failed to do so. In 1815, when, in restoring peace to central Europe, God rekindled there the heavenly fire of faith, it was at Geneva that He first lighted the sacred flame, some time before he did so in France or in the Canton de Vaud; and it was from Geneva that, in part at least, this flame communicated itself to many around. You are acquainted with the labours to which God has called us among the populations of France, from the midst of which our fathers were compelled to fly, in the bloody days of Louis XIV. We have also been permitted to do something for other countries; but upon this topic I shall not enlarge. O God, Thy kingdom come!

It is the importance of your Society, with respect to England herself, which specially strikes me at this moment. I do not know if it be generally understood among your countrymen, that you are an important institution, as regards your own country. There must be a connecting link between England and the Continent; there must be cordial affection, frequent communications, and your Society is the principal instrument by which this valuable union is effected. It is thus one of those "joints," of which St. Paul speaks to the

of the Continental churches, and the reverses, the afflictions, which befel his brethren in the faith, caused him the most lively emotion. "I have read your letter," wrote he, from London to Bucer, October 2nd, 1548, "I have read your letter to John Hales, in which you relate the miserable condition of Germany, and inform us that you can scarcely preside in the ministry of the Word in your city. With groanings, therefore, I call out with the prophet, Show Thy marvellous loving-kindness, O Thou that savest them which trust in Thee, from those that rise up against Thy right hand.' Nor do I doubt but that God will regard both this and the like lamentations of godly men, and that He will preserve and defend the true doctrine, which has hitherto been sincerely set forth in your churches, against all the rage of the devil and the world." (Cranmer's Letters, p. 424.) And when Cranmer thought his friends in danger, he invited them to take refuge with himself. He would have wished to make of England a true guest-house for the saints. "Those who are unable, amidst the raging storm, to launch out into the deep, must take refuge in harbour," says he. "To you, therefore, my Bucer, our kingdom will be a most

safe harbour, in which, by the blessing of God, the seeds of true doctrine have happily began to be sown. Come over, therefore, to us, and become a labourer with us in the harvest of the Lord. You will not be of less benefit to the universal Church of God while you are with us, than if you retain your former position. In addition to this, you will be better able to heal the wounds of your distressed country in your absence, than you are now able to do in person. Laying aside, therefore, all delay, come over to us as soon as possible. We will make it manifest that nothing can be more gratifying or agreeable to us than the presence of Bucer. But take care that you suffer no inconvenience from the journey. You are aware of those who pursue your life; do not, therefore, commit yourself into their hands." (Ibid.) Certainly Cranmer was not a "lukewarm friend."

He was constantly prepossessed with the desire of seeing the pure doctrine of the Gospel established in England, without human additions and without ambiguity. He knew how many excellent men there were on the Continent, who, laying aside human traditions, had betaken themselves to Holy Scripture as to the only source of true faith. It was this

of the Continental churches, and the reverses, the afflictions, which befel his brethren in the faith, caused him the most lively emotion. "I have read your letter," wrote he, from London to Bucer, October 2nd, 1548, "I have read your letter to John Hales, in which you relate the miserable condition of Germany, and inform us that you can scarcely preside in the ministry of the Word in your city. With groanings, therefore, I call out with the prophet, Show Thy marvellous loving-kindness, O Thou that savest them which trust in Thee, from those that rise up against Thy right hand.' Nor do I doubt but that God will regard both this and the like lamentations of godly men, and that He will preserve and defend the true doctrine, which has hitherto been sincerely set forth in your churches, against all the rage of the devil and the world." (Cranmer's Letters, p. 424.) And when Cranmer thought his friends in danger, he invited them to take refuge with himself. He would have wished to make of England a true guest-house for the saints. "Those who are unable, amidst the raging storm, to launch out into the deep, must take refuge in harbour," says he. "To you, therefore, my Bucer, our kingdom will be a most

necessary to have the assistance of learned men, who, having compared their opinions together with us, may do away with doctrinal controversies, and build up an entire system of true doctrine. We have, therefore, invited both yourself and some other learned men." (Cranmer's Letters, p. 422.) That man was not a "time server," but "building his house upon a rock."

God had put into the heart of your excellent metropolitan that law of unity of the people of God, the accomplishment of which our Lord in his sacerdotal prayer besought of his Father. You are not the first, dear and honoured brethren, who have addressed to ministers and Christians of the Continent the invitation to visit London, for the purpose of consulting about the interests of the kingdom of God. Cranmer did the same. It is true that the men whom he invited were far more illustrious, and that the business they had in hand was perhaps more weighty. But ought not that very circumstance mutually to encourage us, and does it not show that England, instead of lessening, should increase the number of those Christian ties that connect her with the Continent. Thomas of Canterbury was at that