THE GUARDIAN. VOL. XXXVI. JANUARY, 1885. OUR THIRTY-SIXTH VOLUME. Once more THE GUARDIAN knocks at the door, and calls out in cheery tones, "A Happy New Year to you all!" The past year was in many respects a very pleasant one; but it is gone now and we will not regret it. Its joys and sorrows-let them rest! Whatever the future may bring, it cannot separate us from our Father's love. Relying on His mighty arm, we will go bravely forward to meet the coming year. THE GUARDIAN is growing old, but we do not believe it has yet fulfilled its mission, Every month it visits several thousand homes and declares its ancient message. Its motto is still," Life, Light, Love." May we not trust that the friends to whom our little magazine has grown dear by many years of faithful service will make an effort to extend its usefulness? OLEVIANUS. We deem ourselves fortunate in being able to present to our readers a portrait of Caspar Olevianus, one of the authors of the Heidelberg Catechism. It is copied from an engraving which is probably several hundred years old and represents the Reformer as he appeared in the closing years of his life, when he was no longer in possession of full health and vigor. We have seen a portrait in which he appears younger and stronger, dressed in a Geneva gown and wearing a pointed cap. Both portraits are now rare. NO. 1. career. Olevianus was a native of Treves, in Prussia, where he was born in 1535. His parents were wealthy and he received a thorough education. While he was studying at Bourges, in southern France, an event occurred which entirely changed the course of his life A son of the elector of the Palatinate was drowned by the upsetting of a boat. Olevianus, who had been taking a walk on the bank of the river, saw the occurrence, and springing into the water, made heroic efforts to save the life of the prince. In this he was unsuccessful, but the heroism which he manifested endeared him to the prince's father, who ever afterwards remained his faithful patron and friend. Profoundly impressed by the danger to which he had been exposed, Olevianus determined to consecrate his whole life to the service of the Lord. During a time of general persecution, he connected himself with one of the secret Reformed churches which are known in history as the "churches under the cross.' Having attempted in vain to introduce the preaching of the pure gospel into his native city, he was called, by the Elector Frederick III. to the position of Professor of Philosophy and court-preacher at Heidelberg. Here he occupied a leading position in the organization of the Reformed Church of the Palatinate, and, in conjunction with Ursinus, composed the Heidelberg Catechism, under the direction of the pious elector. Though it is known that the plan of the Catechism was prepared by Ursinus, it is now generally acknowledged that a considerable part of the work is from the pen ofOlevianus. Having recently related in THE GUARDIAN the chief events in the life of this distinguished man, we do not After the death of the elector there deem it necessary to enter into particu- came a time of persecution, during lars, and will only mention a few of the which Olevianus found a refuge in Hermost important events in his brilliant born. Here he conducted a literary |