guarded them, kneeled to ask their blessing. In the course of that busy day, too, I had seen the beautiful hospital at Greenwich-that monument of a fallen woman's humanitybuilt by Charles II., at the solicitation of his favourite, Eleanor Gwynn, at which one looks with the more interest, because Bishop Burnet tells us that she died, according to his belief, a humble penitent.

I had passed Tilbury Fort also, and had again fancied that I saw the ready troops of soldiers, and listened with them, and shouted with them, in answer to the noble declaration of their Protestant Queen-"I am come amongst you all, not as for my recreation and sport, but as being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you; I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart of a King, and a King of England, too. . . . and can lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust." All these places of deep interest, in so few hours, I had seen ; yet the remembrance of all vanished as one narrow boundary at the south-west side of the city was pointed out to me -"Do you see that singularly-shaped field, here beneath us, with low hawthorn hedges? There are a few sheep lying round the shallow pond in the bottom of it. That is the Martyrs' Field-tradition calls it so-and there is every reason to believe, that the martyrs who sealed their profession of faith with their blood, in Canterbury, were really burned in that very spot. This steep mound would afford convenient room for the spectators of the awful tragedy, and that strange hollow-it is dry in the summer-was certainly a work of art, and made-or, if not made, used-for the very executions." And so I was come to the end of my pilgrimage, and to a place of much note; for, during the Marian persecution, more suffered in Kent, I believe, for their religion, than in any other county in England; and, of those, the large proportion in Canterbury. And the very last martyr-fires that scared England, and that within six days of its deliverance, blazed on this very memorable spot. Memorable! yet how little it is remembered. It is called the Martyr's Field; yet the shepherd thinks nothing, probably, of the meaning of the words, as he passes to and fro with his few sheep. The children play here, and, in the dry summer, run races up and down this hollow, and the grown boys try strengths in leaping across it, and little care that once it streamed with blood

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instead of water-the blood of those of whom "the world was not worthy ;" and, so the little ones can reach the fair maythorn boughs from the hedge, and find daisies and dandelions enough for their chain, few care to teach them how every flower and herb there was withered once with hotter fire than the midsummer sun's heat, that flashed and sparkled here as as it bore the living sacrifice up to God. Ought these things to be so forgotten? Are we, then, so degenerate, so unworthy of our forefathers, that a senator has dared to speak of martyrs' records as Wold almanack stories ?" "They are old almanack stories," it was well answered, 'but they are red letter stories—they are written in blood." Come, then, let me do my part-let me express my feelings of gratitude to God, for the grace bestowed on these blessed servants of his; and let me own the veneration with which I trod this ground. It may be that even I may awaken some like feeling; it may be, that one who has as yet thought but little of the mighty debt due to our blessed martyrs, may in these latter days thank God, and take courage to follow their good example, at least in sincerity of intention. It may be that some young person (for there were those who had the fair prospect of long and prosperous life before them-I speak from the authority of living witnesses-who here gave themselves unblemished offerings to God,) may feel their energy, and their activity, and their warmth of heart, all worthy to be consecrated to the Almighty Giver. It may be that some delicate woman— for I can tell of the weak and fragile lifting themselves up in the hour of trial to shew how strength is made perfect in weakness-may learn from my record to look in faith to Him who, to them that have no might, increaseth strength.

In the beginning," Fox tells us, "of the persecution, there were lying in the castle,"—there, yonder, within those very walls,—“fifteen godly and innocent martyrs, of whom not one escaped with their lives ;" and this is the remarkable observation he makes-"Though certain swerved a little in the number of sacraments, some more and some less,-yet, in the principal matter, the doctrine of salvation for faith to stay upon, and in disagreeing from the dreaming determinations of the Popish Church, they most agreed. Oh, wise should we be, if, in the principal matter, the doctrine of salvation for faith to stay upon, once again we could all agree!

I was much struck with the variety of characters which I met with, in the account of those martyrs concerning whom I

had opportunity to consult Fox's history; and it is truly beauto observe, how the religion of the Gospel supplies every want; how it gives strength to the weak, calmness to the irritablenay, supplies even natural deficiencies. Concerning one of the martyrs, Fox remarks, "this good woman was somewhat thick of hearing, but yet quick of understanding in the Lord's matters; His name, therefore, be praised." Of another the account is very touching, from its extreme simplicity. Perhaps it particularly affected my mind, because I knew more than one for whom the character might pass. Yet it is not such a character, perhaps, that fancy would grace with the energy of a martyr: but He shall give strength and power unto his people"-yes, even to his feeble handmaidens: blessed be God. "She was as simple a woman to see," says the old martyrologist, "as any might behold: she had a lively cheerful countenance; most patient in her words and answers; sober in apparel, meat, and drink, and would never be idle; a great comfort to as many as would talk to her; good to the poor; and, in her trouble, money, she said, she would take none; for,' she said, 'I am going to a city where money bears no praising; whiles I am here, the Lord provideth for me. And it was from this very spot I thought again, as I looked round the narrow boundary, that the last English martyrs ascended to God:-here, that the bold Corneford, with almost the feeling, and all the firmness of a prophet, denounced the wrath that was preparing for a persecuting and apostate church. My fancy pictured his manly countenance, and his lofty bearing, as he stood there, just in view of the thousands, who thronged this steep hill-side; and I felt how many a heart amidst that multitude (for it was not only enemies who came together on such occasions, but many a true and faithful, though perhaps secret, friend was there whispering, "Be strong in the Lord," to the sufferers, and encouraging them in their last extremity, by word and sign)-I felt how many a heart bounded almost to bursting at his words, as he hurled back the impious sentence of excommunication pronounced against him and his blessed companions, and ended with a prayer, "that, by thy just judgments, O most mighty God, against thine adversaries, thy true religion may be known, to thy great glory and our comfort, and to the edifying of all our nation." And did not the words come back to many a heart with an awful feeling that the prophecy was fulfilled, when the unhappy Queen died within six days after, and with

her, as the historian observes, the tyranny of all English Papists? But there stood one in this field, on that same day, very different indeed from the undaunted Corneford, though in faith, and hope, and patience, the same. There was a weak, aged woman, who had learned from her own son the saving doctrines of the gospel, and that it is idolatry to creep to the cross-St. John saying, “Beware of images"—and to confess that "we should not pray to our ladye,* nor to the other saints, for they be not omnipotent." What, but the power of Divine grace, could have supported so weak and failing a frame to such extremity; and what varied feeling of grief and triumph must have agitated that son's mind, who having been the means of bringing an aged parent to the confession of the truth, as it is in Jesus, saw her take hold of the gospel, and grow more and more in zeal and love thereof, and so continue, and so continue unto her martyrdom." And there was yet one more that I must name, among that last band of the noble army of English martyrs-young, perhaps fair and admired, perhaps educated, certainly with all the energy of youth,-and, oh! with how much fortitude, with how much courage, that heroes and the mighty men of this world could never have shewn. Alice made no complaint -she felt herself a sinner. It was not for her to denounce the coming vengeance of God on others. Alice humbly looked to others for instruction, and questioned whether she was right herself. Yet, being come to that deadly extremity, strength sufficient for her need was given-strength was, once again, made perfect in weakness. As she stood at the stake she requested to see her godfather and godmothers. No wonder they trembled and hesitated to come; they must have thought on the hour of joy when they bore the fair infant, in her white robes, to the font. Yet, if it was fear that made them shudder to own their holy relationship to the condemned one, surely their child's courage must have shamed them, when they at last yielded to the repeated summons. She asked them what they had promised for her in her baptism, and, repeating the commandments, asked if she was bound to do, and the creed, if they had engaged on her behalf that she should believe, more than this. They answered that they had not. "Then," said she, "I die a Christian woman; bear witness of me." And have we dared to trifle with these holy memorials? Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of *The Virgin Mary.

his saints. Let us no longer allow ourselves to believe that it is a little matter to slight the mercy of God in the establishment of a pure church in our country. We have been coldhearted long enough. A time may come, sooner than we expect, when we shall look with more of fellow-feeling on these bitter troubles. In the meantime, I will end my chapter with Fox's somewhat quaint, but beautiful, remark and prayer. Speaking of another company of the English martyrs, he says --"Thus ended all these glorious souls, that day, their happy lives unto the Lord; whose ages all did grow to the sum of 406 years, or thereabouts. The Lord grant we may well spend our years and days, likewise, to his glory." E. H.

REMARKS ON THE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION. THE writer of the following remarks lives in a neighbourhood where the doctrine of Predestination is taught-he fears, in its worst form.

Now he would remark in the first place, that the language of Calvin does not sound like the language of the Bible.

Calvin tells us that "all are not created upon equal terms, but to some eternal life is fore-ordained, to others eternal damnation." Does this language sound like the language of St. Peter? who cried out in the house of Cornelius: *" of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted by him.”

Again Calvin says; "Those therefore whom God passes over, he reprobates; and that, for no other reason, but because he wishes to exclude them from the inheritance which he predestines for his sons"! Is this the language of St. Paul, who, speaking of God, says of him, that he "will have (that is, wishes to have) all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." The Holy Ghost says, that God wishes that all men should be saved; but Calvin says; No: God does not wish this; he wishes to exclude some from the inheritance which he destines for his sons. Moreover, as if he could read the mind of the Deity, and tell us what did, and what did not, influence its determination, he asserts, not only that God wished to exclude some from the inheritance, but that this wish was the only motive that determined his will! To my mind, this is neither more nor less than an unhallowed boldness; an instance of awful and profane presumption. 1. Tim. ii. 4.

* Acts x, 34.