the weak, confirm the weak, to comfort their consciences who were humbled under a sense of their sins, and borne down with the threatenings of God's judgments. I am not ignorant, that many have blamed and do blame my rigour and severity, as too great; but God knoweth, that in my heart I never hated those against whom I thundered God's judgments: I only hated their sins, and laboured, according to my power, to gain them to Christ. As to my forbearing none, of what condition soever, I did it out of the fear of my God, who hath placed me in the function of His ministry, and who, I know, will bring me to an account. Now, brethren, for yourselves I have no more to say, but to warn you to take heed to the flock over which God hath placed you as overseers, and which He hath redeemed by the blood of His only-begotten Son. Fight a good fight; do the work of the Lord with courage, and with a willing mind; and God from heaven bless you and the Church whereof you have the charge. Against it, so long as it continues in the doctrine of the truth, the gates of hell shall not prevail."

The night before his death, he slept some hours with great disquietude; his attendants, supposing him to be suffering from some physical cause, inquired if they could alleviate his pain. To which he answered: "In my life-time I have been assaulted with temptations from Satan, and he hath often cast my sins in my teeth, to drive me to despair: yet God

gave me strength to overcome all his temptations; but now the subtle serpent takes another course, and seeks to persuade me that all my labours in the ministry, and the fidelity I have shown in that service, hath merited heaven and immortality. But, blessed be God, it brought to mind these Scriptures : 'What hast thou that thou hast not received?' and 'Not I, but the grace of God in me,' with which he is gone away ashamed, and shall no more return. And now I am sure that my battle is at an end, and that, without pain of body or trouble of spirit, I shall change this mortal and miserable life for that happy and immortal life that never shall have an end."

After this, one who had prayed with him asked if he had heard the prayer. "Yes," said he, "and would to God that all present had heard it with such an ear and heart as I have done!" Adding, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" These were his last words. Then, like one falling asleep, he ended his life in his 67th year. The Earl of Morton, who attended the funeral, when he saw the body deposited in the ground, said: “There lies he who never feared the face of man; who hath often been threatened with the dagger, but yet hath ended his days in peace and honour; for he had God's providence watching over him in an especial manner, when his very life was sought."

Dr. Robertson, in summing up the character of the great Reformer, says: "He was the prime instru

ment of spreading and establishing the reformed religion in Scotland. Zeal, intrepidity, disinterestedness, are virtues which he possessed in an eminent degree. He was acquainted, too, with the learning cultivated among divines in that age, and excelled in that species of eloquence which is calculated to rouse and inflame. His maxims, however, were often too severe, and the impetuosity of his temper excessive. Rigid and uncomplying himself, he showed no indulgence to the infirmities of others. Regardless of the distinctions of rank and character, he uttered his admonitions with acrimony and vehemence, more apt to irritate than reclaim. This often betrayed him into indecent and undutiful expressions with respect to the Queen's person and conduct. Those very qualities, however, which now render his character less amiable, fitted him to be the instrument of Providence for advancing the Reformation among a fierce people, and enabled him to face dangers and to surmount opposition, from which a person of a more gentle spirit would have been apt to shrink back.”

MILTON'S INTERVIEW WITH GALILEO IN THE PRISON OF THE INQUISITION.

HE incidents in the life of Galileo are amongst

Tthe most important as they are the most interest

ing on record. The discoverer of the telescope, the inventor of the microscope, he opened two worlds: one, the far off, with its millions of resplendent orbs; the other, the near, but not less marvellous or wonderful; each manifesting the boundless goodness, the infinite power and care of the Creator.

Before referring to the interview between this great philosopher and John Milton-a name that stands first on the scroll of honoured Englishmen—it will be needful to recapitulate a few facts in the life of the Italian philosopher.

Galileo was born at Pisa, in the year 1564; he was the son of Vincentio Galilei, a Florentine noble, who was celebrated for his knowledge and study of music. His son Galileo passed his early youth amid much hardship, which may now be deemed providential, as he was thus early schooled in difficulty and opposition, and so prepared for his after life of trial and vexation. At the early age of nineteen he was placed in the university of his native town, where he soon became celebrated for his extraordinary powers of application.