secret, and thus succeeded in procuring the banishment a second time of his predecessor, to whom he behaved with such cruelty as to allow him to be starved to death. Vigilius being sent for from Rome to Constantinople by order of the empress, who commanded him to be brought by force, though he should take sanctuary in a church, which happened to be the case, was found to be held in such general detestation by the population for his infamous character, that, as Platina himself reports, they crowded around him on his embarkation in the Tiber, exclaiming, " Hunger and pestilence go with thee: evil thou hast done to us, and evil mayest thou experience wherever thou goest!" He was met on his arrival near Constantinople by the emperor in person, with a great retinue, and conducted to the place appointed for his residence by a solemn procession, the clergy taking the lead.

A. D. 550. Justinian, having immortalized his name by a digest of the Roman laws, under his appointment and patronage, in which, by the labours of three years, the spirit of law was extracted out of two thousand volumes, through which it had been diffused, and compressed into fifty, known by the name of the Justinian PANDECTS or Digests; and which, as Lord Bacon observes, "he himself called gloriously, yet not unworthily, a sacred temple of justice, built out of the ruins of former materials, and some new constitutions of his own ;"-having completed this memorable and useful undertaking, he applied himself to the adjustment of the points in dispute between the rival and nearly balanced sects in the church. Being persuaded by a bishop of Cæsarea, that a large body of reputed heretics would return to the bosom of the Church, if only three chapters, composed by as many prelates, could be expunged from the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon, which chapters related to the points in dispute between the Nestorians and Eutychians, favouring the former, he consented; and issued an edict to that effect, asserting at the same time the validity of the Council in all its remaining decrees. Vigilius

opposed this edict, and reprobated it, as casting unmerited calumny on the memory of the excellent men who were the authors of the chapters in question; at which the emperor was so incensed, and so severely threatened him, that he recanted, and subscribed to the edict. Upon this, the bishops of Africa and Illyricum forsook him and refused to hold communion with him as an apostate; so that he again recanted, and revoked his subscription to the edict. After many contests and dissensions, the dispute was deemed of sufficient importance to convene a general council for its decision.

THIS FIFTH GENERAL COUNCIL was convened in the year 553, according to some writers 556, at the Prætorium in Constantinople. One hundred and sixty-five bishops were present; but it is observable, that while the patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch, are represented as occupying the first places, no mention whatever is made of Vigilius, bishop of Rome, though known to be in the city at that time. It appears, indeed, that he refused, most perseveringly and obstinately, to be present, unless he might take the chair of president, and control the whole proceedings.

So little, however, was his presence deemed to be essential, that the Council proceeded to business without him; the emperor's wishes were complied with, and the edict abolishing the three chapters confirmed. Vigilius now openly remonstrated, but being punished and ignominiously treated, (Platina says, he was dragged, with a rope round his neck, through the streets of the city,) and sent into temporary exile, for his contumacy, he once more recanted, and avowed his adherence to the decrees of the Council.* By the intercession of a favourite he was allowed to return peaceably into Italy, but on the way, fell ill, and died of an excruciating malady, not without suspicion of

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Thus we have seen him change his opinions thrice on the subject of the three chapters. Basnage, recounting his life, observes of him, "Il étoit orthodoxe à Rome, il devint héterodoxe à Constantinople. Il change de sentiment une troisième fois, et il anathématise sans quartier tous ceux qui ne changent point."

being poisoned by PELAGIUS, his successor. His corpse was received at Rome, from whence he had been dismissed, with such ominous maledictions, and his death looked upon as a retributive act on the part of divine Providence, for his cruelty to his predecessor.

At the above Council a bishop was deposed for permitting an image of Theodoret to be carried about in a church by some of his clergy :—a fact, which incontestibly proves that the worship of saints had not as yet been added to the worship of God.

A vast number of rites and ceremonies, however, were now coming into use, to which later times affixed the stamp of general approbation and permanence. Sacerdotal garments were embellished with a variety of ornaments, to raise the admiration of the vulgar, and to gratify the pride, or love of pomp, in the wearers. Images became more numerous and conspicuous, and one especially, of the Virgin with the infant Jesus in her arms, appeared in most places the most prominent. The temples, as the places for religious worship were now universally styled, everywhere became enriched and adorned. The donors of these offerings acted on the principle of supposing that the saints who were said to be the founders of these edifices, were exalted in heaven above their fellowsaints, in proportion to the secular magnificence of the respective structures that went by their names; thus, considering them as still actuated by that foolish passion for greatness, which did once, until they were fully enlightened, appear, even in the apostles themselves. They further supposed, that the departed spirits of these saints hovered about the places where their edifices stood, and defended the houses, lands, and persons of the inhabitants from ills and calamities. Especially was such protection, so they conceived, extended to the patrons of these buildings, and not only for time but eternity: hence the bequests so liberally made by the rich and the great, at their decease, to atone for any culpable remissness in these acts of munificence during their lives.

(To be continued.)

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE REV. J. WILLIAMS,

THE EMINENTLY DEVOTED AND SUCCESSFUL MISSIONARY TO THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS, WHO IS ABOUT SHORTLY TO RETURN TO THOSE STATIONS.

MAKEA, the writer of the accompanying letter, is the principal chief of Rarotonga; he is the twenty-ninth of his family; and Makea being the hereditary name, the natives append a something to it, as the Pharoahs of Egypt did; hence the name of the present chief is Makea nui, or Makea the great. For a variety of particulars respecting him, I must refer your readers to the Missionary Enterprises, and would simply add, that there is every reason to hope that he is a decided and devoted Christian. The letter, of which the following is a translation, I received a few weeks since, and it will enable your readers to form an estimate of his character. I give you the translation as literally as possible.

"Mr. Williams, son, Mrs. Williams, daughter, blessing on you two from the true God through Jesus Christ! You were well acquainted with my former character, which was very bad. I dwelt in darkness and was delighted with all that was evil: I thought myself a great man and a wise man, but it was in the times of my ignorance of the great and wise God. Now I see myself in my true likeness, and in grieving for my sins I am like to a person whose heart is sore with grieving for his first-born son: but I am running to Jesus, and giving myself through him to be a man of God, for Jesus is shouting, 'Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. I have gone there, and cast my sins upon him, and have taken in return the emblems of his death, for he has said, 'Do this in remembrance of me.'*

*He has been received as a member of the church under the are of Mr. Buzacott, and I would just add, that the chiefs of highest rank are admitted into church-fellowship in the same way and upon the same terms as persons of inferior rank.

"Dear Instructor, do not entertain fears about me, 1 think my heart is polished by the word of God. I am reflecting upon David's charge to Solomon, And thou Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searcheth all hearts: if thou seek him he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever.' My son, Mr. Williams, the word of God has grown greatly at Rarotonga since you left us; all the great people, the landholders, and the little people, have subjected themselves to the sway of Jesus. It appears what Isaiah says

has come to pass, and that Jehovah has rent the heavens, and come down, and the mountains have melted at his presence: for all the people are pressing on to Jesus. My son, in answer to your inquiry about Mr. Buzacott, whether I am still kind to him, I would say, when two children lie upon one mat, both eat off one leaf, and both bear the image of one parent, it is a true sign that they are both of one family. My son, my heart is crying for you two; come with the children to Rarotonga, and let us all dwell together here, you, Mr. Buzacott, Mr. Pitman, and myself, all rejoicing in and encircled by the love of Christ. My son-in-law, my daughter, and my wife, have all united with the people of God; and my son Daniel, who was a wicked youth, is now in the fold. This is the finish to my communication to you two. Blessing be to you, through Jesus Christ, "MAKEA."

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We hope to give some further information of Mr. Williams, his publication, and success, in our next.

LONDON:

IBOTSON AND PALMER, PRINTERS, SAVOY STRE 11 STRAND.