reform the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church, and restore to the Church the doctrine and usages of our Saviour and his apostles, was Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic monk. Even within the dark cells of a convent, the abodes of superstition and error, first shone the light of the "glorious Reformation." "When Luther was a student at the university of Erfurth (in Germany, his native country), he spent in the library all the moments he could spare. Books being then scarce, it was in his eyes a great privilege to be able to profit by the treasures of this vast collection. One day (he had been two years at Erfurth, and was then twenty years of age), he was opening the books in the library one after another, in order to read the names of the authors. One which he opened in turn drew his attention. He had not seen any thing like it till that hour. He reads the title,-it is a Bible! a rare book, unknown at that time. His interest is strongly excited he is filled with astonishment at finding more in this volume than those fragments of the gospels and epistles which the Roman Catholic Church has selected to be read to the people in their places of worship every Sunday in the year. Till then he had thought that they were the whole Word of God; and here are so many pages, so many chapters, so many books, of which he had no idea! His heart beats as he holds in his hand the Scripture divinely inspired: with eagerness and indescribable feelings he turns over these leaves of God's Word; the first page that arrests his attention relates the history of Hannah and the young Samuel. He reads, and can scarcely restrain his joyful emotions; the child whom his parents lend to the Lord, as long as he liveth : Hannah's song, in which she declares that the Lord raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set him among princes; the young Samuel, who grows up in the temple before the Lord. All this history, all this revelation which he has discovered, excites feelings till then unknown: he returns home with a full heart. 'Oh,' thought he, if God would but give me such a book for my own.'

"The Bible that filled him with such transport was in Latin. He soon returned to the library to find his trea

sure again; he read, and re-read, and then in his surprise and joy went back to read again. The first glances of truth then arose in his mind. Thus did God cause him to find his Word. He has now discovered that book of which he is one day to give to his countrymen that admirable translation, from which the Germans for three centuries have read the oracles of God. For the first time, perhaps, this precious volume has been removed from the place that it occupied in the library of Erfurth. This book, deposited on the shelves of a dark room, is soon to become the book of life to a whole nation. The Reformation lay hid in that Bible. When Luther was twenty-one years and nine months old, he entered the Augustine convent. He had not yet a Bible. He found in his convent a Bible, fastened by a chain; he had constant recourse to this chained Bible; he understood but little of the Word, but still it was his most absorbing study. Sometimes he would meditate on a single passage for a whole day. Another time he learnt by heart some parts of the Prophets; but above all, he wished to acquire, from the writings of the apostles and the prophets, the knowledge of God's will, increased reverence for his name, and to nourish his faith by the sure testimony of his Word'."

Oh, shall not the preceding recital teach us to raise our heart in thankfulness to God for the unspeakable gift of his holy Word, and to study it, with prayer to God for His Spirit, that we may grow thereby, and find rest unto our souls in the barren and dry wilderness of this mortal life, where no water is that can refresh them, except the waters that flow from the living fountain; even from Him who hath said, "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." "Oh, Heavenly Father, we praise Thee for all our spiritual privileges and means of grace; that we were born of Christian parents, and brought up in a Christian land; that the Bible has ever been open before us, and that in our hearts has been sown the incorruptible seed of the Word of God; that we are in a Protestant land, and have

1 From D'Aubigné's History of the Reformation.

free and full access to the fountain of grace and truth; for thy holy worship and all thy holy ordinances; that Thou hast graciously admitted us into covenant with thee; hast nourished and brought us up as thy adopted children, as members of the Church which is built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. Teach us to prize our precious privileges, and live more worthily of them. We yield Thee thanks, and praise, oh God most High, through Jesus Christ our Lord'."-Sent by a Correspondent.

BITE OF A MAD DOG.

THE following specific for the bite of a mad dog, or other rabid animal, has been addressed to the Times journal, by Mr. J. Philips, of 281, Whitechapel Road, who as sures the editor that the remedy proved successful in three or four different cases: "Take the yolks of three fresh eggs, and a little more than half a noggin of olive oil; mix and simmer them over a slow fire until they are well incorporated. The patient, before taking it, must fast from food or drink six hours, and after taking it, for six hours more, and be kept quiet. If a man or woman, it is best that he or she lie in bed for the latter period, which must be repeated in like manner the following day, and in the same quantity. If the stomach reject it, more must be taken. The wound must be scratched open with a bit of wood three times each day, and the above mixture applied as an ointment. If for a dog, or any small animal, a double portion each time; if for a cow or horse, four times the quantity." The specific is simple enough, and worth a trial; but we would strongly recommend that the actual cautery, or removal of the injured part by the knife, should never be neglected.-Labourers' Friend Magazine.

1 Slade's Family Prayers.

WOLSEY'S TOWER.

THE College at Ipswich, of which a portion of the tower is now the only remains, was built by Cardinal Wolsey in the latter years of his life, and left unfinished at his death. The gateway is entirely of brick, with the exception of a stone tablet over it, on which are engraved the arms of Henry VIII., now almost defaced.

There are few names in English history, which have served more frequently to "point a moral," if not to "adorn a tale," than that of Wolsey. Raised from a humble station in life to the very verge of human greatness, the favourite and adviser of his king, and the possessor of talents and riches which gave him extensive influence, he might have been a bright and shining light to all around him, and a blessing to his country. But widely different is the view which the page of history gives us of his character and conduct. The good which he might have done, that he did not, and the evil which he should not, that he did. Proud, haughty, and oppressive, he made not to himself" friends of the mammon of unrighteousness," and when they failed, he found too late that he had been laying the foundation of his hope in the sand, instead of on the Rock of ages. It had indeed been in his heart to build and endow colleges, but too evidently this was done to make himself, like the builders of Babel, a name on the earth, and not for the glory of God and the good of souls; for when human honours failed, flesh and heart failed with them, and in his dying hour he uttered a deep and affecting lamentation, that his life had not been spent in the service of God.

And now, my cottage readers, what is the lesson which you and I are to learn from the contemplation of such a character as that of Wolsey? What says the Word of God?

"Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not."-Jer. xlv. 5.

"He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent."-Prov. xxviii. 20.

"Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the