read "Fox's Book of Martyrs." This will shew them what popery is; but as many of them may be unable to procure it, we shall now and then furnish them with some information on this subject.

A BLIND BOY BURNED ALIVE.

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In the reign of the persecuting Mary, a poor blind boy was apprehended and cast into prison; at length he was brought before the Chancellor of Gloucester, who examined him whether he believed Christ's body to be really present in the sacrament of the altar? He replied that he did not. Then said the Chancellor, "Who taught thee this heresy?" The boy answered, "You, Master Chancellor, when in yonder pulpit you taught us that the sacrament was to be received spiritually by faith, and not carnally and really as the papists teach."* But," said the Chancellor, "Do thou as I have done, and thou shalt live as I do, and escape burning." The Boy answered, "Though you can so easily dispense with your conscience, and mock God and the world, yet will not I do so." Then said the Chancellor, "God have mercy upon thee, for I will read the sentence of condemnation against thee." "God's will be fulfilled," said the Boy. Then the Chancellor condemned him and another called Thomas Croker. After this they were burned to death, and suffered with much constancy, joyfully yielding up their spirits into the hands of God.

*The Chancellor was an Apostate.

AMERICAN BAPTISTS.

THERE are some most interesting facts connected with the History of the baptists in America. In 1631, Roger Williams, (who had been a Clergyman of the Church of England, but disliking its formalities, seceded, and ranged himself with the Separatists) fled to America from the persecutions which then raged in this country. The great principles of civil and religious liberty were not then understood in the Western World, and as Mr. Williams was a man of intrepid firmness in advocating those principles, we are not surprised at the excitement and opposition which his doctrines awakened. He settled first at Boston, New England; the magistracy of which condemned his opinions, and subsequently sentenced him to banishment. Under that cruel act of legislation, he was driven from his family, in the midst of winter, to seek for refuge amongst the wild Indians. After great sufferings, having conciliated the Indians, he commenced the formation of a colony, to which he gave the name of Providence, situate on Rhode Island, a name which it still bears.

Thus he became the founder of a new order of things. Several of his friends afterwards joined him, and in that infant settlement he sustained the two-fold character of Minister and Lawgiver. He formed a constitution on the broad principles of civil and religious liberty, and thus became the first ruler that recognized equal rights. Nearly a century and a half after that, when the Americans achieved their independence, thirteen of the States

united in forming a Government for themselves, and adopted that principle.

Drs. Cox and Hoby, in their "Baptists in America," observe," Roger Williams was one of the most extraordinary men of the age; and when we consider his liberality at that period, we cannot but regard him as almost a prodigy. He contended that church and state were separate, and that the land could not be lawfully taken from the Indians without their consent; that Civil Magistrates, as such, have no power in the Church, and that Christians, as such, are subject to no laws or control but those of KING JESUS.' These were alarming doctrines for those times. He was summoned before Synods, and threatened with excommunication, but he stood firmly to the faith; and, after repeated trials and persecutions, he was banished as a pest in society, and an officer was dispatched to put him on board a vessel, and send him to England. He was warned of his danger, and, rising from his sick bed, fled and built his wigwam within the jurisdiction of Plymouth colony. But Massachussetts demanded that he should be delivered up, and Governor Winslow, not having sufficient firmness to protect him, secretly advised Williams to leave the jurisdiction of Plymouth. He threw himself into a canoe with his companions, floated down the stream, and rounded the point of Tockwotton. Life or death seemed under God to depend upon the manner in which they were met by the Indians, who watched their approach; when the salutation from one of the savages 'What cheer!' assured the outcasts of a friendly reception. To

commemorate the goodness of God, who had thus guided and preserved them, they ultimately gave their settle ment the name of Providence.' No cross was reared, no standard was planted, no monument was erected, no coins were buried, and not even a record was made, for these wanderers were destitute of paper and books. And this was the spot on which one of the most thriving cities of the United States now stands. It was here the true principles of toleration were planted, and have since flourished. The Indians had no such quality as intolerance among them, and with them Williams was free to enjoy his own opinons unmolested."

It has been well observed, that the millions in both hemispheres who are now rejoicing in the triumph of liberal principles, should unite in erecting a monument to perpetuate the memory of Roger Williams, the first Governor who held liberty of conscience to be the birthright of man.

In the year 1639, Mr. Williams formed the first baptist church in America. About this period, severe enactments were enforced against Baptists and Quakers. In 1636, it was enacted, that "if any Christian shall openly condemn the baptizing of infants, or shall purposely depart from the congregation at the administra tion of that ordinance, he shall be banished." although Episcopalians and Puritans united to persecute Baptists and Quakers, Baptists or Quakers never persecuted them. In after years, they were annoyed by demands, or taxes, for ecclesiastical purposes, which they uniformly resisted. In 1774, the baptists held a

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