Here, also, died that eminent servant of Christ, Castalio, who offended Calvin on the point of absolute predestination, and brought upon himself the vengeance of that singular man. Calvin is allowed by the most unprejudiced writers, to have been most intolerant in his religious opinions. He was a persecutor, both in principle and practice. Indeed, he wrote a Treatise on the necessity of violent measures for the defence of the faith, and contended that it was lawful to put heretics to death; certainly he gave the most convincing proof, as to how he interpreted the word "heretic," as well as of his sincerity in the propositions laid down in the Treatise referred to, when he condemned poor Servetus to the flames,-an act which has left an indelible stain upon his memory, and which, I do not recollect that any of his followers have ever attempted to vindicate or justify.

Historians agree, that the conduct of Calvin towards the learned Castalio, was harsh and severe; and that the language he used towards him was scarcely fit to appear upon paper. Among the many methods he adopted to blacken Castalio's character, was a charge of "stealing wood to warm himself withal; cursed gain," he added, "at another's expense and damage." This charge arose out of the following circumstances: Castalio, in consequence of Calvin's persecution, was reduced to great poverty; and as he dwelt upon the banks of the Rhine, he employed his leisure hours in drawing pieces of wood to shore, by means of a hook. This wood was no private property, but every man's that could catch it. Castalio took it in the middle of the day, amongst a great many fishermen, and several of his acquaintances; and was sometimes paid money for it, by a decree of the senate. This the charitable Calvin mystified into a theft, and published it to the world. Castalio's letter to Calvin, on this occasion, was touching: "Being totally occupied with

my translation of the scriptures, and resolved rather to beg than to quit it, as I dwelt on the banks of the Rhine, I employed myself at leisure hours in catching with a hook the floating wood which it carries down in its inundations, that I might warm my family." And, after calling upon the inhabitants of Bâle, to witness the truth of his statements, he added, “I could not have thought that you, who knew me so well, could have credited such a charge; and that you should have published it to the whole world, and transmitted it to posterity, is what, although I know you, I could not easily have believed." Other accusations, brought forward by Calvin, were quite as groundless. Castalio had an excellent moral character. But Calvin could not rest satisfied; he endeavoured to excite the civil magistrates against him, with a view to have him put to death; and prohibited his writings from being circulated; holding him up as "impious, a base corrupter of the sacred writings, a crooked-minded vagabond, and a heretic." And all this, for choosing to think for himself; but great allowance, perhaps, should be made for the spirit of the age, as religious toleration was then but little understood. Castalio died in this city, in the year 1563, at the early age of forty-eight, universally respected. His Latin translation of the Bible, is considered the most elegant and classical version which has yet appeared in that language. He also translated the Bible into French, and printed it at Bâle, in 1555. We had a noble view from the spire of the cathedral. The mountains are not sufficiently stupendous, to impress the mind with images of grandeur; but the crescentlike form, and the graceful manner in which they rise above and beyond each other, in long and continued outline, together with the breadth of light and shadow, and the soft tone of colouring with which they were invested, presented to the eye a pleasing and beautiful picture. We counted more than thirty

villages in the area between the mountains and the city.

After dinner, we crossed over the Rhine, to "Smaller Bâle;" a stream of water, clear as crystal, is divided and subdivided, so as to run down the sides of several streets, in this part of the city, constantly, to the no small comfort and convenience of the inhabitants. We continued our stroll up the banks of the Rhine several miles. The afternoon was sunny and delightful, and the air exceedingly pure. On either hand were fenceless vineyards, with abundance of grapes; both sides of the river, in fact, resembled a continuous garden, and all nature seemed to rejoice under the smiles of a benevolent God. My friend and myself were happy in his love, and rejoiced in prospect of seeing that better land, where

"Everlasting spring abides,

And never-withering flowers."

We returned to our hotel about dark. And now I must close this very long letter; and if it weary you, as it has me, I sympathize with you. Love to ***. As ever, in Jesus Christ.

LETTER VII.

J. C.

Zurich, Switzerland, Oct., 1843.

DEAR SIR,

YESTERDAY morning we left Bâle, by diligence, for this city, where we arrived about nine o'clock at night. Having secured seats outside with the conducteur and his compagnon, the man of the whip, we had a fine view of the country. The day was bright and

beautiful, and the country to the right and left resembled a great park; not a fence did we see for twenty miles together, and the meadows and uplands were tufted with trees; many of them loaded with ripe fruit. No cattle were to be seen grazing upon the excellent pasturage. This is seldom commenced in these parts, till the farmers have gathered in their crops. They supply their stock, we were informed, by the scythe, which may perhaps account for the evenness of the soil and verdure.

We passed through numerous towns and villages, inhabited chiefly by Roman Catholics, if we might judge by the many crosses elevated along the highway, with an effigy of our Saviour, and other badges of popery attached.

However charming the scenery, which environed these towns and villages, in proportion to the number of these emblems of popery, we found, upon entering within their precincts, wretched houses, filthy streets, and a ragged and poverty-striken population; and I do not remember a single exception to the rule. It is worthy of remark, that in all places visited in my travels, wherever Romanism has been the prevailing religion, I have observed filth, and moral and physical degradation everywhere predominant. The thing is undeniable, nor can it escape the most inattentive traveller; even papists themselves, have been compelled into the acknowledgment. The cross, with its fixtures, or a statue of the Virgin, (if we except perhaps, some of the very large cities of Europe, where there are other causes, which I cannot take time to enumerate, but which go far to neutralize the tendency of the system,) are the never-failing preludes to all I have mentioned; but the contrary is exhibited, whereever Protestantism prevails. Let any unprejudiced person visit any town where Papists and Protestants occupy something like distinct localities, and the con

trast will be most convincing. I speak now of the lower classes of both denominations. But why is this? Why should two systems, both claiming Christianity for its aim, produce effects so widely different? Why should one system of teaching prove so unfavourable to cleanliness, comfort, industry, economy, and general prosperity,―to say nothing of morality, among the labouring classes; while that of the other, its enemies themselves being judges, tends directly to the very opposite? Since penning the above, I have been struck with the observations of a late intelligent traveller, upon the same subject. Speaking of a town he had visited on the banks of the Rhine, [St. Goar,] he says: "That the part of the town we saw was inhabited by Catholics, we could have little doubt, from their evident state of filth and degradation; but a Protestant church, of considerable size, was pointed out to us; and a ragged fellow, who had literally but half a pair of breeches, and a torn shirt, seeing us attempt to enter it, called out, Protestant, no good,no go there. Without being influenced by any illiberal feelings towards the Catholics as a body, it is impossible to shut one's eyes against the pernicious effects which this religion evidently has among its votaries of the lower classes. It is well known to all who have visited those parts of Europe, where there is a mixed population of Protestants and Catholics, that the followers of each among the common people, who have to labour for their subsistence, are not difficult to be pointed out by the appearance of their dress and their dwellings. The fact is unquestionably so; and the conclusion is, that there must be something, connected with their religious duties, or with the influence which the priesthood is known to exercise over their minds, or both, to produce effects so unfavourable to industrious habits, cleanliness, and comfort." The road became hilly as we approached Zurich;

F