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timony" for the rule of faith: they preserved the expiring lamp in the temple of God, and were useful in their generation: their voice, however, was too feeble to awaken Christendom from the lethargic slumber into which she had sunk, or elevate her character out of that mental slavery which every where prevailed. Yet their appeal was not altogether in vain: many embraced scriptural doctrines, and transmitted the sacred deposit to their descendants, until a favourable juncture of circumstances, and the gross corruptions of the age, by turning the attention of men to the nature and grounds of the Christian faith, facilitated the progress of the glorious REFORMATION. A history which presents scenes like these to the eye of an intelligent reader, will not incur the imputation of containing barren and uninteresting subjects; for as long as the Gospel of our LORD Jesus CHRIST finds admission to the feelings and regard of mankind, so long will the history of His Church in past ages be an object of important contemplation, in its unfolding the obscurities of prophecy, and offering "the spoils of time" to the consideration of posterity.

This volume, which has called forth the above remarks, the Editor presents to the Public as the fruit of leisure not demanded by his professional avocations, and often redeemed from hours appropriated to rest and recreation. On the merits or demerits of the work he is anxious not to be tedious; but begs to express his hopes, that the English costume in which he has introduced his Author to the Reader, will reflect no discredit upon the fame of that learned and able man, nor diminish the lustre of his reputation, which has been so long and so universally acknowledged. He flatters

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himself, that, while he has been employed in abridging, what might seem to some, prolix or barren details, he has not obscured the subject, or lost any material fact or circumstance of the history; and that the system of Chronology and the Chronological Tables, will not be viewed as a useless adjunct to the undertaking.

That many additions to the work have not been gleaned from Ittigius, Limborch, Hottinger, Thuanus, Mosheim, Cave, Bingham, and others, is mainly to be attributed to the operation of a desire to compress within the limits of a few hundred pages, the most important particulars of Ecclesiastical History: the Author proposed to himself nothing more, than to furnish a Manual adapted to the daily exigences of the student.

Should any reader wish to continue the study of this subject, he may consult with advantage the following works. Burnet's History of the Reformation; Strype's Annals of the Reformation; Sleidan, de Statu Religionis et Reipublicæ Carolo V. Cæsare Commentarii; Seckendorf, Commentarius Historicus et Apologeticus de Lutheranismo; Hottinger, Historia Ecclesiastica Novi Test.; Brandt's History of the Reformation in the Low Countries; Alting, Historia Ecclesiastica Palatina; Father Paul's History of the Council of Trent; Scultetus, Annales Evangelii per Europam; Fred. Spanheim, Senior, Geneva Restituta.

The following concise memorials of the family of Spanheim it is presumed will not be unacceptable: they are chiefly extracted from Bayle's Dictionary.

The father of our Author, called also Frederick Spanheim, was born at Amberg in the Upper Palatinate

A. D. 1600.

He was a man of uncommon merit, and much esteemed at the Electoral Court. Many honourable posts were proffered him by several Universities, who were rival applicants for the benefit of his talents. He finally settled at Leyden in the year 1642, where he maintained, or more properly, augmented his former reputation: but his incessant labours and exertions probably accelerated his death, which happened in 1649. Salmasius, who was not prodigal of praise, says of him, that "he had a strong head and full of learning: that he was fit for business, steady and dexterous, zealous and laborious." He read public lectures in Divinity four times a week, besides his private discourses upon diferent subjects to his scholars: he heard the probation sermons of the students in Divinity: he preached in two languages, German and French: he visited the sick: he kept up a wide literary correspondence: he composed, at the same time, two or three books upon quite different subjects: he assisted every Wednesday at his Highness's Council: he was also Rector of the University, and, notwithstanding so many occupations, he kept an account of all the expences of his house, which was full of boarders.

An example so truly excellent was likely to produce great effects upon the minds of his children, of whom he had seven. It appears that they all imitated his virtues, but especially the two eldest, who became very eminent men.

Ezekiel Spanheim, the elder of the two, was a man of extraordinary learning and talent, and the author of several esteemed works. He was very skilful in anti

quarian researches, and in the knowledge of medals. He was frequently employed in embassies to England, France, and other countries, and held various high situations in the Court of the Elector of Branden

burg.

Frederick Spanheim, brother of Ezekiel, was an author of very considerable merit. He succeeded his father in the divinity chair at Leyden. This honourable post he occupied for many years, until the period of his decease, which took place in 1701, in the 69th year of his age. He was deservedly esteemed one of the most eminent divines at that time in the reformed Church: and his works have procured him great and general respect, not only at Leyden, but in all Protestant, and even in some Roman Catholic countries. His Ecclesiastical History, of which the present work is a summary made by himself, has raised him to the very first rank among historians of the Church, and will continue to be a monument, are perennius, of his research, acumen, zeal, and fidelity.

GEORGE WRIGHT.

ASKAM BRYAN,
December, 1828

CONTENTS.

ELEMENTS OF CHRONOLOGY

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