of civil and religious liberty, who will not bless God for the glorious Reformation, notwithstanding the excesses of Carlstadt, and the fanaticism of the Anabaptists of Germany?* "But can sinners be converted so

* As the Anabaptists of Germany have been subjected, by many, to unmerited obloquy, on account of the transactions at Munster, we deem it due to them, and the cause of truth, to append a few remarks in reference to the scenes then and there enacted.

We remark, in the first place, that the Anabaptists, in their attempts to revolutionize the city of Munster, did no more than Protestant Lutherans had done before them.

Dupin, a Catholic historian and a bitter enemy of the Anabaptists, informs us that in 1532, the city council of Munster admitted the "Protestant ministers." These were principally Lutherans. The term Protestant, at that time, was applied only to those who united in a protestation against the proceedings of the Diet at Spires, in 1529. The Anabaptists were deemed unworthy to enter a council, or to join in any protestation or public act with other dissenters. The "Protestant ministers" were no sooner permitted to enter the city, than they sought to participate also in the administration of civil affairs, and set themselves to work to reform the government. The first step necessary to be taken, was the deposition of the "bishops and clergy" of the Roman church. In this they succeeded with but little difficulty. "To be revenged for this," says Dupin, "the Bishop blocked up the city, and the Burghers having made a sally upon the Bishop's troops, took a great many prisoners.” They subsequently availed themselves of the advantages afforded by this victory to secure their liberties without any further hazard in the tented field. By means of the prisoners whom they had taken, they succeeded in forming a treaty with the Bishop and his party, in which it was stipulated that "both Catholics and Protestants should live in peace in the city." The treaty was duly signed, February 14th, 1533.

About the close of the same year, the Anabaptists made their appearance; but they soon found that the toleration extended to the Lutherans was not to be extended to them. The principle upon which the Romanists proceeded, four years before, when threatened with an invasion by Solyman, was again adopted. On that memorable occasion, their necessities compelled them

suddenly?" In every case, perhaps without exception, they go the round to work out their own righteousness before they submit to Christ; but after all, is not regeneration instantaneous? Is not this doctrine recognized in all our standard works? Is it not the doctrine of the Bible? "But are there no spurious conversions?" There may be; and are we not taught to expect such things in the 13th chapter of Matthew? Spurious conversions? And are all pure gold who come into the church when there is no special excitement? Spurious conversions! A friend makes me a present of a bundle of bank bills in the hour of my necessity. On examining them, I find one or two counterfeits. Shall I send back the bundle and despise the gift? "But does not the excitement soon cease? There is no necessity for it. I have heard

to issue an edict, enjoining "that all the members of the empire should live in peace, and commit no hostility under pretext of religion;" but in the same edict was a clause requiring "that the sect of Anabaptists should be proscribed." (Dupin, vol. 4, ch. ix. p, 29-30, ed. 3-London-1724.)

The historian, after closing his account of the treaty formed between the Romanists and Lutherans, proceeds to notice the rise and progress of the Anabaptists in that region. "Such was the state of that city," says he, "when John Becold of Leyden," &c. The Bishop and his party besieged the city, as they had done when it was in possession of the Lutherans. The besieged sallied out and effectually repulsed them, but again the Bishop mustered his forces, and again laid siege to the city. A second sally was made, in which John Matthew was killed. John Becold then assumed the reins of government. He proved himself to be an ambitious and licentious profligate, according to the testimony of our author, remodeled the government as the Lutherans had done before him, and through the instrumentality of a pretended prophet, Tuscochieri, was declared king and crowned June 24th, 1534. His reign, however, proved a short one; for the States of the Provinces assisted the Bishop, and the city was retaken June 24th, 1535, just one year after his coronation.”.

of a revival which lasted two years, another which lasted six years, and I think the Bible tells me of one which is to last a thousand years! It is our privilege to have not merely a shower, but a whole day's setrain. Suppose, however, the positive excitement is not lasting, may not much good fruit nevertheless remain? A refreshing shower comes in time of drought, and vegetation takes a start. A few days after, the soil is dry again. Did the shower therefore do no good? "But do not some of the converts, so called, fall away?" Be it so. Go into your orchard; your trees are in full bloom. some of those blossoms are going to fall away without fruit. What then? Would you have no blossoms at all; or would you have only two or three blossoms this year, and two or three the next? According to a calculation which I have made, only

"Rotman was killed in the siege Becold and Knipperdoling were taken prisoners and suffered the punishment they deserved," says the author—which, of course, was death.

This is a succinct history of the whole affair. There is no evidence that the Anabaptists, as a body, committed greater outrages than the Lutherans, while there is direct evidence that they were more oppressed. Both parties resorted to arms for the same object—to secure civil and religious liberty. The one succeeded in securing these by treaty; with the other, Romanists would not even enter into negotiations, being resolved on their total extermination. The Anabaptists were unfortunate in their leaders; but there is no evidence that they approved of or sanctioned their moral improprieties. There is, however, satisfactory evidence that the Anabaptists, in other parts of Germany, censured severely the proceedings of the actors in the tragic scenes at Munster, and disavowed all fellowship with them. If we may brand a whole denomination with infamy for the atrocities committed by the few, (such was, evidently, not the design of the author,) what denomination can stand unblemished? Let the christian reader ponder well this inquiry; and may truth, justice and charity, maintain their rightful sway in every heart.

about one in fifteen or twenty of those hopefully converted, fall away. And what then? Here is a revival, and one hundred profess conversion, but only one half are really converted and saved from the damnation of hell, and brought home to God and to glory! Is that nothing? I think I have somewhere read that there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. But you know how frivolous are the objections so frequently urged, so I need say

no more.

Your Brother in Christ,

DANIEL BAKER.

31*

INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS.

FACTS are beautiful things, and not unfrequently they furnish fine illustrations of sentiments and doctrines, known and believed by all who respect the sacred volume. In the Pastor's Journal, I have noticed a variety of cases related by those who were eye-witnesses of what they communicated; and I verily believe that the publication of them has proved to be exceedingly useful. Having myself during many revivals of religion, witnessed a number of very interesting things, I thought it proper to make a record of them, some of which are now laid before the public, as a suitable appendage to the foregoing sermons, and illustrative of certain passages of Scripture often quoted.

ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE.

1. In a certain town in Georgia, lived Mrs. M., a pious widow lady. She had two sons in a distant State, whom she had not seen for many years. They were thoughtless young men, and avowedly infidel in their sentiments. She received a letter from her sons promising an early visit. About this period an arrangement was made with myself, to hold a protracted meeting in the place of Mrs. M.'s residence,