it was much needed. A kind of religious liberty was granted, allowing each State to act as it thought right, and give account for itself to God and the Emperor. This was a great and unexpected blessing. Charles now asked the aid of the Elector of Saxony, the Landgrave, and their allies, in his march against Rome. "Announce," said he to his brother, "that the army is to march against the Turks; every one will know what Turks are meant." And now began the terrible war against Rome-the holy city-the mistress of the world; that storm which had been intended to fall upon Germany and the Reformation. The troops march onward in November over the Alps, which they cross in three days, through storm, drifting snow, and over frightful precipicesnothing can stop them; they are marching for plunder.

"The Emperor's forces are triumphing in Italy," wrote Luther; "the Pope is visited from every quarter; his destruction draweth nigh; his hour and his end are come."

On the evening of the 5th of May the army reached Rome; the next day the city fell. The Pope fled to his castle of Saint Angelo. Then began the sack of Rome; dreadful was the slaughter, horrible were the tortures which, we are grieved to say, the Lutherans inflicted upon their prisoners, reminding us of those words"Great Babylon came in remembrance before

God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath" (Rev. xvi. 19).

"Such," said the evangelical Christians, "is the empire of Jesus Christ, that the Emperor, pursuing Luther on account of the Pope, is constrained to ruin the Pope instead of Luther. All things minister unto the Lord, and turn against his adversaries."

The two great enemies of the Reformation, Charles V. and Clement VII., being at war with each other, the church of Christ in Germany had a season of rest. The Reformers took advantage of it to arrange many matters which required to be put in order. Hitherto their work had been to "pull down," now they set themselves to "build up." A new ministry had to be formedmen to be selected who had not only separated themselves from the errors of Rome, but who knew and loved the truth, having experienced its sanctifying power. To undertake this was a very difficult task, but Luther did not shrink from it. In October of this year, 1526, he wrote to the Elector, saying, "Your Highness, in your quality of guardian of youth, and of all who know not how to take care of themselves, should compel the inhabitants who desire neither pastors nor schools, to receive these means of grace as they are compelled to work on the roads, or bridges, and such like services; the papal order being abolished, it is your duty to regulate these things;

no other person cares about them, no other can, and no other ought to do so. Commission, therefore, four persons to visit all the country; let two of them inquire into the titles of church property, and let two take charge of the doctrine, schools, churches, and pastors."

This advice the Elector followed, and nominated Luther, Melancthon, Spalatin, and Thuring,of whom we have not heard before-for the work. They set out in November 1528, just twelve years from the time that Frederick the Wise sent Luther to visit the monasteries in his dominions. We may remember that visitation in 1516, and that from the blessing which attended it, that year was called "the Morning Star of the Reformation." In six weeks Luther then visited forty-six monasteries, in which he proclaimed the Gospel-justification by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ-to many who had never before heard the joyful sound, in the hope that to some, at least, it might prove the "savour of life unto life." Now, the work was somewhat different, the Gospel had been blessed to many congregations, but much error remained which needed to be put away. The Latin Liturgy was for the present retained, with some German hymns introduced into it. Wherever these visitors of the churches went, they taught, they admonished, they established new schools and appointed teachers, to whom they gave instruction themselves.

In the following year, 1529, Luther wrote his Catechism, which, next to his translation of the Bible, is perhaps his most useful work. Abundant blessing was granted; so that in 1530 the Reformer wrote to the Elector, saying, "Our youth now grow up so well instructed in the Scriptures and Catechism, it does my heart good to see and hear them. Young boys and little maidens learn to believe and understand more of God and Christ, than was formerly known in our cloisters and schools."

The whole German empire was affected by the happy result of this visitation; many of the most important imperial cities, as Nuremburg, Augsburg, Ulm, Strasburg, Lubeck, Berlin, Bremen, Brandenburg, and Hamburg, declared themselves on the side of Christ and his Gospel. At the same time, Holstein, Sleswick, and Silesia, decided in favour of the Reformation, and the number of its friends in Bohemia and Moravia greatly increased. The sincerity of those who professed the Gospel was sorely tried. At Landsburg nine persons were burnt, at Munich twentynine were drowned; Ferdinand declaring that "any one who said Mary was a woman, like other women, should be put to death."

The sack of Rome had so exasperated the enemies of Charles V., that he felt it expedient to be reconciled to his "Holiness." Accordingly, on June 29th, 1528, peace was concluded at Bar

celona, between the Pope and the Emperor, for the destruction of the Reformation. Let not this surprise us. "Herod and Pilate were made friends together," and they crucified the "Lord of glory."

The Diet reassembled at Spires in March. Ferdinand and his allies arrived, attended by a numerous escort. The Elector followed with Melancthon and one other friend-then came the warlike Philip of Hesse, with two hundred horsemen. The Papal party insulted the Elector and his friends openly in the streets. "We are the execration and the sweepings of the world," said Melancthon. Nevertheless, "about eight thousand persons were present to-day in my chapel, at morning and evening service," wrote the Elector to his son, on Palm Monday. The Romish party knew this, and resolved to hasten their work. "Let us," they said, "crush heresy at once; let us abolish the decree of 1526, which granted religious liberty, and revive that of 1521, which denied it." When the evangelical princes heard this proposal, they were filled with alarm. "Christ," said Sturm, "has again fallen into the hands of Caiaphas and Pilate.” "We must," said the priests, "have the execution of the Edict of Worms, of 1521." "And we," said the Elector, "demand the maintenance of that of Spires, of 1526." Both requests were denied. What was to be done? It was at length decided that,