of Hallé, particularly as related to three definite points, had become suspected in several places, to explain himself upon them. Franké therefore published in 1706, his "sincere and complete reply, to a letter addressed to him by a pious divine, concerning his own orthodoxy and that of the professors of divinity in Hallé, respecting the doctrine of justification, of true and real godliness, and how its foundation is solely to be laid in Christ." Mayer took these two works again amiss of Franké; he therefore in 1707, reprinted his above mentioned warning against Franké's biblical remarks, with a preface, in which he represents Franké as an enthusiast and a deceiver, who cherished and disseminated fatal and most pernicious moral poison amongst the people, by publishing, recommending, and praising fanatical and heretical books at the orphanhouse. Franké defended himself the same year. in his "Complete and conscientious reply to Dr. Mayer's harsh and incorrect accusations; " and also reprinted his "Account of the Biblical Remarks;” and thus terminated this dispute.

We have only one more controversy of Franké's to mention, but as it had reference solely to the orphan-house, it may be properly noticed in the following chapter.

Franke's courage was not at all diminished by all these controversies; every attack served only to render him more careful against those evils, of which his opponents falsely accused him, more zealous in devoting himself to his vocation and his labour of love, and more fervent in cleaving to him, whose favour so infinitely outweighs all the sufferings of this world. All the machinations of his opponents suffered ship

wreck on the inward certainty of his faith, and that peace in him, which the world can neither give nor take away. All the revilings of his adversaries rebounded upon the authors of them, from the testimony which the Spirit of God bore to his spirit.

CHAPTER VI.

Erection of the orphan-house and institutions connected

with it.

No one any longer hesitates to pronounce the erection of the orphan-house in Hallé-a work of Franke's philanthropy and confidence in God. But if we assert that this philanthropy and this confidence was only the result of that living and christian faith which animated him-a faith which was in those days designated as pietism, and at present is commonly called mysticism-we shall be almost everywhere contradicted; and yet such was in reality the case.

From what other source could this feeling have originated in him, since nothing else animated his inmost soul? But since it is evident that Franké was actuated solely by genuine christian motives in the erection of the orphan-house, (such as could proceed only from living faith in the Redeemer, because he sought not his own advantage, but solely the honour of God,) for this very reason the work is not his, but God's; he was only the instrument in the hands of God. It was God, who gloriously accomplished the work, which was begun on a small scale, by means of his divine co-operation, and with

out any ingenious human plan, as well as without any human means for executing it.

The case was the same with Franké as with Luther. He too, did not seek his own advantage, but gave himself entirely up to the guidance of divine Providence. Without any plan of human invention, (which in that case would not have been the plan of Eternal Wisdom,) he followed, from the commencement, only his animated feeling for the fundamental truths of the gospel, which he had so profoundly apprehended. And if his adversaries have reproached him with being destitute of any fixed plan, this very circumstance constitutes the genuine greatness of his glorious work.

At that period, the poor of Hallé were accustomed, on an appointed day in the week, to collect alms at the door of the charitably-disposed; and Thursday was the day on which this was done in the neighbourhood of the parsonage of Glaucha. Franké was in the habit of distributing bread to them; but he soon began to reflect, that this was a favourable opportunity to administer spiritual food in like manner to these poor people, who were growing up, or had already arrived at maturity in a state of ignorance and manifold depravity. "Therefore, on one occasion," says he, "when they were assembled as usual before the house, waiting for the customary alms to be distributed, I sent for them all to come into the house-placed the aged people on one side, and the young on the other, and began immediately in a friendly manner, to ask the younger ones questions out of Luther's catechism, respecting the first principles of the christian faith, whilst the elder ones acted only as hearers. In this catechization I spent only about a quarter of an hour, concluded with

prayer, and then distributed the usual alms, informing them that, in future, they should have food for the soul as well as for the body, and enjoined them to appear in the same manner, every Thursday in my house, which they accordingly did. This was undertaken at the commencement of the year 1694."

the poverty of their school, nor enjoyed

Franké found, from this weekly catechization, that the ignorance of the poor was indescribably great, and he scarcely knew how to act, "in order to impart to them a firm ground of faith." This grieved him deeply, the more so on perceiving "that so many children, by reason of parents, were neither sent to education of any kind, but grew up in the most shameful ignorance, and in every species of wickedness." He therefore hit upon the idea of presenting a weekly sum to the poor, to enable them to send their children to school. But he soon perceived, that though they regularly fetched the money, yet the children either did not appear at school, or else did not in the least improve.

The distress of those amongst the poor, who were ashamed to beg, went to his heart. For their relief he bought a box, and sent it round every week amongst pious students and those that were willing voluntarily to contribute; and in this manner, about half a dollar weekly was received. But the box soon began to seem oppressive to those that would gladly have given, but had nothing to spare ;"whilst the rich contributed from their abundance nothing towards it; nor was it desired of them, since they manifested no signs of any real self-denial, although some of them sought to appear, as if they had a special affection for the word of God."