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tenseness of the cold, Mr. Halbeck continues:

"It is impossible to describe the ardour and enthusiasm which pre vailed in Prussia, as soon as the people were permitted to take up arms against their oppressors. Scarcely were the intentions of the monarch known, before the whole country was in motion, and thousands flew to arms. Counts and barons, professors and students, masters and servants, enrolled themselves as common soldiers; and those, who could not bear arms, gave money. The ladies sold their jewels, their gold, their very hair, to aid the common cause: they left the toilet to provide for hospitals, to dig en trenchments, &c. This enthusiasm, to which modern history presents no equal, was combined with a reHigious spirit, pervading the whole nation. The iron time (as it was called), since 1807, had subdued the pride of the people, and the terrible judgments in Russia had opened their eyes. The soldiers were so lemnly consecrated for the war, by their parish-ministers. It was a most affecting scene, to see some thousand young warriors together, receiving instructions from their minister, and the blessing of the church, of their parents and relatives, before they went to fight for liberty. Every heart was moved; every eye shed tears. The same good disposition and unparalleled enthusiasm pervaded also the regular - troops. They were no more the boasting, self-confident Prussians of 1806: on the contrary, modesty, and dependance on help from above, formed the general character of Blucher's army. With God, for our king and country, was the motto embroidered on their standard, and engraven on their hearts. Cursing and swearing, the common vices of soldiers, were seldom heard: no songs were allowed to be sung till revised by the colonel and approved by a clergyman. Many of these songs were of a religious, and all of a moral tendency. The regiments

were not, indeed, provided with chaplains, but they attended Divine service as often as circumstances permitted. Eight hundred Prussians were once quartered in Herrnhutt. The commanding officer had ordered the band to parade the streets, as usual, in the evening; but being told, that there was a meeting for Divine worship at that hour, he postponed the music, and be and all the officers and soldiers attended the chapel. To this modest and pious spirit was joined a bravery equally enthusiastic; of which it is not easy to form an idea, without having been a witness of it. Conquer or die, was a resolution, degible in the countenance of every soldier, which was not effaced by the most adverse circumstances, and which influenced even those who were of a weak and timid disposition naturally. Of this I shall give two instances out of many, which fell under my own observation. After the battle of Lutzen, the wounded belonging to the Prussian army were brought to Zittau, and thus, passing the place where I resided, I had an opportunity of seeing several thousands of them. Instead of finding them dejected, and lamenting their fate, as I had expected, they were all cheerful and happy, only wishing soon to be able to return to the army. Many, 'in fact, returned within a few days, with their wounds but half healed, and joined the army, then entrenched near Bautzen. A baron Von K., who had been my scholar till 1812, was of so delicate a constitution that he could not see blood without fainting. This youth, eighteen years of age, enrolled himself as a volunteer among the riflemen, and was warmly engaged in the battle of Lutzen, receiving two balls in his hat. He retreated with the army to Bautzen, and having got his feet wounded by the severe marches, his officer permitted him to go to Hennersdorf, and stay there till he was recovered. But, having been two days with us, we could not

prevail upon him to stay longer, though his feet were still very bad. His only reply to all our entreaties was I fear a battle will take place, and I should be sorry to be absent. This was the youth, who, eight months before, while a scholar in our academy, fainted at a cut in his finger."

The result of this campaign I need not recal to the recollection of any of your readers. Their severe national sufferings had brought the Prussians, with David, who was a soldier, and during a great part of his life engaged in the active duties of his profession, to set up their banners in the name of the Lord, and to remember that His favour is strength, and submission to His will is victory! Nor did the Prussians forget to give glory to God after he had given them the victory. On the return of their monarch to Brandenburgh, on arriving at the great gate, the finest in Europe, the bronze horses which Bonaparte had removed, having been replaced, were shewn to the delighted soldiery and people for the first time. A drapery which had been hung over them till that instant, to conceal them, fell down in folds, and the enthusiasm of 50,000 soldiers, broke forth. They then continued their march, headed by their king

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and generals, till they reached an inmense park, where was erected, on a rising ground, an altar, surrounded by the clergy: on one side, the royal family and principal nobles; on the other, the great military and civil authorities: thousands, and tens of thousands of persons, of all ages, stood behind. When arranged, immediately every head was uncovered, and they sung the Te Deum laudamus of the Prussian Church, An oration of about twenty minutes was then pronounced by a clergy. man on the wonders God had wrought, which was closed by a suitable prayer. The instant be began the prayer, the monarch fell on his knees, and 50,000 soldiers, and every spectator, followed his example. On rising, they continued uncovered, whilst they sang "Glory to God in the highest.” They then separated. Nothing can be added to the sublimity of this scene: I will not, therefore, attempt to weaken its effect by any observations of my own; but only add my earnest prayer, that while called to view the wondrous things which God hath wrought in the earth, we, and all the inhabitants of it, both princes and people, may learn righteousness.

I am, &c.

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in extending the knowledge of his character and example, and trans lating the present brief but valuable work, the editor has, we think, rendered a very acceptable and use ful service to the lovers and students of sacred literature. It may, perhaps, tend the more powerfully to recommend the work itself to our readers, if, previously to any account of it, we adopt the method of the translator, and offer a short sketch of the life of its truly admirable author.

Augustus Herman Franck was born at Lubec, in the year 1663. His father, who was 'aulic counsellor to the Duke of Saxe Gotha, died when he was only seven years old, having, however, from the evident indications of his son's piety even at that early age, destined him to the church. About three years afterwards, he felt, as he himself describes it, a divine attraction in his soul, which made him disrelish and despise the common amusements of childhood; and a most fervent desire, which was frequently the subject of his prayers, that his life might be directly and solely devoted to the glory of God. In the mean time, the advancement in his studies was so remarkable, that he was publicly elected for the university at the age of thirteen. He afterwards declared, and the observation is well worthy the attention of students, that he found by long experience, that the more assiduous he was in devotion, the greater progress he made in his studies; and that, when he neglected prayer, he could do nothing well at his desk, even though he exerted himself with the greatest application. Bene orås" it has been justly observed, "est bene studuisse."

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Mr. Franck passed eight years in the universities of Erfurt, Keil, Leipsic, and Luneburg, where his diligence and success were very conspicuous. There was scarcely any branch of science in which he did not excel; and he was account ed, for his years, one of the most

learned men then living. Besides the classical, and the principal modern languages, he studied with par ticular application and under great advantages, the Hebrew tongue. Hitherto, however, the studies of¬ Mr. Franck had been chiefly directed, as he expresses it, ad pompam : his main design had been to acquire learning, preferment, wealth; and though he had frequent seasons of devotion and seriousness, he was still drawn away by the multitude, and his knowledge of divinity was speculative and theoretical." I was," he observes, "in my heart, a mere natural man, who had a great deal in his head, but nevertheless remained a stranger to the truth as it is in Jesus."

About this time, however, God was pleased to touch his heart more effectually, and to convince him that a mere speculative acquaintance with divinity was by no means a sufficient qualification for the ministry; and that, were he to undertake the office before he himself practised the doctrines of the Gospel, he should only be imposing on mankind.

Affected by these considerations, he besought the Lord, with great fervour, to work in him an entire change. The effect of this prayer was a deeper sense of his natural depravity and weakness, and increased desires for Divine deliverance. At this time, he was providentially advised to hear the divinity lectures of the famous superintendant Sandhagen, at Luneburg. There he spent the greater part of his time in retirement; giving himself up to prayer and meditation. Having been desired to preach at one of the churches in this city, Mr Franck chose for his text the last verse of the 20th chapter of St. John, proposing to shew, from those words, the properties of a true and living faith, as distinguished from that which is barren and speculative, beInmeditating, however, upon this important subject, he felt that he himself was destitute of tie faith which he woulds describe.

*This reflection at once checked his #study, and turned all his thoughts apon himself. After several days sof darkness and distress, it pleased the Lord to lift the light of his countenance upon him, and to fill shim with that faith the want of which he had so deeply deplored. Two days afterwards, he preached Ahe sermon; and could truly apply to himself those words of the Apostle, 2-Cor. iv. 1:3:"Having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.”

This," said he, "is the time from which I date my real conversion. Since That period, I have always felt it easy to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present evil world. I have kept cluse with God, and have accounted as nothing, - alk_promotions and preferments in this world, its grandeur, riches, ease, and plea sures, And whereas I had but 100 much idolized learning, I now perceived that a grain of faith far exceeds all human sciences; and that all attainments made at the feet of Gamaliel, are to be valued as dress, in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord."

Before we proceed with our narrative of this eminent man, we would pause for the purpose of making one or two brief observations on the preceding part of it.

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The just and solemn sense entertained by Mr. Franck, of the necessity and importance of personally experiencing the truth and efficacy of the doctrines which he was about to preach to others, is in the first place deserving of attention. How many, it may be feared, of those who enter upon the work of the ministry, are not even theoretically acquainted with divinity, to the extent which this excellent man had attained, when he so strongly expressed his conviction of his own deficiencies; and how much smaller number appear really to feel and exemplify, their own instructions! We are far from thinking that a minister of the Gospel must in every

ease be a scientific divine, or that he is not to enforce upon others a mea sure of faith and holiness beyond what he has himself experienced: but no one who engages in the s ered office ought either to be igne. rant or a novice, unacquainted with the grand scheme of salvation revealed in Scripture, or uninfluenced by the peculiar doctrines and mo tives of the Gospel. In short, if we expect to be the instruments of teaching and converting others, we must burselves be as scribes well instructed unto the kingdom of hea ven, and sincerely and thoroughly devoted to the service of our God and Saviour.in}

We cannot help remarking, in the next place, the holy and active in fluence of a true faith in the strik ing declaration of Mr. Franck; and opposing this decisive example of the practical efficacy of that divine principle, to the crude and hetero dox opinions which we had occa sion lately to controvert and ex pose*. Doubtless, a lively faith in the mercies of redemption, will work by love to God and man; and a more satisfactory proof of the truth of this scriptural doctrine can scarcely be found, than in the subsequent life and conduct of the ex cellent subject of this memoir.

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We would only add here a few words of caution, as to the strong terms in which Mr. Franck expresses his renunciation of all homah learning, in comparison of the knowledge of Christ. The sent ment has been frequently avowed by other eminently pious men, and cannot certainly but be admired and approved. We would only wish t to be remembered, that this is not the declaration of uninformed or in dolent, but of learned and studious, men

that, from St. Paul to Franck, the renunciation of human attain ments has ever been, when com pared with the superior excellency of all those which are divine; and that the men who have most highly See our Review of Mr. Beresford pamphlet.

adorned and promoted the Gospel, have not been those who set out with despising human learning; but those who, having laboured diligently to attain it, have afterwards humbly laid all their stores at the feet of their Lord and Master, and employed them zealously in his service. But to return to Mr. Franck. In the year 1885, he commenced Master of Arts at Leipsic; and soon after was eminently instrumental in promoting a most extensive and wonderful revival of religion in Germany, the foundation of which had been laid by the celebrated John Arndt, the general superintendant of the churches under the princes of Luneburg, about the commencement of that century. This excellent man, after having, amidst much opposition, been the means of awakening thousands from a mere formal profession, to an experimental acquaintance with true religion, died full of faith, hope, and holy triumph, and was followed by many others, who walked in his steps, Amongst them, was the learned Dr. Spener, first of Frankfort, and afterwards of Dresden. In the former city, he was entrusted with the chief pastoral care; and, amongst other plans for promoting true religion, this excellent man established what he called, Collegia Pietatis; or exercises of piety, in his own house twice a week, for the exposition of Scripture, which were frequented by great numbers even of the higher classes, and proved remarkably useful. It was, probably, from the example of Dr. Spener, that Mr. Frauck, soon after he had taken his degree of Master of Arts, united with several other students in establishing a private conference, for the purpose of gaining a better understanding of the Scriptures, and likewise of regulating their conversation and studies. This meeting was designated, Collegium Philobiblicum, and was held once a week. The method which they adopted was, for one to read a select portion of Scripture in the original languages, CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 156.

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and for each to give in order his, The exposition of the passage. first part of the exercise was altogether critical, for ascertaining the literal sense, the other was for the deduction of inferences and practical uses. These meetings were begun and ended with prayer, and contributed greatly to the promotion of biblical literature, and the diffusion of biblical truth. To Professor Franck himself, they were particu larly useful, in preparing him for writing on the study of the Scrip tures; and the laudable care with which, in all these biblical exercises, the grammatical sense of every passage was first ascertained, and then, made the basis of practical remark, doubtless led to that sound method of interpretation which is unfolded in the work before us.

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With a view to the improvement, of the students in divinity at Leip sic, Professor Franck opened another biblical school, which was also most numerously attended, great object of which was to promote vital religion amongst his academical hearers, and to point out the obstacles and aids connected with the study of divinity. The success of this new plan was equally remarkable. The demand for Greek Testaments, and practical theological works amongst the students was unexampled, and many of them were converted to the true knowledge and the devoted service of Christ. How earnestly is it to be wished, that something similar to this institution of Professor Franck, as far as it could be rendered conformable to the very different nature of our establishments, were pursued in each of our universities ! We throw out this hint, not without. being aware of the difficulties of any such plan, but thinking, at the same time, that it is by no means visionary or impracticable.

It may not, perhaps, be a recommendation of the proposal, though the friends of religion will not be surprised at such a consequence, that those who attended the meet

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