The Lady. "I know that there are sects, that are very infamous, that kill people, and hold a community of goods and wives."

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Jaques. 'Oh, no, madam; such wicked things are laid to our charge without our fault, and people seek occasion thereby to persecute us; but we must suffer and bear all such things with patience."

The Lady. "Were they not your people that disgracefully and shamefully took up the sword against the magistrates at Amsterdam and Munster ?"

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Jaques. Oh, no, madam; those persons greatly erred. But we consider it a devilish doctrine to resist the magistrates by the outward sword and violence. We would much rather suffer persecution and death at their hands, and whatever is appointed us to suffer.”

The Lady. "It is, however, laid to your charge, and they do very ill that excite uproar: but I sincerely believe what you say hereupon.'

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Jaques. My lady; do we not read much of the same kind, how that wicked men spoke untruly of the apostles themselves, and the whole Christian multitude, and sought by many evil charges to stir up the higher powers to vengeance against them? yet it was all falsehood."

Lady. "Do you not think that all are lost that are not baptized in your way?"

Jaques. "Oh, no, madam; judgment belongs to God alone, who will reward everyone according to his works, as plainly appears in many places of the holy scripture. Besides, water has no power to cleanse us from sin, as Peter says; but is only a token of all obedience."

Lady. "When you have been baptized, tell me, can you then still sin ?"

Jaques. "Yes, indeed, madam; for that clearly appears from Paul's words; for we are encompassed still with a weak sinful body, and offend in many things. But we must continually crucify and put the same to death, and not do or fulfil the works of the flesh, otherwise we should, by the righteousness of God, be consigned to everlasting death."

Lady. "In what then do you differ from the inquisitor; let me hear now?"

Jaques. "Madam: in that I will in no wise receive his doctrine, except he first clearly show me that it every way agrees with God's word; otherwise he labours in vain. My faith is founded alone upon the pure word of God. Concerning the use of infant baptism, we speak with reason against it, as being no command of Almighty God; but much rather an invention of men, considering that the young children have no knowledge or discernment whatever of what is required and contained in the baptismal service. But Christ, from affection to such innocents, without their seeking it themselves, graciously promised them the kingdom of God. Besides this,

madam, I think the papacy chargeable with many other errors; for they seek to bring Christ into the bread, or to change the bread itself into his flesh and blood. This we can by no means believe; but consider it as a gross error and absurdity. But we believe that Christ is truly ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. Believing this, we neither believe nor hold any

salvation to be in their meal, or their mass, or purgatory, or their prayers for the dead, or in any such inventions of men, which abound among them, none of which are known in the sacred scriptures, but are excluded therefrom. But in opposition hereto, we invoke God, and seek our salvation in him, and not in any creature; that we may not rob God of the honour due to him, by giving the same to any of the creatures he has made."

The provincial being now come, he began to speak, saying: "Will you not believe in the sacrament, which Christ himself instituted?"

Jaques. Sir, Paul says that the bread is broken in remembrance of Him, and the cup of blessing is a communion of the blood of Christ." Herewith he (the provincial) ended his discourse.

The Lady.

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I consider the worst in you to be, your refusal to baptize the children; for all Germany, and every kingdom, regard your conduct as heresy."

Jaques. Madam, such is indeed the truth, that we are everywhere contemned, and are (like the apostolic band) spoken against in all the world; but do not think that all such will therefore in the last day be lost."

Lady. "My dear child, consider; I beg you to come over to our side, and repent; you will then be freed from this trouble, and I again fully promise to procure your entire deliverance and freedom."

Jaques. "Madam, I thank you heartily for the affection and kind disposition you have towards me; but I will not exchange my faith to please any mortal being, unless I am proved by the scripture to have erred; that

I might be the friend of God, I have given myself over entirely to him, in whom I hope to live and to die."

Lady. "My son, look at all this multitude of people. I compassionate you, and earnestly beseech you to repent of your baptism, and continue not thus hardened. Should you, so young a child, die in consequence, it would be a heavy cross to my heart; take the course then by which you may again be at liberty and return to your home."

Jaques. "Madam, in my baptism I can find nothing criminal, considering that herein I have followed not my own will, but the institution of our Lord Jesus Christ. Could I have found another and better way to the kingdom of God, it would not have taken place; for I was desirous with my whole heart to seek the Lord my God."

Lady. "Could they then all err, so many learned men, who were before you? can you dare be thus presumptuous?"

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Jaques. Madam, in Israel there were as many as four hundred prophets against one Micaiah, who alone spoke the truth, and was fed on bread and water; but king Ahab found it to be true too late in his distress."

The Lady finally said: "I find many good qualities in you; but your greatest error I hold to be in your baptism that I do not think to be of God."

She had him repeatedly brought before her; but he, if young in years, was old in the knowledge of the Saviour, and settled on the foundation-stone, Jesus Christ, so that he valiantly warded off, with the sword

of the Spirit, which is the word of God, all the crafty attacks of satan, whether by cruel threatenings or fair promises of the kingdom of this world. And since by no means would he deny Christ, he was condemned by the rulers of the darkness of this world to pass from life to death; and thus witnessed and confirmed his sincere faith in the truth by a bloody death, and obtained through grace the crown of everlasting glory.

Concerning this, see a hymn in the Golden Harp, beginning, "At Leeuwarden on a day." Dutch Martyrology.

THINGS SEEN AND UNSEEN.

THERE is a state unknown, unseen,
Where parted souls must be;
And but a step may be between
That world of souls and me.

The friend I lov'd has thither fled,
With whom I sojourn'd here;
I see no sight-I hear no tread;
But may she not be near?

I see no light-I hear no sound,
When midnight shades are spread,
Yet angels pitch their tents around,
And guard my quiet bed.

Jesus was wrapt from mortal gaze,

And clouds convey'd him hence;
Enthron'd amid the sapphire blaze,
Beyond our feeble sense.