The latter preached against the pope and against Luther; they even preferred the first to the second; they considered Luther as the friend of the nobility, and they cursed him as he had cursed the Swabian peasantry.

MARRIAGE. PRIVATE LIFE OF LUTHER.

LUTHER Owed to his opinions a step which was the natural consequence and effect of them. He had thrown open the cloisters, thence sallied forth a crowd of men and women whom he was at a loss to dispose of; he accordingly married, as much to set them a good example as to rid himself of his temptations. Whosoever infringes prescribed rules endeavours to draw the weak along with him, and to take shelter behind the multitude. People hope, by this assent of the many, to convey a belief in the justness and lawfulness of an act which was often the result of mere accident or of a thoughtless passion. Holy vows were doubly violated; Luther married a nun. All this may perhaps be consistent with nature, but there exists a loftier nature; however exemplary may be the virtues of a married couple, they can scarcely inspire confidence and respect when taking the conjugal oath at that

altar where their vows of chastity and solitude had been pronounced. Never will a christian pour into the bosom of a priest the concealed burden of his life, if that priest owns any other spouse than that mysterious church, which preserves the secret of errors inviolate, and administers consolation to sorrow. Christ, at once a pontiff and a victim, lived in celibacy, and he quitted the earth at the close of his youth.

The nun whom Luther took to wife was named Catherine de Bora; he loved her, lived in harmony with her, and laboured with his own hands for her support. He who made princes, and deprived the clergy of its wealth, remained a poor man; like our early revolutionists, he gloried in his indigence. We read in his will these affecting words :

"I declare that we have neither ready money, nor property of any kind. This is not to be wondered at, if it be considered that we possess no other revenue than my salary and a few presents."

In his domestic life and his private opinions, Luther inspires us with interest. He has many noble ideas respecting nature, the Bible, schools, education, faith, and laws. His remarks on the press excite our curiosity; an individual idea leads him to a general truth and to an insight into futurity.

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The press is the last and the supreme gift, the summum et postremum donum, by means of which the Almighty promotes the things of the Gospel. It is the last blaze that bursts forth before the extinction of the world. Thanks be to God, we at last behold its splendour."

Let us listen to Luther in the privacy of his domestic feelings :

"This child (his son) and all that belongs to me, is hated by their adherents, hated of the whole host of devils. Nevertheless, this child is not disconcerted by his enemies, he is not disturbed at so many and such powerful lords bearing him so much ill-will; he gaily sucks the breast, looks around with a loud laugh, and lets them snarl to their hearts' content."

Speaking again of his children in another place, he says:

"Such would have been our thoughts in paradise, simple and unaffected; innocent, free from malignity and hypocrisy, we should have been, in very truth, like this child, when he speaks of God, and feels so assured of him.

"What must have been Abraham's feelings, when he consented to sacrifice and slaughter his only son? Assuredly he never said a word on the subject to Sarah."

The last trait possesses a character of familia