down in the Scriptures, directed the attention of the people with inward pleasure to the words of our Lord, By their fruits ye shall know them,' and left the rest to God.

The attempts which had hitherto been made by rescripts from Berlin and Magdeburg, addressed especially to that blinded zealot Mr. Roth, to restore tranquillity in Hallé, had all proved unavailing. At length, on the 17th of November 1692, an electoral commission arrived in Hallé, for the express purpose of investigating and settling these disputes, which the court regarded as prejudicial to the new University. The commission, which consisted of Von Platen, Von Dresskan, and Lütkens, with Chancellor Von Seckendorf at their head, commenced their inquiry the following day. The clergy of Hallé presented twenty-six points of complaint against Breithaupt, Franké, and the pietistic students. The commission communicated them to Breithaupt and Franké, who then handed in a defence, and a counter accusation. Several days passed without any approximation of the two parties, until at length Seckendorf made a proposal, which, because the two most violent opponents, Schrader and Roth, had already left Hallé, Dr. Olearius, at that time superintendent of Hallé, who longed to see the matter terminated, agreed to on the 27th of November, and which was signed by both parties.

In this document it was stated

1. That though the Clergy of Hallé had accused with some measure of plausibility, Professors Breithaupt and Franké of errors in doctrine, and the disturbance of ecclesiastical order, on which account they had been watchful, and occasionally

introduced the subject into their public discourses, (so mildly was the matter expressed) yet that after diligent examination, on the basis of the Holy Scriptures, the Augsburg Confession, and other Creeds and articles of faith, the accusation had proved to be groundless, and that consequently the clergy of Hallé acknowledged the two professors free from and innocent of all heterodoxy.

2. That the Professors have declared, that any disturbances which may have taken place in Hallé, consisting in the offensive language or actions of individuals, have neither been occasioned nor approved of by them; that they were also far from wishing to promote anything of the kind; but that they must disapprove of the manner in which the Clergy had censured things of that nature, and laid them to their charge; but that every thing which may have excited unpleasantness, shall be forgotten by both parties.

3. The Professors have by no means wished to depreciate or encroach upon the preachers in the discharge of their official duties, which they are not conscious of ever having done; they sought to admonish the students to be prudent, and warned them against separation; but the preachers ought likewise to do every thing in order to avoid vexatious disputes. If they think the cause of truth endangered, they ought first to use brotherly admonition, and if this prove unavailing, inform the proper authorities, and wait their decision, without forestalling it in their discourses or writings. At the same time it is not forbidden publicly to speak of that which is notoriously unjust, where silence would be injurious; but this ought to be done with

out attacking and painting in odious colours the individuals themselves, so that harsh and severe expressions should be avoided in speaking and writing; no one be censured for that which those under his charge reject; the young be treated with meekness, and generally speaking, the glory of God be sought in all things, and not their own.

4. Confidence is placed in the Clergy, that whilst avoiding extraordinary modes of expression in their sermons, they will follow the order of the Church; and treat in a proper manner the articles of the justification of the sinner in the sight of God, true repentance and conversion, true religion, &c., that real inward religion may be duly implanted, and Jesus' perfect merits properly acknowledged; as well as that they will observe the needful preparation for their sermons.... It is also hoped with respect to the Professors, that they will faithfully obey the established form of government, particularly because at present, a variety of extraordinary things occur, in trances and revelations, to which they must refer no one, but to the word of God; and restrain their judgment, so that offence and mistakes may not arise through the expression of hasty and premature opinions; and finally also, that they will take care, that worthless and suspicious publications are not disseminated along with the good.

In conclusion, both preachers and professors are recommended to observe a careful oversight over those, who by unwise speeches and deportment had caused offence. This document was read after sermon, on the 18th December, in all the parish churches, in the city and its suburbs.

Thus peace was again outwardly restored in Hallé;

but if parties do not inwardly unite, every outward compromise, however wisely framed, only serves to interrupt the contest a short time, that it may afterwards break out again only the more violently. The city clergy refrained indeed at first, particularly since the bitterest zealots had retired, from openly reviling the pietists, as they were called; but they did not by any means cease to speak evil of them in private; besides this, both parties preached, as before, doctrines which could only exist by the annihilation of one side of the question-false and true religion; and thus the fire continued to glimmer under the ashes.

Whilst Franké outwardly enjoyed repose again in Hallé, he fell into a new controversy with persons at a distance. He had remained silent until the beginning of the year 1694, notwithstanding all the calumnies which were heaped upon him in other parts by the dead orthodox party of the Lutheran church, who hated every thing like vital religion. It was only in the beginning of that year, that he at length saw himself compelled, by the libel of an anonymous writer, entitled Disorderly proceedings of the Pietists,' to break his silence, and publish a' Reply to the pretended account of the disorderly proceedings of the Pietists, &c.' In what state of mind he wrote that piece, is evident from his own words:

“I have always found, that the more evil the intentions of the world have been towards me, the more richly and abundantly has the Lord bestowed his blessing upon me.... Hence I lay me down and sleep in perfect peace, although a host may encamp against me; and I never feel better than when I can be silent, and commend the matter to the Lord....

Therefore with respect to myself, the world may continue to act as hostilely as it is able.... What I at present, and may in future perceive within me, which is not exclusively directed to the glory of God and the advantage of my neighbour, I beseech God, very heartily and fervently, to hinder, exterminate, and destroy, according to all his good pleasure. Now if the weapons of others, who strive against me, are directed to the same end, they will easily obtain the victory over me, to my own great satisfaction. But if they attack me in that, wherein I really serve the Lord, they shall and ought at length to experience to their sorrow, that here is Immanuel, God with us.' The living God knows me, and I know him, and am conscious that I serve him in sincerity of heart....; and even were a thousand works to appear against me, I cannot turn either to the right hand or to the left.... I do that which I perceive from the word of God it is incumbent upon me to perform, and the world may laugh or murmur at it, until tired of both. Thanks be to God, who has infused such sentiments into me!"

Franké took no notice of the attention which this work excited, nor to the many things that were said upon it. But the greater part of his opponents, and the adversaries of vital religion only watched the more eagerly for a suitable opportunity of placing him and those they termed pietists in a truly hateful light; and this seemed shortly afterwards afforded them by the publication of a work of his, the author of which, they thought they should be able to represent as one who had stumbled most grievously against Lutheran orthodoxy.

In January of the year 1695, Franké began to pub