inftruction of mankind to a degree beyond what Erafmus himself had ever conceived.

Thus, under the care of divine providence, materials were collected, for that beautiful edifice,which began to be erected in the next century. In the fifteenth century the great value and benefit of thefe. materials fcarcely appeared; the fame corruptions both of faith and of practice, which have so often been described, still prevailed in all their horrors.

In the mean time there were fome individuals, who, though not connected with any particular chriftian focieties, evidenced the power of godlinefs. Among thefe, Thomas Rhedon, a Frenchman and a Carmelite friar was diftinguifhed*. This man came to Rome with the Venetian embaffadors, having undertaken this journey in the hope of improving his understanding in religious concerns. He had hitherto no conception of the enormous corruptions of that venal city, and was therefore aftonished to find that even the habitation of St. Peter was become a den of thieves. His zealous fpirit was ftirred up in him, to give an open teftimony to evangelical truth; and at length by continual preaching he incurred the hatred ofthe ruling powers. In fine, he was degraded from the priesthood, and was burnt four years after his A. D. arrival at Rome, in the year 1436, during the ponti1436. ficate of Eugenius, the fucceffor of that fame Martin

who was raised to the popedom by the council of Conftance. Several others, who like him were enlightened, and like him were faithful to their God, though unconnected with any particular church, were executed in Germany, not long after the burning of John Hufs.

Jerom Savanarola, an Italian monk, by his zeal, learning, and piety, incurred in an eminent manner the hatred of the court of Rome. Notwithstanding

Fox, Vol. I. p. 758.

the

the repeated menaces of the pope, he continued to preach the word of God with great vehemence, and with a degree of light and knowledge, which feems fuperior to that of moft, if not of all men, in that age. In 1496 he upheld the ftandard of the A. D. gofpel at Florence, though many warned him of the 1496. danger, to which he was expofed by his great boldnefs. At length, in the year 1498*, he and two other A. D. friars, named Dominic and Silvefter, were impri- 1498. foned. During his confinement, he wrote a fpiritual meditation on the thirty-firft pfalm, in which he deIcribed the conflict between the flesh and the fpirit, -a fubject peculiarly evangelical, and which needs fome real exercife of practical godliness, in order to be duly understood and relished by mankind. The pope's legates arriving at Florence, Jerom and his two companions were charged with maintaining various heretical opinions,-one of which will deferve to be diftinctly mentioned as characteristic of the times in which they lived. For example, they were accused in explicit terms of having preached the doctrine of free juftification through faith in Chrift; and after they had perfevered in what was called an obftinate herefy, they were degraded, delivered to the fecular power at Florence, and burnt A. D. to death in the year 1499.

1499

There were also some souls who, in secret, served God in the gospel of his Son; and who knew what fpirituality in religion meant, though from fome particular circumftances they never were exposed to fuffer in any confiderable degree for righteoufnefs fake. Among these was the famous Thomas a Kempis, who died in 1471. Instead of enter- A. D. ing into the tedious difpute concerning the author 1471. of the well known book of the imitation of Jefus Chrift, let us be content with afcribing it to this

monk,

• Fox, p. 830.

+ Du Pin.

monk, its reputed author. It would be impertinent in me to enter into any detail of a performance, fo familiar to religious readers: and let it fuffice to fay, that it abounds with the most pious and devotional fentiments, and could not have been written but by one well verfed in chriftian experience, though it partakes of the common defect of monaftic writers; that is to fay, it does not fufficiently illustrate the doctrine of juftification by faith.

Vincent Ferrer, though bred in the midft of darkness, and connected with the worft of ecclefiaftical characters, was a fhining model of piety*. He was born at Valentia in Spain, became a Dominican friar, and what was far better, a zealous preacher of the word of God. A quotation from his book on fpiritual life will deferve the attention of students. "Do you defire to ftudy to advantage? Confult God more than books, and afk him humbly to make you understand what you read. Study drains the mind and heart. Go from time to time to be refreshed at the feet of Christ under his crofs. Some moments of repose there give fresh vigour and new light: interrupt your ftudy by fhort, but fervent ejaculations. Science is the gift of the Father of lights. Do not confider it as attainable, merely by the work of your own mind or induftry." This holy perfon was retained in the fervice of Peter de Luna, who, as pope, took the name of Benedict XIII., and was one of those three popes, that were depofed by the council of Conftance. Very few men are reprefented in history to have been of a more proud and deceitful character than Peter de Luna. Vincent intreated his master to refigh his dignity. Benedict rather artfully eluded than directly refufed the requeft. Bishoprics and a cardinal's hat were then offered

Butler, Vol. IV.

en

offered to Vincent; but his heart was infenfible to
the charms of worldly honours and dignities. He
very earnestly wished to become an Apoftolic mif-
fionary; and, in this refpect, he was at length
gratified by Benedict. At the age of forty-two he
began to preach with great fervor in every town
from Avignon towards Valentia. His word is faid
to have been powerful among the Jews, the Ma-
hometans, and others. After he had laboured in
Spain, France, and Italy, he then, at the defire of
Henry IV. king of England, exerted himself in
the fame manner throughout the chief towns of
England, Scotland, and Ireland. Still finding Peter
de Luna entirely obftinate in his ambition, he re-
nounced his fervice, and, by the defire of king
Henry V., made Normandy, and Britanny, the
theatre of his labours during the last two years of
his life. He died at the age of fixty-two.

How truly humble this man was, appears from

the whole of this little account which I can collect
concerning him; and particularly, from his own
confeffion; "my whole life is a fink of iniquity:
I am all infection: I am corruption throughout.
I feel this to be fo more and more. Whoever is
proud, fhall ftand without. Chrift manifefts his
truth to the lowly, and hides himself from the
proud."

Antoninus, arch-bishop of Florence, born in
the year 1389, feems to have been a fimilar cha- A. D.
racter. Great things are related of his paftoral 1389.
labors and fervices. His fecretary, obferving his
indefatigable exertions, once faid to him, "The
life of a bishop is truly pitiable, if he is doomed to
live in fuch a conftant hurry as you live." "To
enjoy inward peace," replied he, "we muft, amidst
* Butler, Vol. V.
S

VOL. IV.

all

all our affairs, ever reserve a closet as it were in our hearts, where we are to remain retired within ourfelves, and where no worldly business can enter." He died aged feventy; and is faid to have frequently repeated, in his last moments, words which he had been accustomed to use in the time of his health; namely," To ferve God is to reign."

Let Bernardin* of the republic of Sienna, close this concise review of the fifteenth century. He A. D. was born in the year 1380, and on account of his 1380. uncommon zeal in preaching, was called "the burning coal." He gave this advice to clergymen, "Seek firft the kingdom of God; and the Holy Ghoft will give you a wifdom, which no adverfary can withstand." This excellent man expreffed an earneft wish to be able to cry out with a trumpet through the world, "How long will ye love fimplicity?"-He died aged fixty-three years.

* Id.

CENTURY