care to be not to deviate into folly. The cause I now plead is not my own cause: it is the cause of men; it is the cause of Christians; it is a cause which is to affect the rights of posterity, however the experiment is to be made in my person.'

This speech had not the least effect; he was obliged to hear the charge read, which was reduced under the following heads: 1. That he was a derider of the papal dignity; 2. An opposer of the pope; 3. An enemy to the cardinals; 4. A persecutor of the prelates; 5. A hater of the Christian religion.

The trial of Jerome was brought on the third day after his accusation, and witnesses were examined in support of the charge. The prisoner was prepared for his defence, which appears almost incredible, when we consider he had been three hundred and forty days shut up in loathsome prisons, deprived of daylight, and almost starved for want of common necessaries. But his spirit soared above these disadvantages, under which a man less animated would have sunk; nor was he more at a loss for quotations from the fathers and ancient authors, than if he had been furnished with the finest library.

The most bigoted of the assembly were unwilling he should be heard, knowing what effect eloquence is apt to have on the minds of the most prejudiced. At length, however, it was carried by the majority, that he should have liberty to proceed in his defence, which he began in such an exalted strain of moving elocution, that the heart of obdurate zeal was seen to melt, and the mind of superstition seemed to admit a ray of conviction. He made an admirable distinction between evidence as resting upon facts, and as supported by malice and calumny. He laid before the assembly the whole tenor of his life and conduct. He observed that the greatest and most holy men had been known to differ in points of speculation, with a view to distinguish truth, not to keep it con

cealed. He expressed a noble contempt of all his enemies, who would have induced him to retract the cause of virtue and truth. He entered upon a high encomium of Huss; and declared he was ready to follow him in the glorious track of martyrdom. He then touched upon the most defensible doctrines of Wiclif; and concluded with observing that it was far from his intention to advance anything against the state of the Church of Godthat it was only against the abuse of the clergy he complained, and that he could not help saying, it was certainly impious that the patrimony of the Church, which was originally intended for the purpose of charity and universal benevolence, should be prostituted to the pride of the eye, in feasts, foppish vestments, and other reproaches to the name and profession of Christianity.

man.

The trial being over, Jerome received the same sentence that had been passed upon his martyred countryIn consequence of this, he was, in the usual style of popish affectation, delivered over to the civil power: but as he was a layman, he had not to undergo the ceremony of degradation. They had prepared a cap of paper painted with red devils, which being put upon his head, he said, "Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he suffered death for me, a most miserable sinner, did wear a crown of thorns upon his head, and for his sake will I wear this cap."

Two days were allowed him in hopes that he would recant; in which time the cardinal of Florence used his utmost endeavours to bring him over. But they all proved ineffectual. Jerome was resolved to seal the doctrine with his blood; and he suffered death with the most distinguished magnanimity.

In going to the place of execution he sung several hymns, and when he came to the spot, which was the same where Huss had been burnt, he knelt down, and prayed fervently. He embraced the stake with great

cheerfulness, and when they went behind him to set fire to the fagots, he said, "Come here, and kindle it before my eyes; for if I had been afraid of it, I had not come to this place." The fire being kindled, he sung a hymn, but was soon interrupted by the flames; and the last words he was heard to say were these: "This soul in flames I offer, Christ, to thee."

15. ESCH AND VOES.

THE Convent of the Augustines at Antwerp contained within it many monks, who hailed with joy the truths of the Gospel as taught by Luther. Several of them had passed some time in Wittemberg; and subsequently to 1519, the doctrine of salvation by grace alone had been preached in their churches with unusual power. Toward the close of the year 1521, the prior and one of the most distinguished of the monks were arrested. The prior recanted, while the other found means to appease his judges, and escaped condemnation. These proceedings no way overawed the monks; but they continued to preach the Gospel with earnestness. The people crowded to their church in such numbers that it was unable to contain them.

In October, 1522, the storm of persecution burst forth upon them-the convent was closed; the monks imprisoned, and sentenced to die. The sacred vessels were publicly sold, the entrance to the church barricaded, and the holy sacrament carried forth as if from a place of pollution. An order was given that not one stone should be left upon another of that heretical monastery. "The cause," said Luther, when he heard of these things, "is no longer a mere trial of strength; it demands the sacrifice of our lives, and must be cemented by our blood." Esch and Voes, two of the

younger monks, evaded for a time the search of the inquisitors; but were at length discovered, put in chains, and conducted to Brussels. When summoned into the presence of the inquisitors, it was demanded, "Do you retract your opinion that the priest has no power to forgive sins, but that that power belongs to God alone?" and then several other Gospel truths they were required to abjure, were enumerated.

They firmly replied, "No, we will retract nothing; we will not disown God's word; we will rather die for the faith."

"Confess that you have been deceived by Luther," said the inquisitor.

They replied, "As the apostles were deceived by Jesus Christ."

The inquisitors then said, "We declare you to be heretics, worthy of being burned alive; and we deliver you over to the secular arm."

The council having delivered them bound to the executioner, Hockstratin, and three other inquisitors, accompanied them to the place of execution. Arriving at the scaffold, the young martyrs contemplated it with calmness. Their constancy, their piety, and their youth, drew tears from the inquisitors themselves. When they were bound to the stake, the confessors drew near," Once more we ask you if you will receive the Christian faith?"

"We believe," said they, "in the Christian Church, but not in your Church."

Half an hour then elapsed. It was a pause of hesitation. A hope had been cherished that the near prospect of such a death would intimidate these youths. But alone tranquil of all the crowd that thronged the square, they began to sing psalms,-stopping once in a while to declare that they were resolved to die for the name of Jesus Christ.

66

"Be converted! be converted!" cried the inquisitors, or you will die in the name of the devil."

No," answered the martyrs; "we will die like Christians, and for the truth of the Gospel."

The pile was then lighted. While the flame slowly ascended, a heavenly peace dilated their hearts; and one of them could even say, "I seem to be on a bed of roses." The solemn hour was come; death was at hand. They cried with a loud voice, "O Lord Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on us!" and then began to recite their creed. At last the flames reached them; but the fire consumed the cords which fastened them to the stake before their breath was gone. One of them feeling his liberty, dropped upon his knees in the midst of the flames, and clasped his hands, exclaiming, "Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!" When their bodies were wrapped in flame, they shouted aloud, "Te Deum laudamus." Soon their voices were stifled, and their ashes alone remained. The execution occurred on the 1st of July, 1523, and lasted four hours. These were the first martyrs of the Reformation.

All good men shuddered when they heard of these events. The future was big with fearful anticipations. "The executions have begun," said Erasmus. "At length," exclaimed Luther, "Christ is gathering some fruits of our preaching, and preparing new martyrs." A noble harvest, says the historian, sprung up from the blood of these martyrs. Brussels manifested a willingness to receive the Gospel. This occasioned Erasmus to remark, "Wherever Alexander lights a pile, there it seems as if he had sowed heretics."