February 8. GALATIANS Vi. 14. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mr. LAURENCE SAUNDERS burnt at Coventry, 1555: When brought before Bishop Bonner, he said, "You seek my blood, and you shall have it. I pray God you may be so baptized in it, that you may hereafter loathe blood sucking, and become a better man." He seemed to have all fear of death taken away. Like the Apostle, he looked upon the cross as the way to the crown. He proceeded to the place of execution with much apparent courage and comfort. When he came to the place, he fell to the ground and prayed. He then arose and took the stake in his arms, to which he was to be chained, and kissed it, saying, "Welcome the cross of Christ; welcome everlasting life." He was fastened to the stake, and the fire was kindled; but the wood being green, they cruelly tormented him for a long time. But he was greatly supported, and endured with the utmost fortitude and patience, and at length fell asleep in Jesus. February 9. ROMANS Viii. 13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. BISHOP HOOPER martyred, 1555. Such, as one observes, is the method of the gospel, that where God persuades to duty, he propounds the reward; when he dissuades from sin, he urges judgments. It is a holy design for a Christian to counterbalance the pleasures of sin with the terrors of it: and thus to cure the poison of the viper with the flesh of it. Thus that admirable saint and martyr, Bishop Hooper, when he came to die, one endeavoured to influence his mind by saying, " O Sir, consider that life is sweet and death is bitter." To which he replied, "Life to come is more sweet, and death to come is more bitter;" and so went patiently to the stake. When the iron work was brought to fasten him to the stake, he took an iron hoop, and put it about his waist, and bidding them take away the rest, he said, "I doubt not but God will give me strength to abide the extremity of the fire without binding." He died, we are told, as quietly as a child in his bed-in the 80th year of his age. February 10. ROMANS i. 29. Full of envy, murder, HENRY STUART,-LORD DARNLY, who, on marrying Mary, Queen of Scots, had been, by her proclamation, declared King of Scotland, was murdered. It is generally supposed that this tragical scene was acted by the contrivance of Bothwell, and with the connivance of the Queen herself, since she soon after espoused her husband's murderer. The house where Darnly slept was blown up with gun-powder; so that it is uncertain whether he was put to death first, or perished in the ruins. This execrable deed was perpetrated in a lonely mansion, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, about two o'clock in the morning. It had been the object of late eminent historians, either greatly to palliate the crimes, or wholly rescue the memory of the unfortunate Mary from obloquy: Hume, Stuart, Tytler, north of the Tweed, and the elegant Whitaker on this side. But as long as the fate of Darnly, and the queen's connexions with Bothwell are related, a shade will, we apprehend, be found to tinge her character, that neither art nor panegyrics can effectually obliterate. What reason have we to deplore the sad effects of sin in our nature. The prohibition of God himself; the voice of reason; the fear of punishment; all have no effect. Lord, what is man! February 11. 2 PETER i. 23. Who when he was reviled, reviled not again. SHENSTONE the poet died, 1763. Tenderness in every sense of the word, was his peculiar characteristic ; and his friends, domestics, and poor neighbours, daily experi enced the effects of his benevolence. He used to say, "I never will be a revengeful enemy; but I cannot, it is not in my nature, to be half a friend." Like Philip of Macedon, he was willing to pass by what others thought worthy of resentment. Demochares, an Athenian, sent some of his countrymen with an embassy to Philip. The monarch gave them audience, and when he asked them what he could do to please the people of Athens? Demochares replied, "Hang yourself." This impudence raised the indignation of all the hearers; But Philip mildly dismissed them, and bade them ask their countrymen, which deserved most the appellation of wise and moderate, either they who gave such ill language, or they who received it without any signs of resentment. February 12. GENESIS xx. 5. In the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. LADY JANE GREY and her husband beheaded on Tower Hill, 1554. This illustrious personage fell a victim to the ambition of her parents, who, on the demise of Ed. ward II. prevailed on her to suffer herself to be proclaimed Queen of England. The impious Mary began her reign with the murder of this innocent young creature of eighteen; who, for simplicity of manners, purity of heart, and extensive learning, was hardly ever equalled in any age or country. But, alas! Jane was an obstinate heretic. A few days before her execution, Heckenham the Queen's chaplain, with a pious intention to rescue her poor soul from eternal misery, paid her frequent visits in the Tower, and used every argument in his power to convert her to the popish religion: but he found her so much his superior in argument, that he gave up the contest; resigning up her body to the block, and her soul to the devil. When on the scaffold, she said, "My Lords, and you good christian people, who come to see me die, I am under a law, and by that law, as a never-erring judge, I am condemned to die: not for any thing I have offended the Queen's majesty; for I will wash my hands guiltless thereof, and deliver to my God a soul as pure from such trespass as innocence from injustice; but only for that I consented to the thing I was enforced unto; constraint D making the law believe I did that which I never understood." February 13. ROMANS viii. 6, The carnal mind is enmity against God. Dr. COTTON MATHER, an eminent American minister, died 1728, aged 65. In the first year of his ministry he had reason to believe he was made the instrument of converting at least thirty souls. He wrote and published 382 books, reckoning essays and single sermons. A few hours before he died, he said, "Now I have nothing more to do here. My will is entirely swallowed up in the will of God." He continued in a sweet composure of mind to the very last. In his essays to do good, he gives us a striking illustration of the above passage. I happened once, says he, to be present in the room where a dying man could not leave the world until he had lamented to a minister (whom he had sent for on this account,) the unjust calumnies and injuries which he had often cast upon him. The minister asked the poor penitent what was the occasion of this abusive conduct; whether he had been imposed upon by any false report. The man made this answer, "No, Sir, it was merely this, I thought you were a good man,' and that you did much good in the world, and therefore I hated you. Is it possible, is it possible, he added, for such a wretch to find pardon." February 14. PROVERBS XV. 5. He that regardeth reproof is prudent. The Rev. THOMAS ROSEWELL of Sutton Mandevil died 1692. He was invited by Lady Hungerford into her family, where he continued above seven years; was much respected and very useful. Having observed something in her Ladyship's conduct which he thought needed res proof, he mentioned it to her in a very humble and prudent manner. After she had retired some time into her closet, she brought Mr. Rosewell a bag, containing 1007, half of it for his own use, and the rest of it to be disposed of in charity as he should see fit. This was a happy instance of regarding reproof, of which indeed we have so few examples. February 15. REV. xv, 3. Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty. The POPE expelled from Rome, 1798. Who is there that considers the former grandeur, riches, and influence of the Popes, but what must join in the above exclamation. How astonishing the change, yet how illustrative of scripture prophecy! Ancient governments, indeed, have been dissolved, thrones have tottered, nations have been convulsed, and various public calamities have shaken the earth; but who does not see, in the midst of them all, the power of Antichrist decaying, and the Man of Sin so enfeebled as to indicate his certain ruin. Soon shall Babylon fall, for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. The Pope has lately returned to Rome, but where is his power? February 16. ROMANS Viii. 31, If God be for us, who can be against us. MELANCTHON was born, 1497. He was one of the wisest and greatest men of his age. Luther had a high opinion of him, and is said to have written on his table one day these words, "Philip Melancthon is both substance and words; Erasmus words without substance; Luther substance without words; and Carolostad neither substance nor words." Melancthon happening to see it, modestly said, "Too much is attributed to me; good words ought to be ascribed to Luther, for he speaketh exceedingly well." Melancthon was remarkable for a mild and peaceable disposition. The testimonies of piety with which he ended his days were admirable: and it is observable, that one thing which made him look upon death as a happiness, was, that it delivered him from theological persecutions. Some days before he died, he wrote on a piece of paper in two co |