* course of his studies, to which they should be principally directed; and that neither the life of man, nor the mind of man, would suffice for all kinds of learning at 6 once, but the attempt might shorten the one while it only confounded the other.' This caution he never forgot, but found it of use to him ever afterwards.

Lyons was then, as well as since, a very dissolute city; and the placing a raw youth there, without the authority of parents or guardians, who could take care of his morals. (as was the case with Junius,) was exposing him to a torrent of temptations. Two women, in particular, having conceived a regard for his person, haunted him with oblique testimonies of their affection, and, forgetting the modesty of their sex, pursued him with their solicitations. Whether from aversion to their indecent conduct, or from the natural bashfulness of his temper, GOD's providence however preserved him from seduction; and he overcame this temptation. But he fell under a sad temptation of another kind, till the mercy of God restored him. This evil was neither more nor less than downright Atheism, into the espousal of which he was drawn by the sophistry of a bad companion, and his own indiscretion or inexperience. Junius was reading Tully's books upon Laws, in which the vile proposition of Epicurus is cited,. That God is without all care both of his own affairs, • and for those of other beings *. His evil counsellor had adopted this maxim, and by every argument of a wicked wit inculcated it upon Junius. He had so inculcated it, that his young friend became rooted in the principle, and as complete an Atheist as himself.

For more than a year, did our Atheist maintain his profession, and with so much openness, that it appears to have been known by all who knew him. A tumult that occurred at Lyons, first staggered him in his new opinion. He was wonderfully preserved in the commotion; and he began to see, that there was plainly something more than mere chance in the case, and something that looked very much like an over-ruling providence. About the same time, his father, having been informed of the alarming state of his son's mind, sent for him, and with the utmost tenderness, learning, and piety, invited him to read over the New Testament with attention, and confer with him upon it. He obeyed his father's direction; and it pleased GOD to open his eyes to a full view

This paffage is cited by Marcus, in Cic. de legibus, lib. 1.

view of the abominable notions, which he had adopted. The first chapter of St John's gospel, which he began upon, was made the happy means of this revolution of mind He was struck with the dignity of the expression, and the weight of the matter. He says of himself, "I read "part of the chapter, and was so impressed with what I "read, that I could not but perceive the divinity of the "subject, and the authority and majesty of the scriptures, "to surpass greatly all human eloquence. I shuddered in "my body with horror at myself; my soul was astonished; " and I was so strongly affected all that day, that I scarce "knew who, or what, or where I was. But thou, O "Lord my God, didst remember me in thy wonderful "mercy, and didst receive a lost and wandering sheep into thy flock! From that time, when the Lord had granted "me so great a portion of his Holy Spirit, I began to "read the bible, and treat other books with more cold"ness and indifference, and to reflect more upon and be "much more conversant with the things that relate to "salvation."

From that time, the world and its pursuits appeared vain and insipid to Junius; and the things of GOD and of heaven engaged his whole concern. His father was rejoiced enough at the happy change, but still intended him for the civil law and human affairs. The inclination of the son soared higher; and, by permission and consent of his father, he went to Geneva, with a view of studying divinity and the languages, about the time of the first breaking out of the civil war in France. He was dismissed with a supply of money, sufficient for his present occasions; and his father promised to remit him in future, what might be necessary, but was not able through the public commotions. Thus ill-provided with subsistence, he could only purchase four books; and these were the Holy Bible, Calvin's Institutes, Beza's Confession, and Cevallerius's Hebrew Grammar; which engaged him, for a year. Within this space, he was prevailed upon to accompany a party, who were making an excursion into Switzerland, just when his little stock was almost exhausted. In this tour, which lasted three weeks, Junius made an acquaintance with Musculus, Haller, Peter Martyr, Bullinger, Farel, &c. who were all at that time in the cantons. When he returned to Geneva he had scarce any money left, and for seven or eight months afterwards he received none from his friends. His excessive modesty forbad him to borrow, and therefore he formed a scheme

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of living hard. He determined with himself to employ one day as a labourer in the fortifications, for his subsistence, the other to engage in his studies. What a sight! to look upon a burgher of sordid views and attainments wallowing in the fullness of bread, contrasted with one of the most learned, pious, and valuable of men, destitute of necessaries, and working like a slave for this burgher's security! If the faith of Junius had not been secured on the rock, the devil might probably have furnished him with an argument from hence for his atheism, by which he has puzzled thousands.

But if Providence tried Junius's faith upon this account, it did not leave him long without a testimony of its care. For a countryman of his was put in his way, whose mother, being left a widow with a numerous offspring, had often been assisted in her necessities by Junius's parents; and this man very gratefully embraced the opportunity of acknowledging his obligation. Here indeed was bread sown upon the waters, and found again after many days. He lodged, he boarded, and did for his benefactor's son, all that was in his power to do. On the other hand, Junius, feeling for the burden and inconveniences which his grateful friend chearfully underwent upon his account, endeavoured to make that burden as light as possible; and, out of a quick sense of delicacy, almost wholly abstained from the food, procured by the laborious industry of his host. He abode with him near seven months; and, for four of the seven, constantly took care to be from home at dinnertime, which he spent in walking, meditation, and prayer. In the evening, he cat a couple of eggs, and drank a small cup of the petit vin, or low wine, which is the common beverage of that country, as beer is with us; and all this, that he might not be too chargeable to his kind benefac

His modesty and extreme delicacy, however, cost him dear; for by this over-abstemious kind of life, he contracted a decline, which almost destroyed his tender frame. Providence again interposed in this emergency; for, by the assistance of his friends, and, at length, by the remittance of a sum of money from his father, he was enabled to adopt a better regimen, and to use such means as wholly recovered him.

Mr Leigh, in his Treatise of Religion and Learning, quotes from Junius himself, that he received a most courteous entertainment from a countryman (and perhaps the countryman above-mentioned) in the time of his distress, and adds another circumstance which is wholly omitted

by

by Melchior Adam, and other biographers. He relates it in Junius's own words: "Here (O the wonderful wisdom " of God !) my Master had prepared for me the best school "of true religion I ever found in my life. For God so "wrought upon my soul by the ardent and zealous piety "of this poor good man, that a portion of the same di"vine fervour was imparted through him to me; while I, in the comparison, a very indifferent Christian, was "made useful to him in the communication of other knowledge. Upon both of us, at one and the same "time, the Lord bestowed an increase of his mercy and "grace; upon my simple countrymen, by enabling me "to enlighten his head; and upon me, by enabling him "to kindle a flame of zeal in my heart.". -The transparent piety, humility, and modesty of this acknowledg ment needs no comment. This man of learning had, through grace, followed the apostle's rule, and became a fool in his own eyes, that he might be wise indeed; not for puny concerns of time and the world, but to everlasting salvation.

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It being contrary to the plan of life, which Junius's father had intended, that he should study divinity, he wrote for him to return home. He wished his son might be religious; but he did not wish him to be a preacher, This reduced Junius to a disagreeable dilemma, out of which he was much relieved by the interposition of a pious and learned friend of his father, who explained to him the necessity of his son's remaining longer at Geneva, for the sake of his studies. In the interim, an awful providence determined the affair. At Issoudon in Aquitain, a murdering banditti set upon Junius's father, and barbarous ly bereaved him of his life *.

Upon

On Corpus Chrifti day, the Roman Catholics of Iffoudon, regardlefs of the treaty of peace, that had been concluded just before, committed a thousand outrages upon the Protestants; upon which Denys Junius (our Junius's father) received a commission, as counsellor in the laws, from the king, to enquire into the authors of the fedition and punish them. Denys Junius went to Iffoudon, accompanied only by three fheriff's officers, pofting the rest in various places before he entered the city. His precautions, however, were of no ufe. The common people guffed the motive of his coming, and, feizing the gates, invested the commiffioner's houfe, and entering by force, killed D. Jurius, threw his body out of the window, dragged it through the streets, Aung it to the dogs, and publicly forbade it burial. The king, out of indignation at fo horrid a murder, ordered the walls of Iffoudon to be demolished; but the arret was changed, by the interest of some Lords, because the commiffioner had been deemed a Lutheran for twenty-four years.

Upon this sad news, Junius had no heart to return to his country, but wrote a most affecting and affectionate letter to his mother, condoling with her upon their mutual loss, and at the same time begging her to indulge no anxie. ty upon his account, because he was resolved to be no burden to her, but to trust in GOD's blessing upon his own industry for his future maintenance and support. In this generous and tender resolution, he took upon him to assist. in a school, under a minister of the gospel at Geneva; where, in the day-time, he taught Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and, for a great part of the night, pursued his own proper studies in divinity and philosophy. But his feeble constitution could not endure a long continuance of such unremitted labours, which at once emaciated his body, and tended to impair his mind.

About this period, the head-master of the school at Genevadied, and the chaplain of the hospital succeeded to him. The chaplainship was offered to Junius; but he declined it, partly lest it should hinder his studies, and partly because he did not wish to fix himself for the present at Geneva. In the year 1565, however, he was made minister of the Walloon church at Antwerp, which became a troublesome and dangerous situation to him. The Spaniards, who then possessed the Low Countries, were about to establish the inquisition, to which the principal people, of Brussels in particular, were very averse, and had a meeting to confer upon the best mode of preventing the execution of that diabolical tribunal. To this meeting our Junius was called, and readily gave his assistance, both by his prayers and advice. His wisdom always inclined him to moderation; and he opposed not only the malicious attempts of the Papists, but the unbridled zeal of his Protestant friends, who were sometimes disposed to go lengths, which neither religion nor reason could justify. When he returned to Antwerp he published some "Political Ad"monitions," which gave great offence to the Papists. A reward was offered for the discovery and apprehension of the author; though, it seems, in this very paper, he had blamed the intemperance and indiscretion of the Reformed, as well as condemned the violent proceedings of the Roman Catholics. By the style and manner, Junius was suspected to be the author, and very narrowly escaped from the designs of his enemies.

With all this love of moderation, and his earnest endeavours to inculcate peace among others, he could find none for himself. He was persecuted every where, and

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