38 A REVIVAL OF RELIGION, AND ITS MANIFESTATIONS. others of kindred spirit, he unites his money, his prayerful efforts, his time and talents with theirs, and for a common cause. How grateful ought we to be, that we (laymen with Ministers) can thus act in joyous union, and so share in that great work which is everywhere being effected by commissioned heralds of God's grace! These for a moment let us regard! Sent forth by human, by our instrumentality, see them well nigh fainting in the contest with the powers of this world; but, strengthened from above, spending a lifetime in their Master's service; in all their conflict encouraged by the blameless and blessed memory of their Saviour's suffering experience,-His shameful but atoning death; His last command and promise, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature;" "I will be with you always." Whom else, what else, need they? "Happy, if with their latest breath They may but gasp His Name; 'Behold, behold the Lamb!'" Much has been done in the world's wide field, and some fruit the writer has delightedly seen during a short sojourn in a far-off clime; but how very much more remains to be done! The harvest is rich in promise. Providence is offering souls to our charge; but the "labourers are few." Pray we, therefore, that more labourers be sent. O that our Wesleyan-Methodist Society, so pre-eminently Missionary in its origin and constitution, may receive such an abounding measure of active love as shall evidently hasten that happy day when one man shall not have occasion to say to another, "Know the Lord," but when "all shall know Him from the least even to the greatest." Manchester. A REVIVAL OF RELIGION, AND "A REVIVAL of religion," according to the popular understanding of the expression, conveys a somewhat complex idea. Our conception of the idea may be practically clear; but it may be well that we give it a definite and descriptive statement. By a revival of religion we understand a special and unusual manifestation of Divine power, quickening the spiritual life of Christians, and securing conversions in unwonted numbers. It will be observed that this statement lifts our thoughts above all means and activities possible to human agencies, and fixes it upon God as the source of this quickening life and this converting power. And if we advance to speak of the process of a revival, we find that this sense of dependence upon the Holy Spirit, the Author of that special Divine influence, is often the first thing brought vividly home to the heart. There has been, perhaps, with some minds, a dissatisfaction with the spiritual state of the church, their own included,— and a growing concern for the spiritual interests of the community. CHRIST FOR EVERY MAN. In this restlessness of rekindling spiritual desires, they undertake to do more than they have done. They utter something of their burden privately to their brethren, something publicly in the social religious meeting, and begin to address their unconverted fellow-men as they have opportunity. But all the while their own hearts are heavy and uncheered; and all the while they seem unable to move others. Something they felt needed to be done, and they are trying to do it; but the deep fountains within them are not broken up, the windows of heaven above them are not opened, and they set their faces toward seeking God, though He be not far from anyone of them, and their sorrowful prayer bursts forth, "Come, O breath, and breathe upon these slain." Then within them there springs a new tenderness of conscience. They accuse themselves of many things in their life to which they have been indifferent, or striven stoutly to vindicate. Their spirit is softened and subdued. If they have any harsh words to speak, they are words of self-condemnation. They have that contrition of heart which allies them to the publican, not to the Pharisee, with nothing proud and bitter in it, but of such a gentle sweetness that God loves it as a dwelling next to the high and holy place -His palace of heaven itself. There is more and more importunate prayer. Brethren begin to covenant with one another to unite in supplications till the great blessing comes. They consecrate themselves anew to their Master and His work. Alienated members are reconciled. Causes of dissension are banished. Meetings are more frequent. They are better attended. Faces long absent are seen in the praying circle. Voices unheard there for months or years, give out a selfaccusing testimony; begin to make confession, break down, try again, and finish more intelligibly and effectively by sobs and tears. Family-altars, 39 fallen and dishonoured, are rebuilt. Long-deserted closets open and shut upon frames all trembling in shame and penitence. Then follow a new zeal, loving and burning; a fresh devotedness that sticks at no selfsacrifice; a burden for souls that weighs like lost eternities on interceding hearts. Backsliders are reclaimed. Preaching takes on a fresh type, dealing with awakening, alarming, and melting truths, and bathing each discourse in the all-compassionate spirit of Jesus. Worldly minds, careless and prayerless, are touched; gay and pleasure-loving youth is sobered; some stout-hearted rebel, openly defiant of God's Spirit, and making sport of those unwonted demonstrations, is smitten down, perhaps first of all, beseeches prayer and guidance, and strikes deep sensations to men's hearts as he asks, "What must I do to be saved?" Converts multiply; their rejoicing songs mingle like sacrificial flames; their new experience thrills all listeners. The air of the place is solemn, as though filled and stirred by unseen vital influences. Men go and come as though vaulted everywhere by a Sabbath sky. The work deepens and spreads. There is more humility, more wrestling in prayer, and adventurous activity, and the revival is in its full and victorious progress. CHRIST FOR EVERY MAN. IN Miss Marsh's little book, entitled "Light for the Line," an account is given of Thomas Ward's death. He had been in great doubt; but before Miss Marsh left his bed-side, she heard him say, "I see Him now. He is here. He is near. He is with me. He is around me. He will never let me go. How could I ever doubt Him? He is the Saviour of sinners. Jesus is mine, and I blood has bought me. what He is till now. He is Saviour. my am His. His I never knew tell them all 40 THE HISTORY OF AN OLD BOOK AND ITS AUTHOR. to come to Him, to come now! Tell every man you meet, Christ for every man-Jesus Christ for every man.' My blessed, blessed Saviour, world without end. Amen. Blessed, blessed Jesus!" Let us turn now away from the poor ignorant railroad - digger, to another different person, a scholar and a man of letters, the late Sir James Mackintosh, and see how he, as well as his poor ignorant brother, made much of Christ. "Whenever a word from the Scriptures," says his son, "was repeated to him, he always manifested that he heard it; and I especially observed that at every mention of the name of Jesus Christ, if his eyes were closed, he always opened them, and looked at the person who had spoken. I said to him at one time, 'Jesus Christ loves you.' He answered slowly, and pausing between each. word, Jesus Christ-love-the same thing.' He uttered these last words with a sweet smile. After a long silence, he said, 'I believe.' We said, in a voice of inquiry, In God?' He answered, 'In Jesus.' He spoke but once after." Thus do learned and ignorant, high and low, need Christ; and thus it is proved that all true Christians make much of Him whom their soul loveth. THE HISTORY OF AN OLD BOOK AND ITS AUTHOR. (Concluded from page 11.) AONIO PALEARIO, the author of the old book previously described, was born in the Campagna di Roma, at Veroli, about the year 1503. He studied at Rome under the most eminent masters, and soon took rank with the learned of that city. In 1530 he went to Perugia, in the Romagna, and thence to Sienna, a city of Tuscany; where, in 1538, he married. He here taught the learned languages, whilst diligently studying the Scriptures and the works of the writers of the Reformation. The light that arose within him shone out, and the brand of heresy was soon fixed upon him by the bigots of the Italian Church. In 1542 he was brought before the Senate of Sienna, but for the time escaped the penalty of his heresy. One Otho Melius Cotta was his most determined enemy; and with this person three hundred leagued themselves in a resolution to destroy Paleario. In order to insure his condemnation, twelve of these were selected to bear witness against him. He had, in consequence, to defend himself before the Senate of Sienna; which he did with so much spirit that for the moment his defence was successful."There are some," said he, "so censorious as to be displeased when we give the highest praise to the Author and God of our salvation, Christ, the King of all nations and people. For writing in the Tuscan language to show what great benefits accrue to mankind from His death, a criminal accusation has been made against me. Is it possible to utter or conceive anything more shameful? I said that, since He, in whom Divinity resided, has poured out His life's blood so lovingly for our salvation, we ought not to doubt the good-will of Heaven, but may promise ourselves the greatest tranquillity and peace. I affirmed, agreeably to the most unquestionable monuments of antiquity, that those who turn with their souls to Christ crucified, commit themselves to Him by faith, acquiesce in the promises, and cleave with assured faith to Him who cannot deceive, are delivered from all evil, and enjoy a full pardon of all their sins. These things appeared so grievous, so detestable, so execrable, to the twelve, I cannot call them men, but inhuman beasts, that they judged that the author should be committed to the flames. If I must undergo this punishment for the aforesaid testimony, then, Senators, nothing more happy can befall me. In such THE HISTORY OF AN OLD BOOK AND ITS AUTHOR. times as these I do not think a Christian ought to die in his bed. To be accused, to be dragged to prison, to be scourged, to be hung up by the neck, to be sewed up in a sack, to be exposed to wild beasts, is little : let me be roasted before a fire, provided only the truth be brought to light by such a death." In 1546 he was invited to Lucca ; whence, after ten years' service, he removed to Milan, at the invitation of its Senate, to take the post of Professor of Eloquence. Here his persecutors, who had dogged his steps for years, secured their prey. Paleario was seized by the Inquisitor Angelo di Cremona, about 1568, conveyed to Rome, and committed a close prisoner to the Torre di Nona. The charges against him were disposed under the following four heads: -That he denied purgatory; that he disapproved of the burial of the dead in churches, and preferred the ancient Roman mode of sepulture without the walls of the cities; that he ridiculed the monastic life; and, lastly, that he ascribed justification solely to faith in the mercy of God forgiving our sins through Jesus Christ. In his examination he appears to have manifested great firmness. When questioned by the Cardinals of the Inquisition, he addressed them (it is an enemy who reports his words): "Seeing that your Eminences have so many credible witnesses against me, it is unnecessary for you to give yourselves or me longer trouble. I am resolved to act according to the advice of the blessed Apostle Peter, when he says, 'Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.' Proceed, then, to give judgment: pronounce sentence on Aonio, and thus gratify his adversaries and 41. fulfil your office." Judgment was given; and he was condemned, after a lengthened imprisonment, to be suspended on a gibbet, and his body to be committed to the flames: more probably, however, he was burned alive. The Romanists, according to their frequent practice in such cases, pretended that Aonio was repentant and died in the communion of their Church. But this assertion is refuted by an author, Laderchius, who drew his materials from the records of the In quisition, and who says, "When it appeared that this son of Belial was obstinate and refractory, and could by no means be recovered from the darkness of error to the light of truth, he was deservedly delivered to the fire, that, after suffering its momentary pains here, he might be found in everlasting flames hereafter." Indeed, the last letters which Paleario wrote to his family on the morning of his death show the falsity of the pretended recantation. They would, we may readily conclude, have expressed his contrition, had he felt any, for opposing the Popish doctrines. Thus does the old man write from his dungeon in the face of a cruel death : "MY DEAREST WIFE, I would not wish that you should receive sorrow from my pleasure, nor ill from my good. The hour is now come when I must pass from this life to my Lord, and Father, and God. I depart as joyfully as if I were going to the nuptials of the Son of the Great King, which I have always prayed my Lord to grant me through His goodness and infinite mercy. Wherefore, my dearest wife, comfort yourself with the will of God and with my resignation, and attend to the desponding family which still survives, training them up and preserving them in the fear of God, and being to them both father and mother. I am now an old man of seventy years, and useless. Our children must provide for themselves by their virtue and industry, and lead an honourable life. God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with thy spirit! Thy husband, "AONIO PALEARIO. "Rome, July 3d, 1570." Thus gladly did he meet death, and, giving himself up to his tormentors, entered into his eternal rest. METHODISM. BY THE REV. DAVID HAY. RISING fresh from the study of that precious fragment of church-history, the Acts of the Apostles, we cannot fail to recognise, in the rise of Methodism, Christianity in earnest to fulfil its glorious mission to mankind, by preaching the Gospel to every creature, according to the command of its Divine Author. To every mind, interested in the spread of Christ's kingdom, it does undoubtedly present, in its origin and progress, a fitting subject for religious study and intelligent reflection; for around it cluster facts of highest interest and most profound significance. It is now generally acknowledged by enlightened Ministers of every denomination, and by recent historians, and living essayists, that Methodism has been the chief instrument in promoting a great national revival of religion during the last century, and of extending its blessings to the distant regions of the earth. It may not, therefore, be unacceptable to the readers of the "Miscellany," if we devote a few papers to the illustration of Methodist history, including incidents in the lives and characters of its founders, and in those also of their noble coadjutors; or, more fully, its Providential history, spiritual effects, and rapid progress. And for the accomplishment of our purpose abundant materials are at hand; materials which have been furnished both by friends and foes, and which are continually increasing. been subjected to almost every kind of ordeal through which it was possible for it to pass. It has been openly assailed by ignorance and brutality in their wildest fury; learning has sneered at it from its high places; wit has ridiculed it; while rank and wealth have denounced it as a base, vulgar thing. Formality, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy have agreed to brand it with the opprobious epithets of "enthusiasm," "fanaticism," and "religious madness." Yet, it is admitted that all along it has wrought great reformation in men's lives, transforming the drunken and licentious into sober and chaste living, and making peaceful and happy many a once troubled and wretched home. But it is still, in the eyes of the world, a mean and despicable thing, endured and tolerated from mere necessity, and to a large extent the sect everywhere spoken against. But, after more than a century of fiery trial, the derided thing still lives, and flourishes too, in every soil and climate under heaven; and that not by the policy and power of man, but by the wisdom and power of God. Methodism is now a great fact, whatever the opinions of men respecting it; and though its very success has silenced some of its adversaries, and modified the opposition of others, yet it is not, by any means, even now, a general favourite with the world. A great change, however, has come over the spirit of the dream of many of its antagonists. Once it was altogether bad; from this "Nazareth" no good thing could possibly come; therefore it was laughed to scorn. But of late years it has become the fashion partly to praise it, and partly to blame it; and, in spite of the anomaly, from the same fountain have come forth both sweet and bitter waters. It has entered upon a new era of its history, and is no longer to be assailed by brute force, or by that blind and bitter pre Methodism has, from the beginning, judice which will see no good in it at |