That a Christian should receive an hundred-fold of temporal good, with persecutions, has often seemed to be a mystery, and the passage has so perplexed the expositors of more peaceful times, that they have felt obliged to escape to the supposition of celestial gratifications. How a man should leave one house and find an hundred, in the days when mere professors are loth to leave any thing for Christ, has appeared to be impossible; although the Saviour expressly confines the hundredfold to this life. But the exuberant love and hospitality of the primitive Christians untie the knot, and explain the promise.29 On the part of our Redeemer, it was indeed a most extraordinary intimation; informing the earliest age, not only that Christianity should gain ground, but prevail in such power over its believers and all that they possessed; and it remained for John Fryth especially to come over, and draw out the proof that primitive Christianity had effectually taken root in England. All the believers' houses had been open to entertain him, and there was he treated with all a father's, or a mother's, a brother's or a sister's kindness. Now that he was in bonds, he was overcome with joy, by finding that such was their concern for him, and that they felt his private or personal suffering as a general calamity, or a public wrong.

Of this fine epistle, so well worthy of the man, we have only given this extract, and yet we must not omit to notice how anxious Fryth was, even still, to be of service to those who had shown him such kindness for his Master's sake, and the books of sacred writ, translated by his dearest friend.

“The Father of glory,” he concludes, “give us the spirit of wisdom, understanding and knowledge, and lighten the eyes of our mind, that we may now his ways, praising the Lord eternally. If it please any of our brethren to write unto us, of any such doubts as peradventure may be found in our books, (Tyndale's or his own,) it should be very acceptable unto us, and, as I trust, not unfruitful for them. For I will endeavour myself, to satisfy them in all points. by God's grace,-to whom I commit to be governed and defended for ever, Amen. John Fryth, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, at all times abiding

His pleasure."

And now that the year is ended what can be said, as to the

29 "It is beyond imagination, to what excess the Christians carry their profusion on these occasions," namely of persecution. "They esteem each other indiscriminately as brethren, and all goods are in common with them;"-a remarkable testimony in even the profane Lucian's Philopatris. He died anno 214, aged 90.

Old man and the Young? the Chancellor and his prisoner? What else than that "wisdom excelleth folly, and as far as light excelleth darkness;" or that "the wise man's eyes are in his head, and that it is the infatuated only, who walk on in darkness?"

By the mercy of God, however, Sir Thomas More must. now withdraw. He had resigned the Great Seal in May, but still had acted officially till towards the close of the year; in a few weeks hence he will be entirely dismissed, and left free, and at leisure to go on with his voluminous controversy, though this should only be to his final overthrow.

We have not been able to ascertain the precise object of Fryth's journey into England, at a period so fraught with danger. It must have been something of importance in his own apprehension, as well as in that of Tyndale.30 The latter had no other man like-minded, no other companion, properly so called, upon earth. For years together, he himself had been pursued on the Continent, but Fryth was now in England itself. One can, therefore, easily conceive what trembling anxiety must have been felt by our Translator, in his absence; and we have one fine letter of judicious counsel, before he knew the worst-that Fryth was apprehended, and in the Tower of London. By way of precaution, he addresses his friend under the name of Jacob, though he does not conceal his own :—

"The grace of our Saviour Jesus, his patience, meekness, humbleness, circumspection, and wisdom, be with your heart, amen! Dearly beloved brother, mine heart's desire in our Saviour Jesus is, that you arm yourself with patience, and be cool, sober, wise, and circumspect; and that you keep you alow 31 by the ground, avoiding high questions that pass the common capacity. But expound the law truly, and open the veil of Moses, to condemn all flesh, and prove all men sinners, and all deeds under the law, before mercy have taken away the condemnation thereof, to be sin and damnable. And then, as a faithful minister, set abroach the mercy of our Lord Jesus, and let the wounded consciences drink of the water of him. Then shall your preaching be with power, and not as the doctrine of the hypocrites, and the Spirit of God

30 In one brief account of Fryth, it is said—" At the last, he, being driven to necessity and lack of money, was forced secretly to return over into this realm, to be relieved of his friends, namely, of the Prior of Reading; and it was thought he purposed to have had the Prior over with him." The last might be his wish; but the entire strain of Tyndale's letters forbids the idea of his having come merely for personal assistance. Foxe states, that "he came over at the request of the Prior of Reading," not the Abbot, as has been vaguely stated. Testaments had been distributed at Reading seven years ago, (see page 116,) but we have no account of who this Prior was.

31 The contrast to our term aloft, still retained.

shall work with you, and all consciences shall bear record unto you, and feel that it is so. And all doctrine that casteth a mist on these two, to shadow and hide them, I mean, the law of God and mercy of Christ, that resist, with all your power. Sacraments without signification, refuse. If they put significations to them, receive them, if you see it may help, though it be not necessary.

"Of the presence of Christ's body in the sacrament, meddle as little as you can, that there appear no division among us. Barnes will be hot against you.32 The Saxons be sore in the affirmative, whether constant or obstinate, I omit it to God. Philip Melancthon is said to be with the French King. There be in Antwerp that say, they saw him come into Paris with 150 horses, and that they spake with him. If the Frenchmen receive the Word of God, he will plant the affirmative in them. 33 George Joye would have put forth a treatise of that matter, but I have stopt him as yet: what he will do, if he get money, I wot not. I believe he would make many reasons, little serving to the purpose.3 34 My mind is, that nothing be put forth till we hear how you have sped. I would have the right use preached, and the presence to be an indifferent thing, till the matter might be reasoned in peace, at leisure of both parties. If you be required, shew the phrases of the Scripture, and let them talk what they will. For as to believe that God is everywhere, hurteth no man that worshippeth him nowhere but within, in the heart, in spirit and verity; even so to believe that the body of Christ is everywhere, (though it cannot be proved,) hurteth no man that worshippeth him nowhere, save in the faith of his gospel. You perceive my mind; howbeit, if God shew you otherwise, it is free for you to do as he moveth you.

"I guessed long ago, that God would send a dazing into the head of the Spirituality, to catch themselves in their own subtilty; and I trust it is come to pass. And now, methinketh, I smell a Council to be taken, little for their profits, in time to come. But you must understand, that it is not of a pure heart, and for love of the truth, but to avenge themselves, and to eat the harlot's flesh, and to suck the marrow of her bones. 35 Wherefore, cleave fast to the rock of the help of God, and commit the end of all things to Him; and if God shall call you, that you may then use the wisdom of the world, as far as you perceive the glory of God may come thereof, refuse it not; and ever among thrust in, that the Scripture may be in the MOTHER tongue, and learning set up in the Universities. But and if ought be required contrary to the glory of God and his Christ, then stand fast, and commit yourself to God, and be not overcome of men's persuasions, which haply shall say, we see no other way to bring in the truth.

"Brother Jacob, beloved of my heart, there liveth not, in whom I have so good hope and trust, and in whom mine heart rejoiceth, and my soul comforteth

32 Barnes, we shall find, was now in England, and he a Lutheran, as to the Lord's Supper. Neither Tyndale or Fryth ever were, and their works, in strict propriety, ought never to have been printed in the same volume, as Foxe did. It may be but small consolation to the publishers of the beautiful modern edition of Tyndale's and Fryth's works, by the Rev. T. Russel, that they were interrupted in their progress, intending, as they did, to print the works of some other men; but there was great propriety in stopping where they did, as Tyndale and Fryth, among the earliest writers, truly stand alone, or in a place and position peculiar to themselves. 33 This was a mistaken rumour. Melancthon never went to Paris. By the affirmative, Tyndale refers to Consubstantiation, the dogma of Luther, and it is hinted at here, evidently, in the way of regret.

34 So uniformly had Tyndale deprecated the subject of Christianity being hastily absorpt in an intemperate war of opinion respecting one of its positive institutions.

35 He foresaw, or anticipated the dissolution of the monasteries, long before the subject was mooted in Parliament by Crum well.

herself, as in you: not the thousandth part so much for your learning, and what other gifts else you have, as that you will creep alow by the ground, and walk in those things that the conscience may feel, and not in the imaginations of the brain; in fear, and not in boldness; in open necessary things, and not to pronounce or define of hid secrets, or things that neither help nor hinder, whether they be so or no; in unity, and not in seditious opinions: insomuch, that if you be sure you know; yet in things that may abide leisure, you will defer, or say, methinks the text requireth this sense or understanding; yea, and if you be sure that your part be good, and another hold the contrary, yet if it be a thing that maketh no matter, you will laugh and let it pass, and refer the thing to other men, and stick you stiffly and stubbornly, in earnest and necessary things.

"And I trust you be persuaded even so of me. For I call God to record, against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus, to give a reckoning of our doings, that I never altered one syllable of God's Word against my conscience, (as Sir Thomas More had insinuated,) nor would this day, if all that is in the earth, whether it be pleasure, honour, or riches, might be given me. Moreover, I take God to record to my conscience, that I desire of God to myself in this world, no more than that (liberty ?) without which I cannot keep his laws.

"Finally, if there were in me any gift that could help at hand, and aid you, if need required, I promise you I would not be far off, and commit the end to God my soul is not faint, though my body be weary. But God hath made me evil-favoured in this world, and without grace in the sight of men, speechless and rude, dull and slow-witted: your part shall be to supply that which lacketh in me-remembering, that as lowliness of heart shall make you high with God, even so meekness of words shall make you sink into the hearts of men. Nature giveth age authority, but meekness is the glory of youth, and giveth them honour. Abundance of love maketh me exceed in babbling."

No one can for a moment mistake this lowliness on the part of Tyndale, for lack of ability; though it discovers the very high opinion which he entertained of Fryth and his talents, both as a Christian and a scholar.

_“ If you perceive wherein we may help, either in being still, or doing something, let us have word, and I will do mine uttermost. My Lord of London hath a servant, called John Tisen, with a red beard, and a black-reddish head, and was once my scholar: he was seen in Antwerp, but came not among the Englishmen. Whether he is gone an ambassador secret, I wot not.

"The mighty God of Jacob be with you, to supplant his enemies, and give you the favour of Joseph; and the wisdom and the spirit of Stephen be with your heart and with your mouth, and teach your lips what they shall say, and how to answer to all things. He is our God, if we despair in ourselves and trust in Him; and his is the glory, Amen. William Tyndale. I hope our redemption is nigh."

But whatever Tyndale might intend by his last expression to Fryth, it was not long before he heard of his being in the hands of Sir Thomas, and also in the Tower; for, however impossible it had ever been to find Tyndale's abode, it is remarkable that no circumstances could ever impede his immediate communication with England. Though Fryth had

found it difficult to procure a copy of More's reply to himself, either that, or some other copy, was soon in Tyndale's possession, when he immediately discovered all that deep interest which he had already expressed so warmly in his letter. Before this, too, he had also received the Chancellor's vaunted Confutation, so that, according to More's own concession, he could now "pry upon" them both, "narrowly, and with such eagle's eyen as he hath." By a single passage, at the outset, which will be noticed presently, he effectually damaged the fame of the knight's "Confutation;" but the perilous situation of Fryth demanded haste, and Tyndale immediately did his "uttermost" for him, as he had promised. Whether he left Antwerp to superintend the press, is not certain, but it is more than probable, for it is curious enough that his pointed production was printed at Nuremberg by Nicolas Townson, and was finished by the beginning of April. It is entitled"The Supper of the Lord"—after the meaning of John, vi. and 1st Corinthians, xi.-" wherein, incidentally, Master More's letter against John Fryth is confuted."36

For fresh events we must now, therefore, look forward to the next year.

SECTION X.

ONE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF TYNDALE'S COURSE AND CHARACTER AS COMPARED WITH HIS CONTEMPORARIES-HIS ANSWER TO SIR T. MOREHIS LETTER TO FRYTH IN PRISON-STATE OF ENGLAND-FRYTH'S VOICE FROM THE TOWER-STRANGE CONDITION OF ENGLAND-THE KING MARRIED-CRANMER'S PROCEDURE-GARDINER ROUSED-FRYTH'S EXAMINATION BEFORE THE BISHOPS ASSEMBLED HIS TRIUMPH IN ARGUMENTMARTYRDOM-ENGLAND AND THE CONTINENT-ONE EFFECT OF FRYTH'S DEATH-SIR T. MORE WRITING STILL-ONE POWERFUL OPPONENT AT HOME -MORE AS A CONTROVERSIALIST-HIS PRODIGIOUS EXERTIONS-OTHER QUALITIES-FINALLY OVERCOME THE PROSPECT BRIGHTENING.

BEFORE recurring to Tyndale's last publication, we are con

36" Imprinted at Nornburg, by Nicolas Twonson, 5 April, An. 1533." It was reprinted, with a preface, by Crawley, in 1551. Herbert, in reporting this, had said, that the original edition had no printer's name, but when he came to his third vol. he had found his mistake, and gives it as above.-Herbert's Ames, iii., p. 1541. In the Harleian Catalogue, vol. i., No. 2896, the editor had loosely said, "set forth by Myles Coverdale;" and Watts, in his Bibl. Brit., mistaking this for authorship, inserted the piece under Coverdale's name. In consequence of this, it has recently been placed in a list at the head of Coverdale's Works! He would not have so attacked More, nor edited it, at such a time, no, not for any consideration in the world.