"No. 12.

Dr. FRANCIS JUNIUS was born at Bourges in France, A. D. 1545. Under a kind and learned father he received the rudiments of education. In his twelfth year he was sent to a public school, and was subjected to petulant and tyrannical preceptors, who seemed to have delight in punishing their pupils. But so great was the ardor of Francis to obtain an education, that he forebore to complain of the treatment he received.

After considerable time he was removed to Lyons. While in that city he had many advantages and many temptations. Among other temptations, he was under the influence of a man who avowed atheistical principles; and Junius was persuaded to adopt them. He became as complete an atheist as his impious counsellor, and was so frank in avowing his principles, that they were known by all who were acquaint ed with him.

For more than a year he was in this perilous state of Atheism. But at length a tumult happened in Lyons, and the life of Junius was preserved in a manner for Vol. III.

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VOL. Ill.

which he could not account but by the agency of God, or an overruling Providence. This led him to serious reflection on the dangerous principles he had adopted. His father, being informed of the state of his mind, sent for him; and with the utmost tenderness requested him to read the New Testament with attention. He obeyed his father, and God appeared for him. On reading the first chapter of John the scales of atheism fell from his eyes. The account given by Junius of this event is as follows:

"I read part of the chapter, and was so impressed with what I read, that I could not but perceive the divinity of the subject, and the authority and majesty of the scriptures, to surpass greatly all human eloquence. I shuddered in my body with horror at myself; my son was astonished; and I was so strongly affected all that day that I scarce knew who, or what, or where I was. thou, O Lord my God, didst remember me in thy wonderful mercy, and didst receive a lost and wandering sheep into thy flock! From that time when the

But

Lord had granted me so great a portion of his holy spirit, I began to read the Bible, and to treat other books with more coldness and indifference, and to reflect more upon and to be more conversant with the things that relate to salvation."

His father was rejoiced at the happy change; he wished his son to be religious, but did not wish him to become a clergyman. His desire was that Francis should study the profession of law: but to this the son could not consent. Divinity was now his object, and he obtained leave of his father to go to Geneva. He was furnished with but a small sum of money, which was soon expended. His modesty forbad him to borrow; and he formed the plan of laboring one day on the fortifications to procure subsistence, that he might pursue his studies the next. Thus his faith in God was brought to the test.

It was not however long before he became acquainted with a man whose widowed mother had often been relieved by the father of Junius. This man was disposed to show his gratitude by favoring the son of his mother's benefactor. But through fear of burdening his friend, Junius lived so sparingly that he greatly injured his health. In this situation God provided for him, raised up other friends to help him, and by adopting a different mode of living his health was restored.

In 1565, he became a minister of a church at Antwerp. This situation proved to be afflictive and dangerous. The Spaniards were then in possession of the Low Countries, and were about

to establish the Inqusition in that quarter. The Reformers held a meeting to consult on the best methods to prevent the establishment of the terrible tribunal. At this meeting Junius took an active part; but he was inclined to moderation and pacific measures. After the meeting he published some "Political Admonitions," which gave great offence to the Papists. From the style and manner of this publication Junius was suspected to be the author, and narrowly escaped the designs of his enemies.

At that period the Protestants as well as the Papists, were under the influence of a persecuting and violent spirit, to which Junius was opposed in his own party as well as in the Papists. He wished well to the interest of those who were called the Reformers; but he did not think that a good cause should be promoted by violent measures. He was not for opposing a persecuting spirit with the spirit of persecu tion. And as he felt bound to set his face against this spirit in both parties, he incurred the displeasure of both; and many of the Reformers joined the Papists in persecuting Junius.

"Men of peace and moderation," says Mr. Middleton, "and truly religious men must be such, may expect such treatment in all ages. If they will not espouse the interest of a party with the rage of the party, the furious partizans will not thank them for a sober adherenge and advice; but perhaps will be the first to condemn them."-This judicious remark has often been verified both in politics and religion.

Such was their malignity, that he was advised by his friends to escape for his life. He accordingly fled to Heidelberg, and was well received by the elector palatine, Frederic III. He was appointed a minister of a small congregation, which was soon much reduced by the plague. For a time he was employed as a chaplain in the army, under the prince of Orange; but this situation was disagreeable to him. He was some years employed with Tremellius in translating the Old Testament into Latin-a work which is said to have done honor to the translators, both as scholars and divines.

About the year 1581, Junius was appointed professor of divinty in the University of Heidelberg. In 1592 he had an invitation to the same office in the University of Leyden, which he accepted. In this he continued with great reputation for ten years, or until the time of his decease-which happened Oct. 13, 1602. He was followed to the grave with the tears of the University, and the regret and concern of good people.

In his last hours he enjoyed composure of mind and great con

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solation. As he had lived, so he died, full of faith in the salvation When the. by Jesus Christ. celebrated F. Gomar, his friend and colleague, visited him, and proposed several passages of scripture for his comfort, Junius replied "that he gave himself up entirely to God-to that God who would graciously do what was best for him, and for his own glory." When his disorder would permit, he spent his time in hearing passages of scripture read to him, and in pouring out his soul in ardent prayer.

His friend Gomar called again to to see him, and exhorted him "that in his last extremity he would draw for himself out of that treasury of comforts, from which he had so happily drawn for others; and that in particular he would remember that God was his tender Father in heaven, ready to receive him; that Christ was his Savior; that heaven was his country and inheritance; that the holy spirit in his heart was a pledge of all this; that death was only the way to this heaven and life immortal; and that by faith and hope he should rejoice in what was before him."

To this pious exhortation Junius earnestly replied: "that he well remembered and observed those things which he had taught to others; that his only confidence and stay was in the free grace of God; and that he was assured that God would perfect what remained concerning his future salvation."

Upon being asked whether he had any thing to say about his temporal affairs, he answered, "that he could think but very lit