us. me mine offences on account of thy Son Jesus Christ, who was crucified and raised for us, whom thou in thy mysterious counsels hast willed to become our propitiation. Sanctify me with thy Holy Spirit. Preserve thy church in these dominions, and suffer not the light of thy Gospel to be extinguished among Make my orphans vessels of divine mercy. I implore thee though with a feeble faith yet with a faith sincere. I do believe, Oh Son of God, thy promise which thou hast sealed with thine own blood and resurrection. Oh assist me to lift up my heart by faith." These words he was frequently heard to repeat. Having counselled his little daughters, he sent them away. On their departure he would return to his occupation, and in the time of his sickness assiduously devote himself to his work concerning the last words of David. In the stillness of night he stood for a long time in the open air contemplating the firmament, and appeared as though immediately about to enter the heaven of heavens, when he again addressed his Redeemer, repeating his accustomed invocation and confession. In his last hours he held discourses with his friends concerning each part of his doctrine, the wonderful government of the Church, the immortality of the soul, and the hope of our meeting again and recognising each other in the celestial church. He died in the act of prayer Adami Vitæ Theolog. fol. 95. MARTIN BUCER. Born 1491, died 1551, aged 60. God's love is so far from resembling the usual sort of friends, who, when they have accompanied us to the grave, do there leave us; that like the angels that carried Lazarus's soul into Abraham's bosom, its kindness, its activity, begin then most to appear, when our dark eyes are closed, and is then truest to the beloved soul when she forsakes the body.-BOYLE. MARTIN BUCER was a very learned, judicious, and pious person. Perhaps he was inferior to none of all the German reformers in learning, but for zeal, true piety, moderation, and a most tender care of preserving unity among the foreign churches, Melancthon and he, without any injury to the rest, may be ranked apart by themselves. Such is the account given of Bucer's character by Burnet; the narrative of his death is from Melchior Adam. A complication of disorders obliged him to keep his room for several months; during that time his hours were always well employed. When his sickness prevented him from giving his lectures publicly, he delivered them in his own house. In the disease which, after a few days, carried him off, his mind was occupied in sacred meditation, and in continual aspirations after heaven. Requested by his medical attendants to take food, he refused, but his friends suggesting that he should consider himself born not for himself, but for the good of others, he said, "I will conform to custom." When H. John Bradford went to consult him, and said that he wished to be remembered in his prayers, with tears Bucer said, "reject me not, Oh Lord, in my old age, when my strength faileth me. The Lord may se verely chastise, but he never will reject me, never reject me." Advised to prepare himself against the attack of the prince of darkness, he replied, "I have no fellowship with Satan, my conversation is with Christ alone, and may that day never arrive in which I shall be deprived of the sweet consolations of religion." When Bradford came to him again, and expressed the apprehension of his friends and medical attendants, lest at the waning of the moon his strength should fail, and he should be overcome by the force of the disorder-he is said to have pointed his fingers upward, to have directed his eyes toward heaven, and to have exclaimed, He, He ruleth and governeth all things, Bucer died at Cambridge *. JOACHIM VADIAN. Born 1485, died 1551, aged 66. Retire and read thy Bible: There truths abound of sovereign aid to peace. A PHYSICIAN of St. Gal, in Switzerland, who adorned the republic of letters with many valuable works, and who was honoured with the laurel crown by the Emperor of Germany: oppressed with anxiety and exertion he perceived that he daily approached nearer * Burnet. Adami Vitæ Theologorum, fol. 106. and nearer to the gate of death. Inviting the ministers of the Church and State, with the consuls and pro-consuls, into his sick room, he declared the grounds of his faith, and commended the care of the Church to the vigilance of its pastors. Then turning to the others present, he exhorted them to uphold the republic of Switzerland, and to perform their duties with equity and purity of heart. Free from every solicitude he now devoted himself to pious meditations and the consolations of Scripture. Whenever he found a passage which comforted him in his sickness, with clasped hands and eyes uplifted toward heaven he gave thanks to God, his Father, for his mercy manifested through Christ to fallen man, and bitterly regretted that he had not retained all those sentences in his memory. He desired his friends to read the discourse which Christ, when about to suffer death, delivered to his disciples. He was not anxious about the recovery of his health, and from the commencement of his illness disregarded worldly subjects. Well skilled in medicine he knew the fatal nature of his disorder. His strength now completely failed. He took up a copy of the New Testament, and giving it to his pastor, J. Kesler, he said, "I present to you this gift, the most invaluable in the universe, for a perpetual memorial of our friendship." He slept in the Lord, Anno Domini, 1551 *. Adami Vitæ Medicorum, fol. 26. Jacob des Bibliotheques, fol. 225. JOHN RIVIUS. Died 1553. There is not a precept which the Son of God so often repeats and enforces as that which bids us watch and pray. HAVING lost a son, a wife, a grandson, and two servants, who were cut off by the Plague, immediately his own strength failed, and a frequent depression of spirits succeeded. He said with great fortitude, "the Lord shall do with me according to his will.” Alexius, the mayor, his son-in-law, came to visit him, and conversed with him on the uncertain te nure of human life, and the joys of an eternal world. These conversations the sick man said were most consoling to his mind. He complained less of pain than thirst, which day and night deprived him of comfort. After four days had elapsed several black spots appeared in each arm, perceiving this, he knew that his death was near. His son exhorting him to put all his trust in God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for us, without the least emotion he replied; " my son, I have long since been accustomed to contemplate this subject of death, nor have I postponed it to the last moment of my life. Indeed I feel assured that I have a merciful God in the heavens, who in the hour of death will not withdraw from me the light of his countenance." Then he repeated with a loud voice the words of Christ from St. John. "I am the re |