expectation. So it had been in the times of Luther. And again in our own age, we might say that far more had been done in the last half century than any one could have predicted. The word of God had made rapid progress. At the very time when it was assailed on all sides, and its authority degraded to a level with that of human writings, it had, by the blessing of God on the exertions of the British Bible Society and its auxiliaries, been distributed over almost all the world, and published in nearly every language under heaven. The Gospel, after long remaining stationary in the nations of Christendom, had now its missionaries among the remotest heathen nations. And, last of all, the awakening conviction of the deplorable spiritual ignorance of the masses in Christendom itself, had given birth to the Home Mission. These considerations should lead us to thank God and to take courage. After this address, the Conference called to mind the five brethren who had been present the preceding year, but were now at rest with the Lord. Of these, Pastor Kloss, of Burkersdorf, who had attended its meetings for fifty years, had commissioned Pastor Bourquin, of Hennersdorf, to convey to the Conference his farewell salutation and good wishes. The programme of subjects for consideration, previously drawn up and circulated by the Directing Board, at Berthelsdorf, is as follows:1. How can we best confirm our charge in the faith of the Gospel? a. By constant reference to the Scriptures. (John v. 39. 1. Cor. xv. 1-4.) 1 b. By reference to the experience which we may make of Christ's redemption, if,under conviction of sin, we turn to him in faith; (John vii. 12-17. Rom. x. 6-8; comp. Deut xxx. 11-14;) or which we have actually made. (John iv. 42, ix. 25, 35-99, xx. 28.) 2. The Bible declares, and experience confirms it, that the conversion of the heart is not the work of man. (Matt. xv. 17. Phil. ii. 13.) How are we to endeavour to further God's work in the hearts of our people? a. By the full and faithful proclamation of the Gospel. (Rom. x. 14-17. Acts xx. 18-20.). |