humility, is not more vain than he is | sions had surrendered the reins to dis foolish. As John Bunyan's shepherd's boy sings: "He that is down needs fear no fall; Never are we so safe as when we are lowly in heart, seeking in all things that holy and Divine influence, which can alone defend us from temptation, and deliver us from evil; " casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. x. 5. THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED. OBSERVATION and experience testify, that the influence of good men is very great after death. We often hear our fellow creatures acknowledge their obligation to the memory of their departed relatives and friends, as instrumental, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, in restraining or turning them from courses of vice, and in exciting them to walk in the path of duty and holiness. And we often feel this influence upon our own hearts. We feel restrained from pursuing courses which we have heard condemned by those we venerate, and whose memory is dear to us: and we feel urged to those habits of life which we know they approved, and to which they fervently exhorted us. And, in instances not a few, this influence has been increased after death. The severity of the affliction has imparted a sacredness and an impressiveness to every recollection. It is true, in respect to this, that we learn to estimate the blessing, by the painfulness of the loss. The counsels of a good man, which may have been slighted or contemned, while he was living, will often be profoundly venerated when he is dead. His prayers, his tears, his tender expostulations, which the heart accustomed itself to repel, as they issued from the living voice, it may be unable to resist, when they breathe forth, in the whispers of memory, from the grave. In this way, a man dies, sometimes only to increase his power-to gain ascendency over hearts that he could not control while living. We cannot doubt that many an unrenewed youth, left fatherless ere the pas ; cretion, has been saved from ruin by the remembrance of that father. At first, when the weight and intenseness of the affliction was upon him, he was all prostrated his soul was filled with solemn feeling; he mourned-and as he mourned, he recorded the most sacred resolutions, never to forget that loved, lost object, nor cease to venerate and regard his known will. This he did, when the burst of natural grief was venting itself from his heart. But after a time, the poignancy of his sorrow subsided his impressions wore away, his heart was not changed; he still loved the world, and gradually he felt the returning desire for its society and pleasures. He began to mingle again with his former associates, and, with them, to seek amusement from worldly scenes; and as he passed along, a temptation assailed him to enter the gateway of forbidden indulgence. His passions sprang at the allurement, and his foot was uplifted to take the first step in the way of criminal gratification. But suddenly he paused. Others around him rushed onward; but he came to a stand. He shuddered as though some awful apprehension had seized him. His ear was turned upward, in the attitude of listening: the heavens seemed to be opened; and he heard the well-known voice of a sainted parent saying to him, in accents of heavenly tenderness, "Fond child, forbear! by all thy love for a lost parent, forbear!" It broke upon his soul like the roar of mighty waters. The tempter's grasp was relaxed-he returned, and was rescued. Nor can we doubt that the same influence is sometimes made effectual to the conversion of a soul, when, during life, all the force of Christian example, exhortation and prayers, was insufficient. During life, familiarity had inured the heart to them; the same expostulations had been often heard; the same prayers and anxieties often offered and expressed; the feelings had grown dull; the conscience had fallen asleep; every means had lost its effect, and the mind seemed to be growing harder and more insensible under them; and, if no change had been produced, perhaps the soul would have slumbered on, and perished in its guilt. But when the time arrived that the greatest of earthly trials was to be endured, and the greatest earthly sacrifice was to be made when the most beloved RHODES. object was about to be snatched for ever | example, and to prepare to meet them from the sight, yea, when the dying scene in that world of peace to which the was unfolded, the dying faith expressed, spirits of the righteous have taken flight. the testimony borne, and the charge The memory of the just is blessed.”given, "My son, know thou the God of Professor White. thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind :—if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off It is highly probable that so renowned for ever"-then he was aroused from and commercial an island was early his fearful repose, his apathy was dis- visited by Christian missionaries. St. turbed and broken up, and a softer Paul touched at it in his journey from train of emotions came into the soul. Ephesus to Jerusalem, mentioned Acts And, when the appalling scene was xxi. 1. His stay was, probably, too short closed; when death had fulfilled his to admit of intercourse with any Chriscommission, and the momentous loss was tian brethren who might be there. But sustained, he then, with a heart surit is certain that in the same journey he charged with anguish, and penetrated met with disciples at many adjacent places with the most subduing grief, retired to evidently inferior to Rhodes. Whatever mourn in solitude, and, in memory, to was its situation at this early period, as hold discourse with the dead. This was to the blessing of Christian instruction, the Holy Spirit's favourable, chosen of this we are sure, that it soon became hour. An awful solemnity pervaded the seat of a Christian church. It was him; and, in the visions of the night, the residence of an archbishop; and the spirit of the departed seemed to when the Saracens took it, in the seventh descend and hover over him. The dew century, it contained a professedly Chrisof his love distilled upon him; he felt tian population. The knights of the his sins; he felt the force of long re-order of St. John were here established jected warnings; he felt the Saviour's love; his soul was disarmed; he yielded; he was renewed. Such results as these, though by far too seldom witnessed, are by no means the mere fabrications of fancy. Through the mercy of God, they are sometimes matters of fact; and they are a part of that blessedness which flows from the memory of the just. And there are many other precious consequences resulting to us from the recollection; but now we can only say, that the memory of our departed Christian friends, operates to restrain us from sin, to quicken our graces, and to stimulate us to the discharge of duty. Who can consent to sin, when the sacred recollection of a virtuous friend, now in heaven, is fresh in his heart? And whose graces can languish and grow cold, or who can depart from the path of duty, with the bright example of a spirit of the just made perfect," before him? The experience of every one must testify, that the tendency of the memory of a good man is to destroy carnal, and promote spiritual mindedness. It supports us under our afflictions, lightens our burdens, assuages our sorrows, increases our fortitude, dispels our fears, animates our zeal, and urges us on to imitate their 66 under a grand master, who had a palace in Rhodes before that order was established in Malta. It is stated by some authors, that the knights of Jerusalem recovered it from the Saracens in 1309, but that it was recaptured by the Turks, who still continue in possession of it. The Greeks, its original inhabitants, are now restricted to the miserable suburbs, with all other Christians; Jews and Turks alone dwell in the City. The palace of the grand master is still shown, though greatly dilapidated by time and the poverty of the people. Niebuhr visited it, and states that "it contains many noble old buildings, some of which are decorated with the armorial bearings of some of the most ancient families in Europe. The Turks neglect the fortifications, although they might know their importance from having besieged the island so long before they could make themselves masters of it."- Christian Keepsake. THE BIBLE USED. Oh how I love to see a dog's-eared, thumb-marked Bible! Not one that has been abused by the idle and careless, but one that has been used by the diligent seeker after salvation.—Ğ. M. ENGLISH HISTORY. ELIZABETH. THE affairs of Holland and the Netherlands pressed upon England for help with increased force in 1585. As yet the confederates received little aid from Elizabeth; the interference of the duke of Anjou had proved unsatisfactory; the prince of Orange was murdered; his eldest son was a prisoner in Spain; the second, upon whom the authority devolved, was a youth of eighteen; and the Spanish general, the prince of Parma, was successful in his military operations; while the king of France, though willing to check the power of Philip, had too many troubles at home to allow of his interference. The States, in this extremity, again applied to Elizabeth, offering to acknowledge her as their sovereign. The hazard from committing herself to an open war with Philip was considerable; he was then the ruler of a large part of Europe, with the pope and the house of Austria ready to assist him; the treasures of the New World were at his disposal. But to allow him to overcome the confederates, would be to enable him to act with still more force against England. It was therefore resolved that Elizabeth should decline the sovereignty, but give efficient aid to the States of Holland, by assisting them JULY, 1840. with an army and a fleet, holding some towns as guarantees for the repayment of the charges of the expedition. A declaration was published, stating that ancient treaties with those provinces, required the English sovereign to assist them in preserving their privileges under the oppressions of the Spanish government. Certainly the refusal of the sovereignty thus offered, proves a wisdom and real greatness of mind few monarchs would have shown. The earl of Leicester was appointed general of the allied army; this was owing to Elizabeth's ill-judged partiality for him. Early in 1586, the States gratified his ambition by conferring upon him powers almost equal to sovereignty. When Elizabeth heard of this proceeding, she blamed him for receiving such authority, and the States for bestowing it; but his administration soon became unpopular. Nor did he display military talents. In a skirmish at Zutphen, where the Spaniards had pressed forward, owing to an error of Leicester's in leaving some approaches unguarded, his nephew, the amiable sir Philip Sidney, who was considered one of the most virtuous and accomplished characters of that day, received a mortal wound. The anecdote of his sending the water, brought to relieve his own suffering, to a dying soldier, who appeared to need a draught still U more than himself, is well known; it | year, may be a question; but there can shows a kindliness of disposition seldom manifested amidst the horrors of warfare. He lingered more than a fortnight before he died, during which time he sought, as his friend lord Brooke records, to "apply the eternal sacrifice of our Saviour's passion and merits to himself." The author of the "History of England, on Christian Principles," has well remarked, that " It is due to candour not to hide the defects which stained the fair face of religion in queen Elizabeth's reign; yet, assuredly, those deserved to be called golden days, in which a courtier could thus express his faith in his Saviour's righteousness; and a young nobleman was not ashamed to record the saintly language of a polished friend and brother soldier. A general mourning, and a public funeral in St. Paul's church, were unusual marks of respect; and with these the court honoured sir Philip Sidney's memory." The aid afforded to the States checked the progress of the Spaniards; but that nation suffered more from an expedition under Drake against the Spanish colonies of Hispaniola, Carthagena, and Florida. The encouragement given by Elizabeth to her naval commanders rapidly increased the number of efficient defenders of her realm. In addition to the plots against Elizabeth, a design of still greater magnitude began to attract the attention of the English government in 1586. This was the preparation of the fleet, known in history by the title of the Invincible Armada. Vast preparations were in progress for fitting out a naval armament in the ports of Spain and Portugal; the reasons alleged were the intentions of Philip to make a great effort to aid the war in the Low Countries, and also to send a large expedition to America. The first discovery of the design to invade England, is said to have been made to Walsingham, by a priest, one of his spies, who informed him that Philip had privately written to the pope respecting the destination of his fleet, which was unknown to his council. By a bribe given to the mistress of one of the pope's confidents, a copy of the Spanish king's letter was procured. The design was there avowed to be, the invasion of England, with the death of Elizabeth, the placing Mary on the throne, and the destruction of the Protestant faith. How far this was ascertained before the end of the be no doubt that the preparations must have been surmised to be intended against England, and therefore in connexion with Mary Stuart. At this crisis, a new plot was discovered, with which that princess was personally concerned. One of the Rhemish priests, named William Gifford, persuaded a man named Savage, that to murder Elizabeth would be a meritorious and laudable deed, ensuring him eternal happiness. Ballard, another priest, on visiting England, found the Papists increasingly disposed to act against Elizabeth. He communicated with Mendoza, then Spanish ambassador in France, and Paget, the agent of the queen of Scots, who encouraged the invasion of England; but Paget gave his opinion, that no such effort could succeed, unless Elizabeth was first "taken off." Ballard was directed to return to England, to procure further information respecting English Papists willing to assist an invasion. On his arrival, in the disguise of a military officer, he had conferences with Babington, a man of respectable family in Derbyshire, who had already formed some schemes for liberating Mary, and had been engaged in conveying her letters secretly to the continent. On conferring upon their plans, Babington concurred in the plot for assassinating Elizabeth, and selected five other zealous Papists to be joined with Savage in his murderous attempt, which he communicated to Mary's ambassador, the bishop of Ross. But Walsingham had received an intimation of the plot; his spies were active; one of them became privy to the plans, and pretended to be an associate in the conspiracy. Walsingham, with that craft which is too common, but which must be censured as opposed to Christian principle, allowed the conspiracy to proceed, while it was watched by his emissaries; Gifford being concerned in communicating with Mary, and betraying her letters to Walsingham, who even listened to Babington's offer that he and Ballard would become spies for the secretary, if allowed to visit the continent. Their object was to ascertain that preparations were made for the invasion, before the murder of the queen was attempted. Walsingham caused Ballard to be apprehended before he left England; but with consummate art, persuaded Babington this was only occasioned by the discovery that he was clear proof that she had corresponded with Babington, had been informed of his murderous designs, and had written to him approving of them, directing that her liberation should be attempted immediately after the design on which phrased it. The letters did not rest only on Babington's evidence, a rough draft of Mary's reply, in her own writing, was found among her papers, made for one of her secretaries to copy, and put into the cypher used in the correspond a priest. Babington was thus induced to cause his associates to delay the attempt at murder, which at the moment they wished to hasten, and he even consented to reside in Walsingham's house, on the pretence of arranging what his proceedings in France should be. The conspir-"the six gentlemen were at work," as she ator soon became alarmed, on finding his motions strictly watched, and joined his confederates, who fled in different disguises; but all, except one, were soon discovered. They were examined, confessions were drawn from them, after which they were tried, when the seven principal conspirators pleaded guilty. Babington, Savage, Ballard, and eleven others, were executed. One of them expressly declared, that what he did was only for his conscience' sake, and not for any malice or hatred to Elizabeth; so completely can the bigotry of false religion blind the mind. ence. The course now usually adopted by Mary's advocates is, to admit the murderous plot of Babington and his associates, and that Mary participated in the plan for an invasion; but to deny that she was aware of the intention to murder Elizabeth, alleging that her letters, or the parts of her letters, which establish her guilt and Knowledge of the plot, were fabricated by her enemies to involve her in the charge. But there are no circumstances which bear out this statement, excepting her own denial, and she extended this still further, asserting a direct falsehood in the first instance. If we are to balance probabilities, there can be no reason to suppose one part of the design would be communicated to her, while the most efficient part of the proceeding was not mentioned. And it was impossible for her to think that an insurrection or invasion could be successful, unless the life of Eli Babington's confessions implicated Mary. He had renewed his correspondence, and had written her an account of the murderous design, which she had answered, approving the plan, arranging several matters connected with the attempt, and expressing her anxiety for the safety of the murderers, after the deed should be perpetrated. These letters passed from Chartley, where Mary then was, by a secret contrivance; being deposited in a hole in the wall by one of her servants, they were taken from thence and delivered to the agents of Mary. Information of this means of communication being obtained, the let-zabeth could be sacrificed. But the matters and the answers were seen and copied, while passing between Mary's agents and her own servant. Thus there was treachery on both sides. Mary's fate exemplified the truth of Scripture, "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him," Prov. xxvi. 27. It was determined that Mary should be proceeded against, as sufficient proofs of her concurrence in Babington's plans had been found. Sir Thomas Gorges was sent to Chartley to make the communication to her; he did so when she was on horseback preparing for the chase, and conducted her to Tixall. She attempted to resist, but in vain. Her apartments were searched, her papers were seized, and her secretaries sent to London to be examined, after which she was reconducted to Chartley, from whence, in a few days, she was removed to Fotheringay, in Northamptonshire. There was ter does not merely rest on such probabilities, however convincing they may be. The written documents can only be met by a mere assertion, that her secretaries played her false, which is entirely unsupported, and which Mary herself did not venture to allege, nor were they called to account by her friends as guilty of such a proceeding, though they lived several years afterwards. The conduct of Walsingham in suffering the plot to go forward, and that persons should be induced to join it, after it was known to him, is wholly indefensible, except on the ground of meeting craft by craft, a course that ought never to be attempted; but still it offers no excuse for Mary. Elizabeth and her ministers may be blamed for allowing her to proceed in these guilty conspiracies, but it was in her mind to do so; the plot originated with her partizans, and was taken up by her in a manner which showed her readiness |