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Whether at sea or on shore, our departed friend duly and devoutly observed the day of the Lord that day which is so awfully desecrated in this Christian land. During the thirty years in which I had the happiness to number him in my congregation, his attendance in the sanctuary was uniform: whoever was absent, HE was there, as long as the state of his health would admit. Nor did he think it sufficient to come once to worship on the Sabbath; this pious servant of God made conscience of attending both the morning and evening services; and whenever the Lord's Supper was administered, he was a regular guest at the sacred table. His devout and fervent manner there-and indeed throughout the whole of divine worship, when impressively repeating the respouses or singing with glad voice the praises of the Lord-strikingly evinced, that his heart was deeply engaged in the delightful work; and we doubt not, he often found the house of God to be the gate of heaven.

and gentle, and forbearing, and kind-so that, in very many years, scarcely an instance occurred of his being in the slightest degree ruffled by passion, or of his giving vent to any angry or unkind expression. Those who were privileged to enjoy his friendship will long remember the peculiar suavity of his manners-the grace and gentleness of his demeanour-his lively participation in the joys and sorrows of his friends-and that Christian courtesy, which gave such an indescribable charm to his social intercourse.

Of the reputation of others he was delicately tender: the law of kindness dwelt upon his lips; and, with regard to those by whom he had been ungenerously and unjustly assailed, he spoke only with pity-never with sore feeling. In such instances, and, in those where his somewhat too liberal bounty had been abused, he loved to exercise that charity which suffereth long and is kind, which hopeth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things.

It cannot be doubted that his easy circumstances, his many pious and devotedly attached friends, But his piety, we have seen, was and his own calm and cheerful disnot confined to stated seasons of position, were sources of considerdevotion: he lived under its hal- able enjoyment to him: but he had lowing influence, and discovered besides, another source of rich graits happy effects in every part of tification-THE MEANS OF DOING his conduct. His faith filled his GOOD; and this luxury he fully enmind with peace and joy-raised joyed. How large, how liberal, him above the anxieties of life were his benefactions! How feelsustained him under its various ingly alive was he to every imtrials—and animated him with the pulse of benevolence. hope of a blessed immortality.

And here I feel it right to mention, lest I should be thought to present one of those faultless characters which the world never saw -and I do it to the glory of God's grace-that his temper is said to have been naturally very warm, and irritable, and impatient; but the genuine influence of religion had so softened and sanctified it, that he became eminently mild,

I appeal to the religious and charitable institutions of our country for proof of this. To which of them was he not an ample contributor? Gladly did he lend his aid to circulate the word of God-to send the heralds of salvation to the benighted heathen-to promote the education of the poor-and to relieve, in short, the endless wants, temporal and spiritual, of suffering humanity. Nor did his liberality

to publick charities abridge his private acts of bounty; rare was the case of distress which went away from him unrelieved; the blessing of the widow and the fatherless, and of many who were ready to perish, came upon him. He was a FRIEND indeed!-and so numerous were the demands upon his bounty, that I have often wondered where he could find resources to meet them; and I have almost thought his purse, like the widow's cruse, must have been miraculously replenished.

From the Christian Observer for July. AFFECTING EPISTLE OF POMPONIO ALGIERI, THE ITALIAN MARTYR.

Pomponio Algieri, a Neapolitan, was seized while attending the university of Padua, and sent bound to Venice. His answers, on the different examinations which he underwent by his Popish accusers, are still extant, and contain, says Dr. M'Crie, a luminous view of Divine truth, and one of the most succinct and nervous refutations of Popery any where to be found. They caused his fame to spread throughout Italy; and the senators of Venice, from regard to his youth and learning, were anxious to set him at liberty; but, as he refused to recant his sentiments, they condemned him to the galleys: yielding, however, to the importunities of the Pope's nuncio, they afterwards sent him to Rome, as an acceptable present to the new Pope, Paul IV., by whom he was doomed to be burnt alive. He was then only in his twenty-fourth year; and the Christian magnanimity with which he bore that cruel death, terrified the cardinals who had assembled to witness his martyrdom. The epistle above alluded to was written in his prison at Venice, and describes his sufferings and consolations in language which Bunyan, Southey, and

M'Crie, all agree can scarcely be paralleled. The following is M'Crie's translation.

"To allay the grief you feel on my account, I am anxious to impart to you a share of my consolation, that we may rejoice together, and return thanks to the Lord with songs. I speak what to man will appear incredible: I have found honey in the bowels of the lion, (who will believe it?) pleasantness in a dismal pit, soothing prospects of life in the gloomy mansions of death, joy in an infernal gulf! Where others weep, I rejoice; where others tremble, I am strong; the most distressing situation has afforded me the highest delight, Solitude an intercourse with the good, and galling chains rest. But instead of this deluded world believing these things, it will be rather disposed to ask, in an incredulous tone: How, think you, will you be able to endure the reproaches and threats of men, the fires, the snow-storms, the crosses, the thousand inconveniences of your situation? Do you not look back with regret on your beloved native land, your possessions, your relations, your pleasures, your honours? Have you forgot the delights of science, and the solace which it yielded you under all your labours? Will you at once throw away all the toils, watchings, and laudable exertions devoted to study from your childhood? Have you no dread of that death which hangs over you, as if, forsooth, you had committed no crime? O foolish and infatuated man, who can by a single word secure all these blessings and escape death, yet will not! How rude, to be inexorable to the requests of senators the most august, pious, just, wise, and good; to turn an obedient ear when men so illustrious entreat you!'

"But hear me, blind worldlings: what is hotter than the fire which is laid up for you, and what colder than your hearts, which dwell in

darkness and have no light? What can be more unpleasant, perplexed, and agitated, than the life you lead; or more odious and mean than the present world? Say, what native country is sweeter than heaven, what treasure greater than eternal life? Who are my relations, but those who hear the word of God? and where shall riches more abundant, or honours more worthy be found, than in heaven? Say, foolish man, were not the sciences given to conduct us to the knowledge of God, whom if so be we know not, our labours, our watchings, and all our painful exertions are doubtless utterly lost. -The prison is severe indeed to the guilty, but sweet to the innccent, distilling on the one side dew and nectar, sending forth on the other milk and abundance of all things. It is a desert place and wild, but to me a spacious valley, the noblest spot on earth. Listen to me, unhappy men, and judge whether there be in the world a more pleasant meadow. Here kings and princes, cities and people, are presented to my view. Here I behold the fate of battles; some are vanquished, others victorious, some trodden to dust, others lifted into the triumphal car. This is Mount Sion, this is heaven. Jesus Christ stands in the front, and around are the patriarchs, prophets, evangelists, apostles, and all the servants of God: he embraces and cherishes me, they encourage me, and spread the sacrament; some offer consolations, while others attend me with songs. Can I be said to be alone, while surrounded by so many and so illustrious attendants? Here I find an intercourse which affords me example as well as comfort; for in that circle I behold some crucified and slain, others stoned and sawn asunder; some roasted, others fried in the pan and in brazen vessels; one with his eyes dug out, another with his Ch. Adv.-VOL. XI.

tongue cut off, one beheaded, another maimed of hand and foot; some thrown into the fiery furnace, others left a prey to the ravenous birds. Here I have no fixed habitation, and seek for myself in the heavens the first New Jerusalem which presents itself. I have entered upon a path which conducts to a pleasant dwelling, and where I doubt not to find wealth, and relations, and pleasures, and honours. Those earthly enjoyments (all of them shadowy, and fading, and vanity of vanities, without the substantial hope of a coming eternity) which the supreme Lord was pleased to bestow upon me, have been made my companions and solace. Now they bring forth good fruits. I have burned with heat, and shuddered with cold, I have earnestly watched day and night; and now these struggles have come to a close. Not an hour nor a day has passed without some exertion: the true worship of God is now engraven on my heart, and the Lord has filled me with joy and peacefulness. Who then will venture to condemn this life of mine, and to pronounce my years unhappy? Who so rash as to declare his labours lost who has found the Lord of the world, who has exchanged death for life? 'The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I seek him.' If then to die be to begin a blessed life, why does rebellious man cast death in my teeth? Oh how pleasant is that death which gives me to drink of the cup of God! What surer earnest of salvation than to suffer as Christ suffered! * * Be comforted, my most beloved fellowservants of God, be comforted, when temptations assail you; let your patience be perfect in all things, for suffering is our promised portion in this life; as it is written, 'The time cometh, when he who slays you will think he doeth God service.' Tribulation 3 D

and death therefore are our signs of election and future life: let us rejoice and praise the Lord that we are innocent; for it is better, if such be the will of God, that we suffer for well-doing, than for evildoing. We have a noble pattern in Christ, and the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, whom the children of iniquity have slain. Behold, we call those blessed who bore up under their trials. Let us rejoice in our innocence and righteousness: God will reward our persecutors, for vengeance is his. As to what they say concerning the Venetian nobility and senators, extolling them as the most august, wise, just, pious, pacific, and of the highest character and fame, I give this its due weight. The Apostle teaches us, that we ought to obey God rather than man.' And accordingly, after first giving service to God, then, and not till then, are we bound to obey the official powers of this world. I grant they are august, but as yet they require to be perfected in Christ; they are

just, but the foundation and seat of justice, Jesus Christ, is wanting; they are wise, but where is the beginning of wisdom, the fear of God? they are called pious, but I could wish they were made perfect in Christian charity; they are called good, but I look in vain for the foundation of goodness in them, even God the supreme Good; they are called illustrious, but they have not yet received our Saviour, the Lord of glory. Lift up your eyes, my dearly beloved, and consider the ways of God; the Lord has lately threatened with pestilence, and this he has done for our correction: if we do not receive him he will unsheath his sword and attack those who rise up against Christ, with sword, pestilence, and famine. These things, brethren, have I written for your consolation. Pray for me. I

salute with a holy kiss my masters Sylvio, Pergula, Justo, along with Fidelis a Petra, and the person who goes by the name of Lælia, whom though absent I knew, and the Lord Syndic of the university, with all others whose names are written in the book of life.

"Farewell, all my fellow-servants of God; farewell in the Lord, and pray earnestly for me. From the delectable garden of the Leonine Prison, 21st July, 1555, the most devoted servant of the faithful, the bound

"POMPONIUS ALGIERI."

THE PILGRIM'S FAREWELL TO

THE WORLD. "For we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come." Heb. xiii. 14. "Farewell, poor world! I must be gone: Thou art no home, no rest for me. I'll take my staff and travel on,

Till I a better world may see.

Why art thou loth, my heart? Oh why Grieve not, but say farewell, and fly Dost thus recoil within my breast? Unto the ark, my dove! there's rest.

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Miscellaneous.

OBSERVATIONS OF A TRAVELLER IN

EUROPE.

(Continued from page 348.)

Rome, May 11th.

I have no hope of giving you any adequate account of the wonders which delight the traveller here. The mere vade mecum which directs him where to find them fills two volumes. My health has been injured by the fatigue attending the examination of them, though scarcely one has had that attention which I would gladly bestow, and which it deserves. The Vatican alone might furnish full employment for months. Happily, more able and careful observers have already given ample accounts of Rome, and if you are desirous of becoming fully acquainted with it, let me refer you to them. All that I pretend to is to collect a very little of what has already been published, to mix with it some few of my own remarks and reflections; and thus, in brief space, to present you some faint picture of what is before me.

St. Peter's is built on the site of the ancient Vatican field, where were the circus and gardens of Nero, and where he tortured the Christians. The martyrs, it is said, were buried in a grotto near the circus, and it is pretended that the body of St. Peter was deposited in the same place. In honour of this apostle, Constantine the Great, in 306, built a church here; which, being often repaired, existed for eleven centuries, and of which much is still to be seen under the new church.

Pope Nicholas V. began the present building, about the year 1450. The body of the church was finished under Paul V. who was chosen in 1605; but the portico was constructed by Bernini,

under the order of Alexander VII. and the sacristy was erected by Pius VI. whose reign occupied the last quarter of the last century.

The expense of building this temple cannot be very accurately calculated. It would be impossible to erect another like it; for many of its precious ornaments were from the "remains of ancient grandeur," in which the spoiler has left no gleanings for those who might come after him; or were the productions of genius, which has departed and dropped no mantle. In 1693 it was computed that 251,450,000 francs, or about fifty millions of dollars, had been expended upon this church, but to this vast amount large sums have since been added.

The approach to this greatest of temples is suitable to its majesty. Three successive courts extend more than a thousand feet in front. The first is an open area. The second is an oval space, with Bernini's celebrated colonnades at the ends. These have each four ranges of columns, four or five feet in diameter, and about forty in height, forming three semicircular galleries; the centre one being wide enough for carriages to pass each other within it. In the middle of this area stands an Egyptian obelisk, the only large one in Rome that has not been broken. It was brought from Egypt by Caligula, and afterwards placed by Nero in his circus, where it remained till 1586, when Sextus V. had it transported to its present situation. It is said that at the time of its erection all persons present were forbidden to speak aloud, under a severe penalty. An English sailor, however, could not refrain, when he saw that there was likely to be a failure in the attempt, from the stretch

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