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Henry, the more effectually to bind the clergy, sent these constitutions to Pope Alexander for his confirmation; but he, with the exception of a few inferior articles, condemned and abrogated them. | Becket, delighted with this conduct of the pontiff, heartily repented of his consent, and practised the

whole revenues of the state! He enacted. To secure the regard of therefore appointed an officer to at- the clergy to these laws, he required tend the ecclesiastical courts, whose that the bishops should set their consent should be essential before seal to them, and promise obethis pretendedly holy composition dience. Becket alone dared to reshould be levied. Indeed it was ab- fuse, and it was not till the Grand solutely necessary that a check | Prior of the Templars, on his knees, should be put to their rapidly in- with tears, besought him not to rouse creasing impudence and power, for the further indignation of his sovewhile they became more watchful reign, that he would take the oath over the conduct of their flock, in to observe them. order to enrich themselves, they claimed exemption from the restraints of ordinary laws and civil jurisdiction, (on the ground of their spiritual order,) and fearlessly perpetrated the most notorious crimes. It appeared, that at least one hundred murders had been committed by these men already, during the present reign; and a glaring out-greatest self-denial and austerity as rage practised by one of the fraternity in Worcestershire, that roused the indignation of the people, was the signal to the King for attempting some reformation. He summoned the prelates, and taking a general view of existing enormities, put to them this short question, "Whether they were willing to submit to the ancient laws and customs of the kingdom?" they expressed their willingness, “saving their own order;" by which expedient they hoped to appease the King, and more honour-terbury. This prohibition rendering ably reserve to themselves their liberties; but he perceiving the device indignantly left the meeting, and immediately ordered the primate to deliver up the castles of Eye and Berkham-a mandate that alarmed every prelate but Becket, who, in all probability, would have obstinately refused to comply but for the interposition of Philip, the Pope's Tegate, who considered it impolitic to proceed to extremities with so able a prince.

an atonement, refusing to officiate in his sacred character till he should obtain the Pope's absolution. The King, that he might gain some advantage over his opponent, applied that the legantine commission might be transferred to the see of York, and Alexander, anxious to oblige Henty when the dignity of his office was not infringed, granted the request; but prohibited the legate from using his commission at all to the prejudice of the Archbishop of Can

the commission useless for the purpose for which it was sought, the King resented the affront, returning the commission by the hands that brought it.

Determined on the humiliation of his primate, he was transported beyond the bounds of justice, and preferred claims against him which he had neither reason to expect nor means to satisfy; and the inflexible priest, whose spirit was rather roused than subdued by such measures, Deservedly anxious effectually to secretly withdrew from court, and terminate disputes so tiresome and disguised himself till an opportunidangerous, Henry resolved to define ty offered of escaping the kingdom, the clerical privileges, and for that which he found, A. D. 1164, and ar purpose convoked the nobility and rived safely at Gravelines. He was bishops at Clarendon, on the 25th warmly received by the sovereign January, 1164. The barons espons-pontiff, and by those princes who ing the side of the King, it was utter-were gratified with every opportuni ly vain for the prelates to refuse ty of obstructing the rising greatness Compliance with his propositions; of the English monarch. Becket the Constitutions of Clarendon, as they were called, were therefore

watchful of every expedient to augs inent the influence of Rome, now

the King of France, who, though not a sincere friend of Henry's, was so struck with his arguments and the primate's arrogance, as for a time to withdraw his countenance from the latter. Henry offered to submit his cause to the decision of the

resigned his see into the hands of the Pope, having just discovered that it was irregular in him to hold it, as he had received it of the King and not of his holiness. The latter, pleased with every acknowledgment of his superiority, accepted it, but immediately re-invested his cham-French clergy, and addressing

pion with it, and absolved him from his obligations to keep the engagements forced from him in England. A residence was assigned him in the convent of Pontigny, with flattering resources, where he remained several years.

Henry, well aware of popular superstition, feared the fulminations of Rome, and sought an interview with the Pope, which not being able to obtain, he forbade all appeals to the pontiff or the archbishop, or the reception of any of their commands; and that he might, as far as possible, evade the effects of their retaliation, he published it treasonable in him who should venture to bring an interdict into the kingdom, and threatened to banish those who should obey it if brought. He suspended the payment of Peter's-pence, and talked of acknowledging the claims of the anti-pope. Becket, on the other hand, whose success depended on his popularity, compared his trial and sufferings to those of Christ, and declared that kings reigned by the authority of the church alone; and resenting the measures of the King, excommunicated his chief ministers, and all who favoured the Constitutions of Clarendon, at the same time absolving all men from their oaths of adherence to them.

Lewis, said: "There have been many kings of England, some of greater, some of less authority than myself; there have also been many archbishops of Canterbury, holy and good men, entitled to every kind of respect; let Becket but act towards me with the same submission which the greatest of his predecessors have paid to the least of mine, and there shall be no controversy between us." The King, however, grew weary of these disputes, and solicitous to relieve his ministers from the sentence of excommunication under which they laboured, and dreading the further vengeance of an interdict on his kingdom, with which he was threatened, finally consented to terms inconsistent with his dignity, and needlessly flattered the primate's vanity, even holding his stirrup, on one occasion, while he mounted his horse.

Becket accordingly returned, evidently elated with his triumph, and immediately evinced that his spirit and designs were unchanged ; for meeting the following prelates, who had least espoused his cause, on their way to the King in Normandy, be informed the Archbishop of York that he was suspended, and the Bishops of London and Salis bury that they were excommunicated. He proceeded on his journey in the most ostentatious manner, and his pride was additionally flattered by the shouts and praises of the ignorant multitude, who crowded to witness his arrival, and hail his return. Henry had crowned his son as his successor in Becket's absence, and as this was done without that prelate's aid, he resented the indignity, and began to punish those who had assisted at the cere

The King and the Archbishop were evidently rivals, and by their late conduct had fruitlessly endeavoured to intimidate each other; and as the spiritual weapons had not had the effect of disturbing the internal peace of England, nor the royal proceedings humbled the prelate, they were mutually anxious to embrace the first plausible opportunity of an adjustment of their differences: yet it was not surprising that repeated conferences were held, and as re-mony. He had the temerity to compeatedly broken up, as it was difficult to imagine terms that should neither be derogatory to the royal honour, nor humiliating to clerical pride. At one of these conferences,

municate with the King of France, whose daughter being betrothed to young Henry, he contended ought to have shared the benefits of the ceremony: which step of the pris

mate was the more important, from the superstitious opinion that then prevailed, that the royal unetion, received at coronation, was essential to the exercise of royal power.

LUTHER'S FESTIVAL

OF THE

Translation of the Scriptures.

On the arrival of the persecuted FOR the purpose of engaging in prelates in Normandy, they informed the King of Becket's proceedings, this important labour, Luther had and the Archbishop of York having devoted the previous summer to the added, that tranquillity could scarce- study of Greek and Hebrew. His ly be expected while Becket lived, skill in German is universally adHenry gave way to the feelings of mitted. Versions of a very inferior the moment, and lamented the kind had been published at Nuremwant of zeal in his servants, who berg in the years 1477, 1483, 1490, could endure to see him so long and at Augsburgh in 1518, which exposed to the ungrateful returns of were not only ill calculated to atso haughty a prelate. Reginald tract public notice, but interdicted Fitz-Urse, William de Traci, Hugh from being read. The gospels of de Moreville, and Richard Brito, Matthew and Mark were first pubgentlemen of the household, mis-lished by Luther, then the epistle to taking the ebullitions of passion for the wishes of judgment, communieated their thoughts to each other, swore to avenge their prince's wrongs; and, though by different routes, quickly arrived at Saltwoode, near Canterbury, about the same time. Some violent expressions they had uttered at their departure induced a fear of their design, and a messenger was dispatched after them to prevent its perpretration; but their awful purpose was accomplished before the message could reach them. They, on their meeting, hastened to the archiepiscopal palace, and finding the primate slenderly attended, dropt some re proachful and menacing expressions; but he, trusting to the sacredness of his office, proceeded to St. Benedict's church to perform his devotions; thither they followed him, nor did the reverence of his high office, the seriousness of his present engagement, nor the sanctity of the place, deter them from actually cleaving his head before the altar; after which they retired unmolested from the tragical scene.

The death of this antichristian prelate was an awful comment upon the text,- Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.".

the Romans, and the other books in succession, till the whole New Tes tament was circulated by the month of September. In a letter which Melancthon addressed to the celebrated physician George Sturciad, dated the fifth of May, 1522, he speaks of the whole version being in the hands of the printers. The essential assistance he rendered in completing the work is likewise apparent, for he states, that he had paid particular attention to the different kinds of money mentioned in the New Testament, and had consulted with many learned men that the version might express them his correspondent to give his opinion, with the utmost accuracy. He begs and to consult Mutianus, as being profoundly skilled in the knowledge of Ronan antiquities. He entreats him to attend to his application from a regard to the general good, and to do it immediately, because the work was in the press, and printing with great expedition. "I wait your reply," he adds, "with the utmost anxiety, and I beseech you for faith, love, and kindness' sake, and every other urgent consideration, not to disappoint us."

The difficulties of the undertaking particularly pressed upon Luther when he proceeded to the translaThe direful consequences of this tion of the Old Testament, but he event, the useful reflections it sug-persevered with indefatigable zeal. gests, and the further review of this It appears that Melancthon was memorable reign, we assign as the deeply engaged in revising this imsubject of the next Essay. portant work for his friend, two months previous to his return.

H.S. A.

The utmost pains were taken to New Testament is my Patmos, but ensure the accuracy of the transla- | Melancthon and I have begun to tion, for a select party of learned revise the whole, and by the blessing men at Wittemberg assembled of God it will prove a noble labour, every day with Luther to revise but your assistance is, sometimes reevery sentence; and they have been quisite to suggest apt words and known, to return fourteen successive turns of expression. We wish it to days to the reconsideration of a be distinguished for simplicity of single line, or even a word. Each style." The whole was republished had an appropriate part assigned in a new edition in 1534, which was him according to his peculiar quali- followed by others in 1541 and 1545. fication. Luther collated the an-The names of Luther's principal eient Latin versions and the He- coadjutors in this great undertaking brew, Melancthon the Greek ori- ought to be had in everlasting ginal, Cruciger the Chaldee, and remembrance-Philip Melancthon, other professors the Rabbinical Caspar Cruciger, Justus Jonas, writings. At the request of Luther,||John Bugenhagius or Pomeranus, Spalatine afforded them every as- and Matthew Aurogallus; the corsistance, by sending them speci-rector of the press was George Ros mens from the Elector's collection rarius.

kept the return of the day.on which it was finished, by inviting a select party of friends to his house in order to celebrate so important an achieve.

of gems. The Pentateuch went to After completing this translation press in December, and a second of the Scriptures into the German edition of the New Testament ap-language, Bugenhagius annually peared at the same time. A version of the Prophets was published in the year 1527, and the other books in succession till the whole laborious task was completed in 1530. Hement. states how much he was indebted to his particular friend, in writing to Spalatinus. "I translated not only the gospel of John, but the whole ||

This social meeting was usually designated The Festival of the Translation of the Scriptures.→ Cox's Life of Melancthon, p. 220224..

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Obituary.

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Miss J. D. OFFTY.

Ir appears from the diary of Miss Jane Deborah Offty, that she was called by divine grace about the year 1783, under the ministry of the

Rev. Richard Cecil: the sermon

she dates her first lasting impressions from, was founded on Matt. xii. 43, 44. On that occasion she thus writes: "I have reason in par

ticular to bless God for that sermon; it led me to examine the mat ter over and over again, and to seek that grace which bringeth salvation, and teaches its subject to deny all ungodliness, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present evil world."

From that time to her death, those who knew her best can

testify how fully those petitions were answered, and how truly she was enabled to adorn the doctrine of Jesus Christ her Saviour in all things; and though she did not (as many do) enjoy so much of that ap propriating faith which leads its and my friend," yet she could alpossessor to say "He is my beloved ways say "Jesus Christ was the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely." He was the de sire of her soul, and her highest ambition was to be found" sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in her right mind."

She was a timid, fearful Chris tian, as her diary abundantly mani

fests; but she was not a wavering one: the uniform language of her heart was " If I perish, it shall be at the feet of Christ." She waited the fulfilment of his promises, and believed against her frame and feelings "That none of those who trust in him shall be confounded," What honour the Lord put upon this determined faith will appear by the closing scene of his dear handmaid.

any one: I am just as the Lord would have me, and just where he would have me, and that is just where and how I would be." On one occasion she said, "How supe rior are my accommodations to what my dear Saviour had; I have not only every comfort, but every wish prevented, by the most tender, and affectionate solicitude: He had nothing but a manger. Why should I complain of want or distress, of affliction or pain? He told me no,

The heirs of salvation
I know from his word,
Through much tribulation
Must follow their Lord.'

At the commencement of her long and peculiarly distressing af-lessfliction, nothing remarkable appeared, except the patience and resignation with which she met the alarming progress of the disease; never did she mention her sufferings but when asked respecting them. To a friend who said to her "Your sufferings must have been very heavy!" she said, "Not one too many; I have committed my way to the Lord for these thirty years, and he has always chosen what was best for me."

no! after this I will not-my hands were not pierced for him-his were for me."

As her end drew near, her comforts seemed gradually to increase : her "Will," she said—" I have been speaking one morning relative to thinking of his will, which can never be set aside- Father, I will that they also whom thou hast

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Hitherto she enjoyed but little of his smiles, which constitutes the bliss of heaven. She said one morn-given me be with me where I am, ing, "If it is but light just through that they may behold my glory.' the valley, O what a mercy! but if not, what shall I do?" It was observed in answer, she would be equally safe if it was dark all the way: "Yes, (she replied) but I wish it much, for the sake of those who see me die, as well as for my own comfort."

Her frame of mind was a striking comment upon that text-"It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good." All who had the painful pleasure of attending the impressive scene, will very long remember how truly she lay as clay in the hand of the heavenly potter: she often said, "I am waiting the pleasure of the Lord concerning me." One time hearing many knocks at the door of a dissipated neighbour, she enquired the cause, and was informed they had a great rout; "Ah! (said she) poor creatures, what will become of them when they come where I am? O what will they do in the swellings of Jordan? The waters will not divide for them: for all their health, I would not change places with them, nor with

YOL. X.

On January 22, she expressed a great deal of uneasiness lest, after all, she should have been deceiving herself, and should not be found on the right foundation; she was asked upon what foundation she would be, and what plea she made use of before God? she eagerly replied "Jesus Christ to be sure is all I, want; he alone can afford me any hope!" She was asked if that was not fleeing to him for refuge? after a short pause she said, "Why yes, it must be, it must be; then I am entitled to strong consolation:" and as to the plea she used before God, she said nothing but mercy would do for her, adding

"Thy mercy my God, ¡. Is the theme of my song,

The joy of my heart,

And the boast of my tongue." She was then reminded "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, and in those who hope in his mercy," when she was enabled to lay hold on that consolatory, pas sage, and appointed it for her fu neral text.

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