-But darkness came-and the high breaking wave,
And the wild blast over that fearful grave,
Sighing for those who in its caves lie low;
-Alas! proud sea, deep cause hast thou for wo!

Poor boy! then thought he of his mother dear,
Her low and earnest voice, her silent tear--
Her whisper'd prayer-that last-that hallowed spell-
All on his fainting, homeless heart then fell !

We chide thee not-poor boy, thou couldst not tell
How sorrow those who in the "world's sea" dwell,
For seeking in thy flight Fame's brilliant star,
Thou, like a young bird joyed to soar afar;
Yet will that bird mourn for its place of birth-
Our hopes and our affections cling to earth;
The home of childhood-Sailor boy, to thee,
Thy home seems paradise--there wouldst thou flee,
And 'neath the sheltering of a mother's hand,
Never again wouldst leave thine own bright land.

12th mo. 3d, 1830,

A-E.

THE SOCIETY.

Biographical Sketch of Martin Luther.

To the philanthropist, the patriot, and the christian, the character and conduct of this distinguished reformer cannot be otherwise than deeply interesting. The time of his birth is not certainly known. His brother, James Luther, however, has related that it was in 1483, at Eisleben, an obscure town in the county of Mansfield in the circle of Upper Saxony. His father's extraction and circumstances were originally low,―his occupation being that of a miner; but in after life, he was elevated to the magistracy of his native province. Maternal counsels and tuition seem to have laid the foundation of that devotional ardor and willing sacrifice of self, which formed the prominent features of Luther's character. At the early age of fourteen, he was sent to a school at Magdeburgh; and though he remained there but one year, he gave indications of a towering genius,

notwithstanding he had all the while to grapple with extreme poverty. From Magdeburgh he was removed to a school at Eisenach, a city of Thurringia, where resided the relations of his mother, who, it is mentioned, was once a member of an ancient and highly respectable family in that town. Here he was in charge of one of the sects of monks in the communion of the Romish clergy, called Franciscans. At this school, under the tuition of John Probonius, he acquired a reputation superior to any of his school-fellows. In 1502 he went to the University of Erfurt, where he applied himself with great assiduity in reading Cicero, Virgil, Livy, &c., and imbibed from them such lessons of good sense as enabled him to see through and consequently despise the learning of the schools. Whether Luther was engaged in the study of Greek, while at Erfurt, or afterwards, is not known. Of the Greek and Hebrew very little was studied in any of the universities at that period. At the university of Wittemburg, Melancthon was the first professor of Greek, and Luther, though himself a professor, hesitated not to avail himself of the learning of his friend and colleague. When only twenty years of age, he took his degree of Master of Arts, and his chief studies were the physics, ethics, philosophy and humanity of Aristotle. Soon after, at the recommendation of his parents, he prepared himself for the bar, by the study of the civil law. From this, however, he was soon diverted by a sudden and remarkable dispensation of Providence. One day while walking in the fields with a young friend, whose name was Alexius, he was struck to the ground by lightning, and his young companion was killed beside him. This event was so deeply affecting as to determine him to withdraw from the world. He accordingly retired into a convent of St. Augustine friars.Here, on looking over the books of the library, he found a Latin Bible, which he had never before seen; and on reading it, perceived, to his great astonishment, that only a very small part of the scriptures were rehearsed or understood by the people. He was ignorant of the monastic profession, and consequently unacquainted with the severity of its duties; and instead of enjoying a freedom from worldly cares, as he had anticipated, he was compelled to act frequently in the capacity of a menial, being obliged to attend as porter at the monastery, or to go through the town begging. It would be impossible to account for the patient resignation of Luther to his new mode of life, upon any other grounds than his conscientious determina

tion to peform his duty, whatever were its requirements.His monastic vows had been made in secret, from a consciousness that if his determination was known to his young companions they would endeavor to dissuade him from such a course. In the monastery of Erfurt he took priestly orders, and celebrated his first mass in 1507. The following year he was removed to the University of Wittemberg, which had then been but recently founded by Frederick, Elector of Saxony. Until this period he had been a zealous, undeviating Catholic; and though a Catholic, he was a man of strict morals, free from the habits of intemperance and excess, common to many of the monks and priests of that communion.

Anxious to promote the revival of learning in his dominion, Frederick of Saxony appointed Luther to be Professor of logic in the University of Wittemberg. In this station he soon became distinguished for the promptness of his elocution, and for the ability of his reasonings. On the occasion of a dispute respecting discipline, between the Vicar General of the Augustinians in Saxony and some of the convents within his jurisdiction, Luther was deputed to repair to Rome, and endeavor to make an amicable adjustment of their differences. Having no acquaintance with the Romish dignitaries, he had, like other good but "uninitiated" men, supposed that in the "Holy City," the very residence of the "Vicar of Christ," he should not fail to witness numerous instances of the practical effects of their "holy religion." But what was his disappointment on beholding shameless licentiousness and debauchery among all ranks. "I have seen," he says, "the Pope and the Pope's court, and I have had opportunity of personally observing the morals of the Roman clergy. I celebrated mass there, and I had occasion to see it celebrated by others, with so much indecency that I am still unable to think of it without disgust. I have heard courtesans say over the bread and wine at the a ltar — Bread thou art, and thou shalt remain bread; wine thou art, and thou shalt remain wine."" The disgusting nature of scenes like these, had a powerful tendency in opening the eyes of Luther to the delusion of Popery; and he was afterwards heard to exclaim, "That he would not for the value of a thousand florins, have missed the instruction afforded him by the journey to Rome." On his return from Rome, Luther took his degree of Doctor of Divinity. A literary distinction of this character was of the highest importance in those times, inasmuch

as it secured to its possessor personal safety-and in the case of Luther, was conducive to the success of the reformation, for by it was conferred upon him the right of teaching publicly as well as privately. In 1512, the Elector permitted him to exchange the philosophical for the theological chair in the University. The following may be found, in a preface to his works written a short time before his death, and is evidence that while he was a Papist he was a devoted one. "Let the reader know that I was formerly a Monk, and that when I engaged in the cause of reformation, I was a most frantic Papist; so intoxicated,* nay, so drenched in the dogmas of the Pope, that I was quite ready to put to death, if I had been able, or to co-operate with those who would put to death persons who refused obedience to the Pope in any single article. Thus, I was not ice and coldness itself, in defending the papacy like Eckins and his associates, who appeared to me to act more from selfishness than from conviction. Even to this day they seem to me to do the same, and to make a mockery of the Pope, like EpiI, on the other hand, was in thorough earnest, being dreadfully afraid of the judgment, and desirous from my inmost soul, to be saved."

The study of theology now began to engage the whole attention of Luther, and the constantly increasing light that he obtained, in studying the "sacred oracles," caused him to realize more fully the absurdities and imposture of the Romish church; and under the protection and auspices of Frederic he was enabled to secure to himself numerous friends and adherents, who united with him, in a temperate, though unwavering opposition to the doctrines of the Papal See. But it was not until ten years after this, he undertook the task of a Reformer. Then it was that the fires of that moral volcano burst forth, which have ever continued to spread and burn, consuming in their course the pestilential miasma of papal impurity. Heaven seemed then to have interposed in favor of the christian religion-wonders and miracles being wrought in confirmation of its divine origin. To a combination of causes, embracing some which were almost fortuitous, inust be ascribed the success of Luther and his followers, who were all men without power and policy, and opposed to those who were in full possession of both. But the same hand that planted christianity,

*Not drunken and apostate, as some now explain it.

was pledged to support them in defending the reformed faith, and they went forward, therefore, with unblenching purpose, not doubting of their success. In the year 1517, when the general indulgencies were first published in Europe, in favor of those only who should aid in the erection of the church of St. Peter's at Rome, Luther was still a professor of Divinity in the university of Wittemberg; and it was then that he gave lectures upon the sacred books, and explained the epistle to the Romans, and the Psalins, and illustrated them with so much boldness, and in a manner so entirely new, that, in the judgment of men, eminent for their piety and prudence, a glorious day was soon to dawn, after the night of darkness and despotism, which had so long reigned. And these good men were not deceived,-for soon the ever-to-be-remembered day of civil and religious liberty burst, with refulgent light, upon the world, and God grant that its evening shades may never go down upon us! Religious controversy, so greatly deprecated by many at the present day, because of the apparent bitterness and intolerance of the combatants, was in Luther's time conducted with much more warmth and personal vituperation; besides subjecting him and his followers to the severest persecutions, and many times to the fear of, if not the actual endurance of imprisonment. And we, who are "free inquirers," have reason to thank God for the glorious issue of that controversy, and may confidently hope that the one now going on in our own country, will cause the dispersion of those clouds of mental darkness, which have so long brooded over us, and pour day-light upon the path to heaven. The pincipal ageut of the Pope, for the sale of indulgences in Germany, was one Tetzel, a Dominican friar, who boasted that his commission from his master was so great, that he could pardon any number of sins, however aggravated. The right to promulgate these indulgencies in Germany, with a share of the profits arising from the sale of them, was granted to Albert of Brandenburg, Elector of Mentz-and Luther asserts that this share amounted to one half the profits. By an assurance to the credulous and ignorant laity that, by the purchase of these indulgencies, souls in purgatory would instantly be removed to heaven, the traffic was rendered exceedingly lucrative to the monks. The dissolute and irregular habits of these monks soon awakened distrust in the minds of thinking people, and determined them to unite with Luther in bringing about a new or