III. Not on a purple throne, With gold and jewels crowned, But in the meanest dwelling-place The precious Babe was found: Yet star-directed Sages came, And kneeling, glorified His name. IV. To Shepherds first was shewn The promised boon of Heaven, Who cried, "To us a Child is born To us a Son is given!" DEATH from his mighty throne was hurled, FAITH hailed SALVATION to the world. V. Lord! may thy holy Cross Bear Peace from clime to clime, Till all mankind at length are freed THE REFORMER OF SWITZERLAND, AND THE FAMILY OF ZELL. A HISTORICAL TALE. BY THE REV. F. A. COX, LL. D. THE great Swiss Reformer, Ulrich Zwingle (or Zuinglius), was in the full vigour of his age, and in the midst of his usefulness, when the hostilities of the Cantons, which on the one side abetted, and on the other opposed, the Reformation, were at the highest pitch. The political tempest which religious animosities had engendered, threatened every moment to burst on the country; and Zurich, the centre of Protestantism, became a scene of ceaseless activity. The Pastor, it might be supposed, were we to judge according to the usages of modern times and the true design of religion, would have been exempted from the services of the council and the camp; but it was not then deemed inconsistent with pastoral relations, to combine the functions of the ministry with the military duties of the patriot. Zuinglius was not of a character to shrink from any hazards or toils, which either the spiritual or temporal interests of his country might seem to require of her sons; but while multitudes had learned to admire and embrace his principles, comparatively few were imbued with his fervent and self-devoted zeal. The personal qualities, however, of this eminent man, did not fail to attract around him some devoted friends, with whom he held continual and delightful intercourse; nor did his public character less avail to give him a commanding influence in the State. Still it was difficult for him to exercise that entire control, even over inferior minds, which the common weal demanded; and, in spite of every effort on his part, he was long unable to inspire wise and determined measures in that motley assemblage of individuals which constituted the vacillating Council of Zurich. It is not our design to trace the history, but to represent the crisis, which may, perhaps, be best accomplished by introducing the reader to a conference in the house of Zuinglius. Drawn together by the common bonds of friendship and of danger, behold, on the 6th of October 1531, a band of distinguished followers surrounding their illustrious leader, and looking to him for counsel and encouragement. His persuasive eloquence, his affectionate spirit, his kind and conciliating manners, had always charmed them; while his comprehensiveness of mind and firmness of purpose, had, in moments of hesitation, filled them with confidence. Zingg, Oechslin, and Leo Jude, were of the number of his earliest friends before he came to reside in Zurich; Conrad Pellican, and Rodolph Collinus, had been promoted by his means to important situations, - the former to the Professorship of Theology, the latter to that of Greek Literature; Oswald Myconius was also a successful teacher of the learned languages in the city. All were worthy of his friendship, and of the cause. " I perceive most clearly," said Leo Jude, "that the treaty of peace, as it was termed, concluded at Cappel, in September, 1529, was merely a manœuvre on the part of the Catholic Cantons, to gain time. Their object was to secure an opportunity for a more determined attempt to overthrow the liberties of those who had maintained the Protestant faith. They were well aware, not only of their defective state of preparation for striking the meditated blow, but of the recent conversion of many L among them to our opinions. These would not easily have been dragged into the field, to butcher their countrymen for adhering to the very principles, which involved more particularly the rights of conscience, which they had themselves espoused." "Ah! my dear Leo," replied the Reformer, "those are the rights for which it is worth while to shed our blood, and the establishment of which can alone render our distracted and oppressed country happy. The struggle may be severe, but truth must be ultimately triumphant." "Accustomed as I am," said Collinus, "to cherish a deep interest in the temporal liberties for which Greece so often strove, and concerning which so much is recorded in the pages of her noble authors, I hold infinitely dearer those liberties of thought, and that freedom of religious action, which the best of her patriots knew not how to appreciate, which the enslaving influence of popish superstition and tyranny cannot allow within its precincts, - and which you, my friend, have so gloriously laboured to secure for Switzerland." ZUINGLIUS.-And so fully, my beloved Rodolph, do I participate in these sentiments, that, at this moment, when five of the Cantons are preparing for a sanguinary contest in support of their spiritual |