rated and prepared the minds of men for important changes. Wickliff, John Huss, Jerome of Prague, and others, failed in their attempts to introduce some reform in the Church, because in their time ignorance was too general, and the influence of the Roman See, supported by the clergy, sufficiently powerful to crush all who opposed them. The restoration of letters, however, by exciting among all classes of men the desire of information, and affording them the means of gratifying that desire, opened their eyes. The utter inconsistency of the papal superstition with the word of God, and its fearful effects upon society, were clearly perceived. The spell by which it had bound the multitude for so many years was dissolved, and leaders only were wanting to produce a revolution". These God raised up in the course of his providence, and qualified them for the great and arduous work. They were men of extraordinary intellectual powers, and of profound as well as general learning. To no class of men in the civilized world are we more indebted for all that is valuable in letters and excellent in religion, than to

a Hess's Life of Zuingle, p. 95-100.

Zuingle, Luther, Melancthon, Calvin, Cranmer, Knox, with their associates. So long as talents, integrity, patriotism, piety, and usefulness are esteemed, their memory will be revered and blessed. They have laid the foundation of that superiority which Christendom displays, not only above the rest of the world now, but above the state of society at large in any preceding period.

From this day the human mind, casting off the shackles of a debasing and demoralizing superstition, advanced with a steady but rapid progress in the acquisition of knowledge, both human and divine. New discoveries were made, and old ones improved, so that the civilized world, like the fabled phoenix, arose out of its darkness and wickedness, with the vigour and beauty of light, truth, and purity. To enter into a detail of all the effects of the reformation upon the arts and sciences, as well as upon the profession and practice of piety, and, through these, upon the habits and condition of men, would require volumes. A few particulars can only be named, without even enlarging on them.

To the reformation from popery the Chris

tian world is indebted for civil liberty, that inestimable temporal blessing; the emancipation of the mind from subjection to every restraint but that which common sense and truth imposes; the diffusion of knowledge among all classes and descriptions of men, the poor as well as the rich, subjects as well as rulers; the enlargement of the sphere of knowledge in its different branches by new discoveries; the melioration of the morals of society and the condition of individuals; the excitement given to ingenuity and industry in the various departments of life, by securing the possession of their rewards; and, in fine, all that ease, comfort, decorum, polish, order, and civilization, which make it a model to the rest of the world'.

The principal mean by which, under the blessing of God, the reformers and their followers were enabled to produce these effects, was the press. By it the Scriptures have been circulated extensively, together with commentaries upon the whole or parts of the volume of inspiration. The writings of learned men, shedding light upon the vari

s Villar's Essay on the Reformation, by Luther, contains abundant information on this subject.

ous subjects of human knowledge, have been from time to time communicated to the public. The multiplication of the copies of different works, so as to supply the demand of them at a reasonable price, has made the treasures of knowledge accessible to the middling and lower, as well as to the higher classes of society.

In the sketch which I am endeavouring to give of this period, the settlement of these United States, is an event of too much importance to be omitted. It has so greatly enlarged the boundaries of the civilized world, especially that part of it which is protestant, given such an accelerated progress to improvement, afforded so many and increasing encouragements to individual enterprize, opened to view so many bright prospects both in the Church and the State, of future happiness and comfort to the human family, as deservedly to be considered one of the most brilliant and important æras in the history of the world.

In our day, the formation of societies in this country and in Europe, for the purpose of spreading abroad the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, constitutes a novel and re

markable event. At no time have so much talent, respectability of character, dignity of station, and fervent piety, been enlisted under the banners of the cross, with the avowed design of subduing, not merely individuals, but nations, to the obedience of faith. By the united exertions of the Christian world, a deathblow has been given to the slave-trade, that disgrace of the Christian name. The word of God is translating in all the languages of the earth, and the message of peace through the blood of Christ, sent to the various tribes of men. To the poorest and most helpless, yea, to the deaf and the dumb, the blessings of education are dispensed, and means are adopting to extend them still further among these unfortunate members of the human family'

The progress of truth and improvement during this period, has been interrupted by the revocation of the edict of Nantz; the introduction of fatal errors in the visible Church, which have demoralized those who embraced them; the atheism of republican

t Accounts of these different societies will be found in their respective annual reports.