to it; regarding the whole affair as a mere theological dispute, which they had been accustomed to consider as quite out of their province. The transactions of the diet of Worms, under the leading of God's wise and beneficent providence, formed a grand link in the chain of events, upon which depended the interests, not of Germany only, but of Europe and the whole world; not of one centnry or two, but of all future time and eternity itself. Had "the standard-bearer fainted," as many, both wishing and fearing, expected that he would, the too probable result, on account of the existing state of the powers of Europe, would have been a melancholy retarding of human improvement, and the trampling of the liberties and the best hopes of mankind under the iron hoofs of civil despotism and ecclesiastical tyranny, each vying with the other in cruelty to man and insult to God.

The rejoinder of Luther to the emperor's attorney-general, John von Eck, (not the divine before mentioned,) is recited by Dean Milner, and by inferior historians, apparently in consequence of their using the Latin translation of Melchior Adam, or some other, in a manner which fails in precision, and in expressing the spirit of this memorable conclusion. We shall, therefore, give a literal translation from what must be regarded as a source of the highest authenticity, the "Documents belonging to the History of the Reformation, from 1517 to 1524," published by the indefatigable John George Walch, in the fifteenth volume of his, which is the best edition of Luther's works, twenty-four volumes in quarto, printed at Halle, 1740-1750, page 2307.

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Since, then, your Imperial Majesty, and ye, most gracious Electors and Princes, desire a plain, simple, straightforward, answer; I will give one that has neither horns nor teeth, and this is it: Unless I am vanquished and convicted of error by

testimonies out of the Holy Scripture, or by such grounds and reasons as shall publicly appear to be clear and plain, (for I believe neither the Pope nor Councils alone, since it is as plain as daylight that they have often erred, and have contradicted themselves;) and thus am convinced with passages from the word of God, and my conscience thereby satisfied,nothing can I, nothing will I, revoke, for it is neither safe nor wise to do any thing against a man's conscience. Here I make my stand; no otherwise can I: God help me! Amen."

The great hall of the bishop's palace, in which the diet was held, was standing a few years ago, though in a ruinous condition. In the year 1829, two ingenious artists, Messrs. App and Anschütz, published at Worms a fine lithographed print, representing the session of the diet, and Luther in the act of delivering his vindication. They had taken great pains upon the points of antiquarian accuracy; and all the principal figures, which are nearly thirty, are portraits.

M

PRAYER FOR MISSIONS,

RECOMMENDED TO THE YOUNG.

NIGHT wraps the realm where Jesus woke,
No guiding star the magi see,
And heavy hangs oppression's yoke,

Where first the Gospel said, " be free."

And where the harps of angels bore

High message to the shepherd-throng, "Good-will and peace," are heard no more To murmur Bethlehem's vales along.

Swarth India, with her idol-train,

Bends low by Ganges' worshipp'd tide, Or drowns the Suttee's shriek of pain With thundering gong and pagan pride.

Their steps the forest-children stay;
Bound to oblivion's voiceless shore,
And lift their red brows to the day,

Which from the opening skies doth pour.

Oh! aid with prayer that holy light,

Which from eternal death can save,

And bid Christ's heralds speed their flight,
Ere millions find a hopeless grave.

Kneel, while unsullied youth doth glow
Resplendent on the blooming cheek,
And for the climes of heathen wo,
A blest Redeemer's favour seek.

Blend sweetly with the classic page,

The love of heaven, sublime and fair,
So beauty's brow, though dim with age,

The lustre of the soul shall wear.

L. H. S.

Hartford, United States.

LINES ON THE PORTRAIT OF THE REV. W. JAY,

OF BATH.

BY JAMES MONTGOMERY.

FIRM in the faith, and valiant for the truth,

Thine age hath well redeem'd the pledge of youth,
Warrior of Christ! in many a gospel-field,

The Spirit's sword invincibly to wield,

And, more than conqueror through thy Captain's might,
The armies of the aliens turn to flight.

A cloud of witnesses, since life's fair prime,
Men, angels, God,-a spectacle sublime!

Have compass'd thee about, and watch'd thy way,
Brightening or darkening through progressive day;
But now, at evening-time, the tranquil close
Of toil and suffering, take thy brief repose,
Not under laurels by thy prowess won,
Or works of righteousness which thou hast done,
Yet, like a victor, waiting for his crown,
Beneath the shadow of the cross sit down,

Till He who died thereon shall bid thee die,
And where He lay, but whence He rose, to lie,
Resting in hope, till that triumphant hour,

When, sown in weakness, raised in mighty power,

Thou, to his image perfectly restored,

Even Thou, shalt be for ever with the Lord.

Meanwhile, may

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eyes yet uncreated" see
That likeness which thy Saviour wore, in Thee;
Tongues yet unform'd, to ears unopen'd, tell
His words of grace as from thy lips they fell;
And men unborn his speech and features trace,
When they peruse thy writings or thy face.

JULY 5, 1836.