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quarrel with the Pope, he passed an act for establishing some of the grossest errors of popery, which made it death to write or speak against them: in consequence of which several protestants were burnt. How did the Reformation proceed in the next reign? Edward VI., who succeeded Henry, was an excellent and pious prince, and though he was very young, the Reformation was greatly promoted by him. Was anything retained in the church in this reign, to which any persons refused to conform? Yes: many popish ceremonies and habits, which many persons, and some bishops, scrupled to use, particularly bishop Hooper, who, refusing to be consecrated in the popish garments, was imprisoned. How long did Edward reign? He died in the seventh year of his reign (which was the sixteenth of his age), and was succeeded by Queen Mary, in the year 1553. Did she do anything towards perfecting the Reformation? No; but much to hinder it: and in a great measure undid what had been done in the preceding reigns, by restoring popish doctrines, ceremonies, and worship. What was the state of things among those that dissented from the church in her reign? The number of them was much increased; but they were persecuted with great severity. Great numbers fled into Germany, where the Reformation flourished. Many of those who remained at home were burnt, among whom were Archbishop Cranmer, Bishops Latimer, Ridley, Farrar, Hooper; Dr Taylor; Messrs Rogers, Bradford, and Philpot. The whole number burnt in this reign was (as Burnet moderately reckons them) 284. But Grindal, who lived at the same time, says there were 800. Besides these, sixty died in prisons. What bishops were most active in executing Mary's bloody edicts? Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, and Bonner, bishop of London; who delighted in seeing the most horrid cruelties practised, and the latter of whom, in many instances, executed them himself. Who succeeded Mary? Her sister, Queen Elizabeth, in the year 1558; who, though she was on the whole inclined to carry on the Reformation, was too much afraid of offending the papists, was herself very fond of popish pageantry, ceremomonies, habits, and church ornaments, and extremely ambitious of supporting and extending her authority in church affairs. What relief did the protestants find in her reign? Though they had high expectations from her (so that those of them who had transported themselves abroad in Mary's reign, returned home when she came to the crown), they found the terms of conformity so narrow, that many could not in conscience comply with them; particularly the famous Coverdale, and Fox the martyrologist, who had such enlarged views of religious liberty, that he refused subscribing

anything but the Bible. There were at this time 8000 parishes out of 10,000 without preaching ministers. What distinction took place in this reign among the protestants? Some of them were called by their enemies Puritans, as a term of reproach, on account of their attempting a purer form of worship and discipline than had yet been established. Whereas the rest were satisfied with the Common Prayer Book, as it was altered in the reign of King Edward VI. What methods did the Puritans use to accomplish their ends? Finding no prospect of a further reformation from the legislature, some of the leading persons among them resolved to attempt it in a more private way by separating from the church. Did all those who were called Puritans separate from the established church? No; there were some who complied with the terms of conformity, rigid as they were, in hope of the removal of their grievances, at least by the Queen's successor. How were the Puritans treated in Queen Elizabeth's reign? They were treated with great severity. An act was passed which subjected those that did not conform to the ceremonies of the Church, to banishment, and in case of refusal or return, to death. In this reign the High Commission Court was instituted, which might truly be called the English Inquisition. The court of Star Chamber also constantly sat in this reign, and was to the last degree severe in its censures and punishments. What was the effect of these hardships which the Puritans suffered? They served to determine them to separate from the established church, and thus increased their number.

A CONTRAST.

BEAUTY fadeth,

Love declines,

The strength that aideth

In life's morn pines;

Grows weaker ere life's day be past,
And sinks into the grave at last.

But wisdom groweth

While man decays;

Each bud it showeth

Hath length of days.

The soul has an eternal spring,
Perpetual flight, untiring wing.

DAVIS and HASLER, Printers, Crane Court, Fleet Street.

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STEEPLE-HOUSE AT ELSTOW, WHERE BUNYAN WAS BORN.

THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN.

FOURTH PERIOD-OR HIS IMPRISONMENT.

IT is not quite certain at what period Bunyan was released from prison. By some it is set down in 1672, and by others

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1673. Probably it was in the month of December or January; and hence the difference in the record.

But how did Bunyan obtain his release?-and on what principle of law ?—and in what character? These are points of deep interest to all who revere his memory. Bunyan's release has been ascribed by some to the interference of Dr Barlow, then bishop of Lincoln. If this be true, the name of Dr Barlow deserves to be held in perpetual remembrance, We are of the same mind with Philip on this supposition. "If," he writes," if any bishop either procured or directly helped to obtain Bunyan's liberation, he deserves to be called 'the angel of the church' of England, and ought to be named for ever along with the angel who released Peter from prison."

It is thought by some that Dr Barlow has had credit for an act which he never performed. It is admitted that he admired the "Pilgrim's Progress," and pitied the author; but that was all. Ivimey's opinion and account of the matter are as follows:

"This event❞—the release of Bunyan-" has been generally ascribed to Dr Barlow, bishop of Lincoln. What assistance he afforded may be seen by the following extract from the preface to Dr Owen's Sermon, p. 30, printed at London, 1721. The author observes that 'notwithstanding the doctor's nonconformity, he had some friends among the bishops, particularly Dr Wilkins, bishop of Chester, who was very cordial to him; and Dr Barlow, bishop of Lincoln, formerly his (Dr Owen's) tutor; who yet, on a special occasion, failed him, when he might have expected the service of his professed friendship.

"The case was this, Mr John Bunyan had been confined to a jail twelve years, upon an excommunication for nonconformity; now there was a law, that if any two persons will go to the bishop of the diocese, and offer a cautionary bond, that the prisoner shall conform in half a year, the bishop may release him on that bond; whereupon a friend of this poor man desired Dr Owen to give him his letter to the bishop on his behalf, which he readily granted. The bishop having read it, told the person who delivered it that he had a particular kindness for Dr Owen, and would deny him nothing he could legally do; nay, says he, with my service to him, I will strain a point to serve him. (This was his very expression.) But, says he, this being a new thing to me, I desire a little time to consider it, and if

I can do it you may be assured of my readiness. He was waited upon again about a fortnight after, and his answer was, that indeed he was informed he might do it; but the law providing that in case the bishop refused, application should be made to the lord chancellor, who thereupon should issue out an order to the bishop, to take the cautionary bond, and release the prisoner -Now, said he, you know what a critical time this is, and I have many enemies; I would desire you to move the lord chancellor in this case, and upon his order I will do it. To which it was replied, this method was very chargeable, and the man was poor, and not able to expend so much money, and being satisfied he could do it legally, it was hoped his lordship would remember his promise, there being no straining a point in the case. But he would do it upon no other terms, which at last was done; but little thanks to the bishop.'

"From this account it should seem, the honour given to Dr Barlow has been ill bestowed, as it is evident that even his friendship for Dr Owen did not operate sufficiently powerfully to exercise his ability, lest it might expose him to the censures of the high-church party."

Such is the statement quoted by Ivimey from the writer of the preface to Owen's Sermons. The details of the narrative give it an air of truth, and there seems to be nothing to question. But, according to Philip, "Bunyan was released from prison at least two years before Dr Barlow was made bishop of Lincoln." This sadly perplexes the matter, and falsifies the entire statement of the preface just quoted; its truth resting on the supposition that Dr Barlow was then a bishop, which was not the case.

Philip tries to sift and settle this question as well as he can; but it is left after all in uncertainty. The following is his statement :—“ Bunyan was released late in 1672, or early in 1673; and Barlow was not raised to the bench until 1675. It does not follow from this, however, that he had no influence with the state before he was made a prelate. The probability is, indeed, that he had more influence before than after; as Sheldon was not his friend, nor Calvinism a court virtue then. He was, however, too near the bench in 1672, to employ his own influence directly, even for Bunyan, though Owen appealed to him as his old tutor: but he may have used some, though not at Owen's

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