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pastor of Bethlehem Chapel, Prague, Pope John, a council was called at in 1402—he there uttered with Constance, in November 1414. trumpet voice his rebukes of the The Pope himself, who had fled for drunkenness, ignorance, and errors protection to Sigismund the emof an apostate priesthood; and peror, attended this council with finally, catching the flame that thirty cardinals, one hundred and glowed in the writings of Wycliffo, fifty bishops, and eighteen hundred the first translator of the English priests, along with the emperor and Bible, he speedily drew upon him- numerous princes and knights. self the condemnation of the eccle- Summoned by the emperor to siastical authorities, against whose appear at this council, and granted sins his faithfultestimony was borne. a " safe conduct," securing his safe

Prohibited preaching in Bethle- return to Bohemia, Huss, disrehem chapel, and refusing to be garding the cautions of his friends, silent, he was summoned to Rome left Prague and went to Constance. to defend himself before the Pope; Shortly after arriving there he was and declining, by the counsel of imprisoned by orders of a conclave friends, to undertake such a journey of cardinals, deprived of sufficient he was excommunicated in March, food, and his arms chained to the 1411. As he disregarded the ex- walls, that thus harassed and discommunication, the city of Prague couraged he might recant and deny was placed under interdict, and his faith. At length he was allowed every public religious service within to speak before the council, but its limits was prohibited. This act was received with such outcries of secured the interposition of the “Recant, recant,” that he found it king, and the archbishop of Prague, impossible to defend himself; his who had instigated all the trouble, condemnation was determined, and was compelled to beg of the Pope justice had no place in the council. the revocation of the interdict. After the council had adjourned

Again the sentence of excom- Huss was repeatedly brought forth munication was ordered to be exe- and urged to yield to its decision, cuted, and it was commanded whatever it might be. His answer that Huss should be burned and was, “I call God to witness, most Bethlehein Chapel demolished; but indulgent emperor, that I never the king would not execute the un-conceived the purpose of defending righteous mandate, and Huss con- anything with extreme stubborntinued to preach the Word to ness, but that I came here of my thronging multitudes. Subse- own accord, with this intent, that quently he was compelled to leave | if any one would give me better Prague, and seek safety in tempo- instruction I would unhesitatingly rary exile, and thus went every change my views.” where bearing the glad tidings, and Instruction they could not give writing to his brethren, “Pray for him, they had only authority to me, that I may more richly write urge. He must recant or die; and and preach against antichrist, and so on his forty-second birthday he that God may lead me in the battle, went to the stake, singing the and when I am driven to the Easter hymn of Venantius Fortugreatest straits in defence of His natus, that has come down to us truth. For I know that I shrink from the sixth century: not from giving up this poor body

- Welcome, happy morning! age to age for God's truth to those who need

shall say: it."

Hell to-day is vanquished, heaven is At length, at the instigation of won to-day!

Lo, the dead is living, God for ever- | names of such patient sufferers, but more!

| God's angel of record writes them Him the true Creator, all His works in His book of life, and a grateful adore.

and sympathising posterity, reEarth with joy confesses, clothing her deemed from thraldom through

for spring, All good gifts returned with her re

their sorrows, goes around the turning King:

world to find a marble fair enough Bloom in every meadow, leaves on to bear the record of their names, every bough,

and writes on it, “Burned but not Speaks His sorrow sended, hail His

convicted.” triumph now.”

It is easy to convict men. CounSo died a faithful witness and cils and conclaves, truckling courts confessor of the Lord, and where of venal slaves and fawning placehis dust mingled with the ashes of seekers can do the work. Bigots the faggot fire stands the monument who atone for the blackness of their erected to his memory, bearing the iniquities by the bitterness of their record, “ Joannes Hus, exustus non sectarianism are ready to scoff and convictus”-a simple sentence, but scorn, to judge inexamined and one that might be written over the condemn unheard; to cry, “Recant ashes of many a martyr, many a or die," and to light the faggots which sufferer, many a saint of God. surround the worn and wearied “ They were stoned, they were form of the suffering saint of God; sawn asunder;" and thousands on but when their names rot in eternal thousands of God's elect have given nlamy, those who are “burned but their bodies to be burned; burned not convicted” shine with an inbut not convicted. Malice has as- creasing lustre; and when persecusailed them, cunning has sought to tors and scorners of every age shall entrap them, perjury has heaped go down to shame and everlasting shame upon them, and authority contempt, they who have been has crushed them with its blow; “burned but not convicted," persebut still above their charred and cuted but not forsaken, cast down blackened forms is written, “Burned but not destroyed, “shall shine as but not convicted.” Bigotry spews the brightness of the firmament, her blackening venom upon the and as the stars for ever and ever,”

IMPORTUNITY.

He standeth krocking at the door:

“O Lord ! how long? How long ?
Weeping, Thy patience I adore,

And yet the bars are strong;
Lord, draw them for me, for my hand is weak,
The night is chill. Enter Thou till the streak
Of ruddy morning flush the day's young cheek!”

He standeth knocking, knocking still;

“ Sweet, pleading voice, I hear ;” The mist is rolling from the hill,

The fourth slow watch is near;

Through the small lattice I beheld His face,
In the cold starlight, full of pitying grace,
Yet-how to guess Him in so mean a place ?

He standeth knocking, knocking loud !

Yes! for the timbers creak,
Eastward there lowers an angry cloud ;

“ Sweet Saviour, hear me speak;
Oh, bide not there to feel the drenching rain !
I bid Thee welcome ; but in grief and pain
Tell Thee, my strength against these bars is vain."

He standeth knocking, knocking oft,

The day of grace wears on,
The chiding Spirit whispers soft,

“Perchance He may be gone
While thou still lingerest." "Not the bars alone
Keep Thee out, Lord ; against the door is thrown
Sandbags of care and hoarded gains and stone."

He standeth knocking, knocking faint;

* Blest Saviour, leave me not,
But let me tell Thee my complaint,

The misery of my lot;
And let me sweep the floor Thy feet must press,
Deck myself royally for Thy caress,
Make myself worthy ere Thou stoop to bless!”

He standeth knocking, knocking still ;

“Lord, help me in my doubt.
Must I put forth this feeble will

To draw Thee from without ?
Then help my weakness.” Hear each stern bar give,
The door flies backward ; He but whispers, “ Live!”
While on His patient breast I, weeping, plead, “Forgive!”.

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NEWS OF THE CHURCHES. The memorial stone of a new been laid at Sandhurst, Berks.chapel, for the ministry of the Rev. The memorialstone of a new chapel, J. Meredith,has been laid at Brecon, for the ministry of the Rev. J. Wales.--The memorial stone of a Hunt, has been laid at Croyde, new chapel has been laid in Priory Barnstaple, Devon.- The memorial Road, Dover, for the ministry of the stone of a new chapel has been laid Rev. J. F. Frewin.--The memorial in King's-road, Reading, for the stone of a new branch chapel, in church of which the Rev. W. Anderconnection with the church at York son is the pastor.-A new chapel Town (Blackwater), under the care has been opened at Montacute, of the Rev. J. E. Cracknell, has, Somerset, for the ministry of the Rev. H. Hardin.--The memorial- of Haslingden, to Odiham ; the Rev. stone of a new chapel has been laid A. Pickles, of Water-street, Rochat Long Eaton, Derbyshire.--The dale, to Towcester, Northamptonchapel at Nodfa, Abersychan, under shire; the Rev. J. M. Jones, of the care of the Rev. D. Lewis, has Builth, Brecon, to Bethel, Tonybeen reopened after alterations. - pandy, Glamorgan; the Rev. F. J. A new chapel has been opened at Steward, of the Metropolitan TaberHaverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, for nacle College, to Castle - street, the ministry of the Rev. T. Davies. Calne; the Rev. M. H. Whetnall, - A new iron chapel has been of Ulverston, to Montague-street, opened in Peckham-road, London, Blackburn; the Rev. A. Smith, of to be under the care of the Rev. M. Fonthill-road, Finsbury-park, LonDay, of the South London Taber-don, to Fenny Stratford, Bucks ; nacle.The chapel at Great Tor- the Rev. W. Hetherington, of Sudrington, Devon, under the care of bury, Suffolk, to Ramsay; the Rev. the Rev. R. J. Middleton, has been W. W. Sidey, of Regent's - park reopened after restoration and im- College, to Cupar Fife; the Rev. provement.

J. J. Ellis, formerly of Gosberton,

Lincolnshire, to Philip-street, BedTAE Rev. L. Llewellyn has been minster, Bristol. The Rev. R. H. publicly recognised as the pastor of Powell has resigned the pastorate the church at Wylecop, Shrews of the church in Zion Chapel, Bradbury; the Rev. F. Overend, late of ford-on-Avon ; the Rev. W. Green, the Baptist College, Manchester, of of the church at Melbourne, near the church in King-street, Oldham ; Derby; the Rev. W. Parry, of the the Rev. D. Bruce, late of Peter- church at Penarth, Cardiff; the Rev. head, of the church at Forres, N.B.; T. Churchyard, of the church in the Rev. D. Hussey, of the church Selly-park, Birmingham; the Rev. in North-road, Milford Haven; the T. Lewis, of the church at Moriah, Rev. D. Jennings, of the church in Risca; the Rev. W. Barnes, of the Castle Hill, Warwick; the Rev. J. church at Trowbridge, the resignaWilliams, of the church at Roch tion to take effect in September. Castle, Pembrokeshire; the Rev. J. J. Williams, late of Pwllheli, of the church in Water-street, Rhyl; the WE regret to announce the death Rev. J. M. Jones, formerly of of the Rev. F. Johnstone, of MarBuilth, of the church at Tony- shall-street Baptist Church, Edinpandy, Glamorganshire.

burgh, at the age of seventy ; also

of the Rev. J. Phillips, for twentyTHE following reports of MINIS- seven years the pastor of the church TERIAL CHANGES have reached us at Astwood Bank, Worcestershire, since the preparation of our lasts at the age of seventy; also of the issue :--The Rev. J. Pugh, of Wood- Rev. J. Domoney, late of Blackfield green, North London, to Stratford- Common, Hants, at the age of on-Avon; the Rev. R. Wilson, late seventy-six.

AUGUST, 1880.

STUDIES IN THE LIFE OF JACOB.

BY THE REV. T. GRAHAM TARN.
III.--Household Sins and Retributive Justice.

GEN. xxvii. It is with considerable reluctance that I call attention to the painful domestic drama recorded in this chapter. Most gladly would I have left it untouched, and concealed it beneath the mantle of silence, but the consideration of it is absolutely necessary in the unfolding of Jacob's life, and also furnishes us with many admonitory and instructive lessons.

There is nothing more beautiful and attractive under the sun than a happy home, where harmony and love reign supreme; and there is nothing more saddening and repellent than the ruin and desolation so often wrought in the home life by sin. The one mirrors the blessedness of the heavenly state, as some placid mountain lake reflects the splendour of the sunny sky that bends over it; the other is a prophetic imitation of the discord and misery of the eternal abode of woe. The true home is a fragment of Paradise, which has floated down to us through the ages, but too often its sanctity is desecrated, its beauty stained, and its peace destroyed by the entrance of sin. When craft and deception are allowed to enter a family, when the various members are scheming how they may overreach each other, then farewell to its comfort and joy. Its atmosphere is clouded, its loves are weakened, its bliss is shaded, its music is silenced, and its relationships become tangled and complicated. Mutual confidence and community of loving interest are absolutely necessary for preserving the harmonies and delights of home, and where these elements give place to dark suspicions and unscrupulous intrigues, then the Paradise speedily becomes a wilderness, bereft of all beauty and attraction.

The household of Isaac was clouded by sin and filled with confusion. Instead of bestowing his dying blessing upon Jacob, according to the purpose of God, the patriarch, prompted by his ardent affection, resolved to bestow it secretly upon Esau. Rebekah became acquainted with his design, and determined, at all bazard, to prevent its fulfilment. Jacob entered into the sinful plot which she had devised, and, taking advantage of his father's blindness, deceived him and contrived to steal the blessing. Esau was full of anguish when he found that he had been circumvented, and when, his grief had subsided, resentment and revenge took its place. Here was indeed “a house divided

VOL. XIII. N.S. VIII.

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