were not in general in his interests. Though favourable to the reformed faith, Henry had not, I fear, its vital principles implanted by God's Spirit in his soul: and, therefore, finding the profession of it a bar to his attaining earthly dignities, he renounced it, became a Roman Catholic by profession, and shortly after gained the throne he wanted.

But though the outward profession of his faith was changed, his affections and his opinions remained what they before were: he still was a friend to Protestantism, though he knew not that faith which actuated most of its persecuted professors, and which would have enabled him to "count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord."

1

By the favour of Henry IV. the famous edict of Nantz was granted to the French Protestants, which established in the most effectual manner their rights, privileges, and liberties, and put them on an equality with Roman Catholics. This edict, signed at Nantz, April 13, 1598, put an end to the religious wars, as historians term them, in France, and kept the Protestants in tranquility until the death of Henry IV. who, after having escaped many attacks upon his life by priests and bigots of the popish church, was at last murdered by one of them named Ravaillac ; A. D. 1610.

From this period the peace and security of the reformed church in France, was at an end; the

edict of Nismes, and the renewal of that of Nantz it is true, were favourable to them; but in general they suffered oppression and wrong, and were often exposed to cruel persecution. At last in 1683, the cruel Louis XIV. revoked the edict of Nantz, and nature shudders at the recital of Protestant suffering. Driven from every hope of shelter or safety in their native land, these unhappy people fled into England, Scotland, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, and other places that afforded them an exile. But to banish them from France was not merely the aim of the papists: heretics must find no room upon the earth, and the most peremptory orders were issued to prevent the escape of these devoted victims. Double guards were placed over the houses where they were; the gates of cities were closed upon them, and those who attempted to fly from death, were killed on the spot, or doomed to suffer the miseries of cruel imprisonment. Every prison was soon overflowing with Protestants; they were hunted and slaughtered like sheep before wolves, and the persecutors, seeing their numbers fail, thought to root out the remaining few by affixing a price upon every Protestant head.

Thus was it given unto the papal powers to "make war with the saints and to overcome them;" and thus did the head of the papal church, the Pope, and his adherents fully take to them

selves the character of Antichrist, predicted by the Spirit of God.

From this time the Reformed Church in France disappears almost entirely from sight, being reckoned among those hidden ones reserved of the Lord, and known only to Himself, who bowed not the knee to Baal.

CENTURY XVI-XVII.

REFORMATION IN ENGLAND.

WE are now come to that part of the history of the Reformation which concerns us most nearly. Every child who has read the English history, and who, that will ever read these stories, has not,-knows already the circumstances that led to the establishment of the reformed religion in England.

It is a common thing to hear Roman Catholics bring forward as a plea against the reformation here, the wickedness of the king who effected it; but surely there are few who would condemn Christianity because Constantine, who established it, was not himself a Christian who "adorned the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things." Henry VIII., Constantine, and many such charac ters, have been instruments in the hands of the Lord, to do whatsoever His counsel determined afore to be done, and to the objections of all who would bring forth the private characters of these individuals as pleas against the righteousness of the

work wrought by their means, may the answer be given, See what the scripture saith unto Pharoah, "Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout the earth." If Pharaoh was raised up to show God's power, to cause His name to be declared, why not Henry VIII? The character of the man only proves the work to have been of God.

You are all acquainted with Henry's treatment of his several wives, and his dispute with Pope Clement VII. respecting his divorce from Catharine. This, as she had been his brother's wife, he might easily have obtained, had not Catharine been aunt to Charles V. which made the Pope fearful of that Emperor's anger. Having, however, obtained a decision from the Universities of Europe in his favour, Henry, regardless of the Pope's sanction, dissolved his marriage with Catharine and married Anne Boleyn. In consequence of these proceedings, Henry was threatened with excommunication, and in return threw off his allegiance to the Pope, and disowned his supremacy.

England now presented an extraordinary scene. Henry had abjured the authority of the Pope, but not the Roman Catholic religion: instead of acknowledging him as the head of the church, he placed himself there, and forming a most oddly mingled creed, he commanded all men to receive it and act by it. It was now equally dangerous