EDWARD VI.

"SWEET is the holiness of youth"-so felt Time-honoured Chaucer when he framed the lay

By which the prioress beguiled the way,
And many a pilgrim's rugged heart did
melt.
[dwelt
Hadst thou, loved bard! whose spirit often
In the clear land of vision, but foreseen
King, child, and seraph, blended in the
mien

Of pious Edward kneeling as he knelt
In meek and simple infancy, what joy
For universal Christendom had thrilled
Thy heart! what hopes inspired thy genius
skilled

(O great precursor, genuine morning star) The lucid shafts of reason to employ, Piercing the papal darkness from afar !

stand;

And prayer, man's rational prerogative, Runs through blind channels of an unknown tongue.

LATIMER AND RIDLEY.

How fast the Marian death-list is unrolled!
See Latimer and Ridley* in the might
Of faith stand coupled for a common flight!
One (like those prophets whom God sent of
old)

Firm as the stake to which with iron band His frame is tied; firm from the naked feet To the bare head, the victory complete ; The shrouded body, to the soul's command, Answering with more than Indian fortitude, Through all her nerves with finer sense endued,

Till breath departs in blissful aspiration: Then, 'mid the ghastly ruins of the fire, Behold the unalterable heart entire, Emblem of faith untouched, miraculous attestation !t

Transfigured, from this kindling hath fore-
A torch of inextinguishable light;
The other gains a confidence as bold;
And thus they foil their enemy's despite.
The penal instruments, the shows of crime,
Are glorified while this once-mitred pair
Of saintly friends, the "murtherer's chain
partake,

Corded, and burning at the social stake :"
Earth never witnessed object more sublime
In constancy, in fellowship more fair!

CRANMER.

OUTSTRETCHING flame-ward his upbraided hand

(O God of mercy, may no earthly seat Of judgment such presumptuous doom repeat !)

•“M. Latimer very quietly suffered his keeper to pull off his hose, and his other aray, which to looke unto was very simple; and being stripped into his shrowd, he seemed as tomely a person to them that were present, as one should lightly see: and whereas in his clothes hee appeared a withered and crooked sillie (weak) olde man, he now stood bolt upright, as comely a father as one might lightly Then they brought a faggotte, kindled with fire, and laid the same downe at doctor Ridley's feete. To whom M. Latimer spake in this manner, 'Bee of good comfort, master Ridley, and play the man: wee shall this day light such a candle by God's grace in England, as I trust shall never bee put out." Fox's Acts, etc.

behold.

Similar alterations in the outward figure and deportment of persons brought to like trial were not uncommon. See note to the above passage in Dr. Wordsworth's Ecclesiastical Biography, for an example in a humble Welsh fisherman.

"On foot they went, and took Salisbury in their way, purposely to see the good bishop, who made Mr. Hooker sit at his own table,- which Mr. Hooker boasted of with much joy and gratitude when he saw his mother and friends; and at the bishop's parting with him, the bishop gave him good counsel, and his benediction, but forgot to give him money; which when the bishop had considered, he sent a servant in all haste to call Richard back to him, and at Richard's return, the bishop said to him, Richard, I sent for you back to lend you a horse which hath carried me many a mile, and, I thank God, with much ease,' and presently delivered into his hand a walking-staff, with which he professed he had travelled through many parts of Germany; and

THE SAME.

HOLY and heavenly spirits as they are,
Spotless in life, and eloquent as wise,
With what entire affection do they prize
Their new-born Church! labouring with

earnest care

To baffle all that may her strength impair; That Church the unperverted gospel's

seat;

In their afflictions a divine retreat ; Source of their liveliest hope, and tenderest prayer !

The truth exploring with an equal mind, In doctrine and communion they have sought

Firmly between the two extremities to steer;
But theirs the wise man's ordinary lot,
To trace right courses for the stubborn
blind,

And prophesy to ears that will not hear.

DISTRACTIONS.

MEN, who have ceased to reverence, soon Their forefathers; lo! sects are formed-defy [and split With morbid restlessness,-the ecstatic fit Spreads wide; though special mysteries The saints must govern, is their common multiply, And so they labour; deeming Holy Writ Disgraced by aught that seems content to

sit

[cry:

he said, 'Richard, I do not give, but lend you my horse; be sure you be honest, and bring my horse back to me at your return this way to Oxford. And I do now give you ten groats to bear your charges to Exeter; and here is ten groats more, which I charge you to deliver to your mother, and tell her I send her a bishop's benediction with it, and beg the continuance of her prayers for me. And if you bring my horse back to me, I will give you ten groats more to carry you on foot to the college; and so God bless you, good Richard.'"-See WALTON'S Life of Richard Hooker.

Which thou prepar'st, full often to convey, (What time a state with madding faction reels)

The saint or patriot to the world that heals All wounds, all perturbations doth allay?

AFFLICTIONS OF ENGLAND.

PATRIOTIC SYMPATHIES.

LAST night, without a voice, this vision

spake

Fear to my spirit-passion that might seem
Wholly dissevered from our present theme:
Yet do I love my country-and partake
Of kindred agitations for her sake;
She visits oftentimes my midnight dream;
Her glory meets me with the earliest beam

string,

If aught impair her beauty or destroy,
Or but forebode destruction. I deplore
With filial love the sad vicissitude;

If she hath fallen and righteous Heaven re

store

[newed,

The prostrate, then my spring-time is reAnd sorrow bartered for exceeding joy.

With frantic love-his kingdom to regain?
Him virtue's nurse, adversity, in vain
Received, and fostered in her iron breast:
For all she taught of hardiest and of best,
Or would have taught, by discipline of pain
And long privation, now dissolves amain,
Or is remembered only to give zest
To wantonness.-Away, Circean revels!
Already stands our country on the brink
Of bigot rage, that all distinction levels
Of truth and falsehood, swallowing the
good name,
[misery, shame,

PRESENT TIMES.

I SAW the figure of a lovely maid
Seated alone beneath a darksome tree,
Whose fondly overhanging canopy
Set off her brightness with a pleasing shade,
Substance she seemed (and that my heart
betrayed,

For she was one I loved exceedingly);
But while I gazed in tender reverie
(Or was it sleep that with my fancy played?)
The bright corporeal presence, form, and
face,

Remaining still distinct, grew thin and rare, Like sunny mist; at length the golden hair, Shape, limbs, and heavenly features, keep

ing pace

Each, with the other, in a lingering race Of dissolution, melted into air.

LATITUDINARIANISM.

YET truth is keenly sought for, and the wind Charged with rich words poured out in thought's defence;

Whether the Church inspire that eloquence,
Or a Platonic piety confined
To the sole temple of the inward nind;
And one there is who builds immo lays,
Though doomed to tread in solitary ways,
Darkness before, and danger's voice behind!
Yet not alone, nor helpless to repel
Sad thoughts; for from above the starry
sphere

Come secrets, whispered nightly to his ear;
And the pure spirit of celestial light
Shines through his soul-"that he may see

and tell

Of things invisible to mortal sight."