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They did more for the race than for themselves . Luther ' s and Calvin ' s belief in diabolical agency was , and remained to the last , says our author , " absolutely credulous and fanatical , as to be matters of mere blind amazement to us "now . " He adds , however , we regret to say , with truth , that it is yet " rather the form of credulity that is changed , than the spirit of it that can be said to be extinguished , after some things that we have seen in our day bearing iipon this very subject . " Evqn before his death , Luther ' s reformation outgrew its projector , and lie lived to be less popular than
Carlstadt and the mystics . He was also inferior to Zwingle and his party , in the . matter of Consubstantiation . In fact , it is those who lie nighest to their age who are best fitted to initiate its reformation . The truth is , says Dr . Tulloch , " that Luther was not characteristically a scholar , not even a divine , least of all . a philosopher . He was a hero with work to do ; and he did it . His powers were exactly fitted to the task to which God called him . As it was of Titanic magnitude , he required to be a Titan in human strength , and in depth and power , and even violence of human passion , in order to accomplish it . "
The remaining sketches , are , of course , inferior in interest to that of Luther . Calvin , however , was a master-mini , bat not of the active and heroic class . His nurture , unlike that of Luther , was tender and aristocratic . Gradually he was won over to Protestant views ; there was no sudden crisis . He spent Ms life in speculating , writing , and working out . a logical system , and maintaining a controversy with his opponents . Some of the latter were , according to the custom of the times , treated as heretics , and not without severity .
Theological hatred , even among reformers , was mortal . Persecution was cherished as a principle by all parties . A man had to test the sincerity of his principles by his life . This was a condition which none seemed disposed to question . Toleration was not yet bora . Predestination , the Eucharist , and the Trinity were doctrines guarded with all the terrors of death . The language of controversy , too , even in the less fatal cases , was more abusive than logical . This great contest was between the orthodox and the libertines . The
sway of Calvin in Geneva was that of a dictator , severe , but temporary , and , for the time , salutary . Under it , " Geneva became—strange as it may seem —the stern cradle of liberty , an asylum of Protestant independence against the gathering storms of despotism on all sides . Freedom of thought and action was crushed for the time under an iron sway , but in behalf of a moral spirit which , nursed by such rou gh discipline , was to grow into potency till it became more than a match for Jesuitical
State-craft in many lands , and—from the very limitations of its infancy , only expanded into higher and healthier forms of development , " No rational excuse , however , can be offered for the murder of Servotus . JJut , as we have said , martyrdom was the normal rule in tliese cases . The Church was then , indeed , the Church militant , and Calvin was not merely the champion , but the creature of predestination .
Of Latimer and Knox our review must be more rapid . In England Cliuvch reformation is not attached to a name , and we have not Culvins or Luthcrs , but fellow- labourers , sufferers , and _ witnesses , not leaders , of the truth . Unlike Latimer , John Knox was not a martyr , but a victorious pleader . Ho was a rugged soldier , but a conqueror , and left his impress on an entire people . In conclusion , we may recommend Dr . Tulloch ' s book as
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A POPULAR IIISTOinr OP TUI 5 UNITKD STATUS OF ' AMERICA , lly Mary llowJtt . llluiitrntvd . wlth mnncrouH ongriivlnfvs , 2 voJh . L , onginiin , Hrown , Uroon , Longman , and Kobortu . The history of America has been so remarkable , both in respoct to the principles which it develops , and the success of those principles—and success , with so many , is the test of truth—that to write it properly , or to read it intelligibly , is a privilege and
naturally to be dceired by both author student . That Mrs . Mnry Howitt should wish to show her power in dealing with so wide and higfc a subject , one so well calculated to associate ifcsol : with her feelings and sentiments , might have been expooted i t and wo' are happy to acknowledge that the work is 1 in every respect worthy of her reputation . The epoch that she lms to commemorate is of the last importance . ¦ From the end of the fifteenth Century we may date our modern
civilisation : then , too , were made the greatest geographical discoveries , among them , what our authoress calls " tie mighty hemisphere of the west . " The previous knowledge of America by Scandinavian adventurers ' was incomplete , premature , and of no practical or permanent importance . No ; it was appointed that the sixteenth century should inaugurate that wonderful era , which has not yet expired ^—a cycle that has not yet run out .
The truehistory of America , perhaps , begins with the landing of Fernando Cortes in 1519 . This man gained an empire by liis daring , and his example induced emulation in others . But why repeat the tale of disappointed hopes ? Soon came the dismal conflicts between the French and Spanish immigrants i nine hundred Protestants were sacrificed to the bigotry of Melendez . Then followed the terrible vensreance of Dominic de
Gourgues . His exploits inflamed the imagination of the English Sir Walter Raleigh . All that relates to this , however , has been written , and needs no repetition here . Let us come at once to the seventeenth century . The colonisation of Virginia distinguished the commencement of the new era . The story of the energetic John Smith and Pocahontas is -well known . She was destined , however , to become the bride , not of the man she had saved , but of nonest John Rolfe , who brought her to England , where , so absurd were then the notions prevalent regarding royalty , the enthusiast husband narrowly
sophy of it ; distinctly enough ; but when , at the end of her work , she has to ' allude . to Mormonism and spirit-rapping , forgets the philosophy of sucb instances altogether , and surrenders lier judgment to the general superstition . The story of tne progress of the colonies , and the growth of the whole continent in national freedom and independence , is deeply interesting . The story of the great war , and the mi g hty revolution , and the exploits of Washington , is exciting in the extreme . That of the administrations of Adams and Jefferson , and of Madison , and the war with Great Britain is mournfully instructive . Then , again , there is the Mexican "NVar , the Annexation of Texas , the increase of territory , California , the great national works , and
proposed transit routes across , the Isthmus uniting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans , and the great Pacific Railway . Mrs . Howitt has fairly brought her history down to the present time , and produced a work of permanent interest . It is published with great advantages , having been beautifully printed and profusely illustrated , and will , no doubt , obtain a wide circulation . It is , in other respects , made to depend entirely on its intrinsic merits ; for . Mrs . Ilowitt has condescended neither to preface nor introduction . She starts at . on . on her history , pursues its course along the waving lines of its legitimate interest , and leaves it to speak for itself . This is bold and independent enough : but she is justified in this noble attitude that she has assumed ; having , notwithstanding a few faults , accomplished an excellent work . .
escaped being called to account for having married , being himself a commoner , an Indian princess . In 1621 , Virginia received a ioritten constitution—one similar to that of England , and which , fortunately , remained to be the model of all the Anglo-American governments . Yet , on the 21 st March , in the same year , the scattered white population were massacred by the Indians , without , it would seem , any provocation ; only Jamestown and the nearer settlements , which _ had been forewarned , were spared . Reprisals were afterwards taken by the settlers , and wrong begat wrong ; . nevertheless , the snirit of liberty took deep root in the
colony . Charles I . regarded it as a source of revenue derived from tobacco , and endeavoured-to gain for himself the sole monopoly of the trade . And it so happened that the Virginians toot a likino- to the royal cause ; accordingly , when CharTes H . became a fugitive , Virginia was filled with cavaliers , who in their new home met to talk over their own and their country ' s sorrows , and , to nourish loyalty and hope . We have no space to enter into the history of the colonisation of Maryland , or of Massachusetts ; but we must linger a moment with the Pilgrim Fathers . Mrs . Howitt compiles her narrative from the veracious chronicle of worthy old Thomas
Prince . The Mayflower , with its important freight , reached the harbour of Cape Cod , Nov . 10 , 1620 . All on board signed a convention before leaving the ship , thus forming themselves into a civil body-politic . It was winter , and the cold caused the death of many . After sufferings and wanderings ,. Providence directed them to their destined station . The next story of great interest is that of Robert Williams , the free-thinking pastor of Salem ;— -but we must hasten forward . America had now become the nlace for the persecuted of all opinions ;
yet they did not all escape persecution' in the New World . The Quakprs were victimised in Massachusetts . On this part of her history Mrs . Howitt , of course , dwells in great detail . John Eliot preaching to the Indians is one of the best pictureepisodes in the first volume . But Rhode Island , at length , through a liberal charter of Charles II ., became a secure refuge for liberty of conscience . The settlement of Pennsylvania forms an interesting , chapter . On such subjects , Mrs . Ilowitt feels herself especially at homo . The discovery of the Mississipp i is a groat event , in which a a poetic imagination much delights .
The English Revolution of 1688 affected the American colonies . It , however , produced no ill effects in Virginia ; but it destroyed the claims of Lord . Baltimore in Maryland . William Perm , more fortunate , recovered his province , and , after " a long baptism of sorrow , " was able to return to it . It , and other provinces , however , underwent various modifications . It is now that we beg in to meet in Amerioari history with those spiritual manifestations which in those days have travelled into England . Mrs . Ilowitt relates at , largo the case of the Salem witohoraft , and states the plulo-
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WOMEN , PAST AND HtESENT : Exhibiting thorr Social Vicissitudes , Single and Matrimonial itelations , flights . Privileges , and " Wrongs . By John Wade . — Chas . J . Skeet . It was in Rome that woman was first treated with proper respect . The outrage on the sex by the Sabine abduction was condoned by studied respect afterwards . Marks of distinction were conceded to Roman ladies . Chastity was in high esteem .
The national delicacy was extreme . JVIanlius , a patrician and senator , for saluting his wife in presence of his daughters , was accused of indecency , and struck ofT the list of their order by the censors . Women were allowed to share the priestly office . The vestals ranked high ; an insult to them was punishable with death . Such was the homage paid by ancient Rome to woman . Modern Rome has deified her , and adores her as " the Mother of
God . " In tracing the steps by which women have risen into importance , Mr . Wade has committed a not unusual error . He regards the progress ofthc world as from a savage to a civilised state . There never has been any such progress . Savage states cannot improve themselves—savage tribes are dependent on missionary aid , and without it have never aimed at civilisation . It is a mistake to suppose the savage state to be the state of nature ; —it is the state to which man may full from a state of nature , but not the state in which he was originally created . The condition of woman in the early a ^ es of the world was anomalous ; now depicted as exorcising great influence ; now as suffering servitude . Her counsel prevailed to the I'uin of the race , and sometimes to the ruin of
governments . Where hucIi influoneo was operative , barbarism had supervenes I on ina »' n original condition . But to clmrnetoriso men living in cities , and enjoying the arts of life , as barbarians , is u misuse of terms , or at any rate an exchange of t ) iei relative for the absolute . It does "not foJIow that because we are more civilised than the Egyptians , the Hebrews , the G rooks , anil the Romans , that they vrera not <; ivilirfL-tl nt all . . Nor is all progress that appear * to bo ho . Many modern and ancient instance * are parallel . Gaelics onoriaous wealth
now as then sometimes squander on the splendour of their oorttiuno . 1 Uo 1 aulinn of ' Pliny dressed at supper in a network of poarlH and oiiierahlfl that cost forty millions of Hostcreu : but " at tho first drawing-room of thu inagnilicont sybarite , George IV ., Mrs . Henry Harm ** l » cuddrusts and other parts of hor ooHtum « formed a bluzo of jewellery critimalcd at halt-n-million sterling , exceeding by nearly 800 , 000 * . ii . value tho display of tho Roman bollo ; " and Miss Burdett Couttrt once woro at tho Queen ' s ball a single drew worth about 100 , 000 / ., aud which sho Hhowed to Thomas Moore . Women both in Greece and Rome attained rank
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Hotices . ] THE LEADER . 773
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 25, 1859, page 773, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2300/page/17/
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