and in the history of the heathen nations of the world. Here is our strong-hold, here is to be the field of our operations in carrying on our warfare against the world, the flesh and the devil. Here, for the present, they have intrenched themselves, and fancy that their position is impregnable. The would-be leaders of public opinion pride themselves on this kind of knowledge, and manage to insinuate the impression everywhere that if we do not know these things we do not know anything, anything at least that is worth knowing. In this way they manage to gain confidence, and to secure a leadership of thought that they are by no means entitled to. And they will use it as they always have done for the purpose of "scattering abroad" those who should be gathered into the Fold of Christ.

And, doubtless, too, this study will liberalize our own minds. It may make us indifferent to some of the niceties and technicalities that our earlier theological and ecclesiastical training had led us to regard as among "the weightier matters of the law." We may possibly find fewer great facts and truths remaining as both the essence and the distinctive features of Christianity; but we shall hold them all the more firmly and all the more tenaciously. It will enable us to meet the "scientists," and the materialistic scepticism of our day, if not on their own grounds, at least half way; and at all events to meet them, and to gain a chance to get hold of them; explain for them what they do not now understand, and meet a want they feel but do not know where or how to supply.

W. D. WILSON.

THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN

BOHEMIA AND MORAVIA.

In the fatal battle of the Weiss-berg, near the gates of Prag, Friedrich's whole artillery, consisting of ten cannon, fell into the hands of the enemy. Four thousand Bohemians fell in the battle and retreat, while scarcely one hundred of the enemy were lost. In less than an hour this decisive victory was accomplished.

A courier found the king at dinner, and from the wall near the Strahofer gate showed him the horrible scene. In order to come to a deliberate decision he begged for a truce of twenty-four hours; but Duke Max would grant him only eight. Friedrich improved this time by a cowardly flight from the capital at night, accompanied by his family and the leaders of his army. The citizens implored him to remain and promised to raise more troops from among themselves, assuring him that all was not lost. But the Prince of Anhalt advised his flight, admonishing him that the Bohemians could not be trusted, and that they would deliver him up to the Emperor, in order to secure their own pardon. Friedrich followed this counsel, and his retreat was so hasty that he left his crown behind. From Prag he fled to Breslau,, and thence to Holland, where he died in 1632. "Now I know what I am," he said to those who sought to console him in his flight. "There are virtues which misfortune alone can teach; and only in adversity can princes learn what they are." Thurn and those who were involved in the same danger with him, fled to Moravia, and finding that country unsafe, escaped from the imperial dominions.

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The battle on the white hill decided the future destiny of Bohemia. The inhabitants of the Kleinseite, a district of Prag, which was the most favorable to the Emperor's cause, sent deputies to the Duke, who begged him with tears to pardon their revolt, preserve their civil and religious freedom, and spare the city. Maximilian answered them courteously, that he would preserve the city from pillage, but had no power over the other matters. He advised them to surrender unconditionally to the Emperor. Deputies then came from the old and new city and asked for three days' grace to arrange the terms surrender. Even the delay of three hours was refused them, and they were bidden to surrender immediately to the Emperor. On the third day the principal nobles and knights of Prag appeared before the Duke, acknowledged openly their guilt, renounced all alliances with other countries, and swore that they would accept no one but Ferdinand as their monarch. Then they begged the Duke for his intercession, which he promised them with the assurance that they would obtain pardon. Count Tilly was placed in command of the city, and the Duke returned in triumph to Bavaria. Tilly gave many an opportunity to escape, and general order prevailed; though there were some deeds of violence committed, especially in the shape of nocturnal depredations. An irreparable loss was caused by the fanaticism of the Roman clergy, who instigated the soldiers from Spain and the Netherlands to de stroy many thousand Bohemian books, which they took from the houses and publicly burned in the squares of the city. It is to this cause that the rarity of ancient Bohemian works is due.

Prince Carl von Lichtenstein was appointed by Ferdinand his statt-holder, or viceroy. He recalled the Jesuits with the other clerical orders, and a solemn re-dedication of the cathedral soon took place. It became evident to all that the Roman Church had won a victory in Bobemia, such as it had never before achieved. The Pope, when he heard of the result of the battle, prostrated himself and thanked God

with tears of joy. Meanwhile troops of Cossacks and Polish robbers, who had followed the imperial standard, roamed about the country, outraging the peasantry and robbing them of their gold and silver. Many thousand families with their cattle and goods hid themselves in the forests and mountainous regions, where multitudes of them perished from cold and hunger. From Bohemia the marauders passed over to Moravia, and there received their reward; for, while they were dispersed, intent on plunder, the peasantry succeeded in overpowering and killing most of them.

But the result of the battle of Weiss-berg was still more serious, for it caused a complete revolution in Church and State which lasted for centuries. In a few weeks the land was completely subdued, and then a plan was matured and carried out for bringing the entire nation under the absolute control of the Emperor and the Roman Church. Under the pretense of punishing the people for their revolt, they were trampled under foot, partly by the exactions of the soldiery, partly by the removal of their religious and political leaders, until at length, helpless and hopeless, without power to resist, they were driven "from heresy into the Church." Ferdinand himself, completely in the power of his religious and political advisers, often became the mere tool of their private and personal vengeance. I shall endeavor to describe, as briefly as I can, the progress of this counter-reformation, with especial reference to its bearing on the history of the Moravian Church.

When the city of Prag first surrendered to the Emperor Ferdinand, his government took no immediate action. against the heads of the revolt; and this unfortunately lulled many of them into a false state of security. But at length, on the 20th February, 1621, the Directors and Defensors (who have been so often mentioned), were by command of Prince Lichtenstein, suddenly seized and thrown into prison, in different places of confinement. The next day those who had already fled were enjoined by public

proclamation to give themselves up within the space of six weeks. Since none appeared, sentence was pronounced against them as contumacious traitors, and they were doomed to decapitation with loss of goods and rank. Twenty days later their names were affixed to the gallows, and the property of those who had fallen in the insurrection was confiscated to the royal treasury.

In May the trial of the prisoners commenced. Their judges were chosen from among the bitterest enemies of their religion, and many of them were apostates from it, who annoyed their victims with the most insolent questions. At length Count Schlick, tearing open his clothing and baring his breast, exclaimed: "Tear this body into a thousand pieces and search its most hidden parts; you will find nothing but what we have spoken in our defense. Love for freedom and religion compelled us to draw the sword. But God has suffered the Emperor's cause to triumph, and has given us into your hands, so work your will upon us!" Budowa and Otto von Loss also showed great courage, and maintained that the cause of the Diet, though not triumphant, was far from being utterly lost. After the examination had lasted for some time, and none would acknowledge themselves guilty, sentence of death was passed upon them, and the sentence was sent to the Emperor at Vienna for approval. It is stated, on good authority, that Ferdinand, when he received it, passed a sleepless night, and in the morning sent for his confessor, Peter Lamormain (or Lämmermann), and said to him; "I conjure you on your conscience to tell me if I can without harm to my conscience grant life to the condemned, or must they be executed?" The confessor answered: "Either course is in the power of your imperial majesty." Thereupon the Emperor took his pen and granted life to a few.

On the 17th of June seven squadrons of Saxon cavalry rode into Prag, and occupied the three divisions of the city, Altstadt, Neustadt and Kleinseite, to hold the people in check. On the 18th a scaffold was erected, four ells high,