so that I know him that is true, and am in him that is true. The work of God is then accomplished within me; for God does not require me for the completion of his works. If I only suffer his operation, like an infant in the womb, and do not resist the influences of his Spirit, he then forms every thing in me which is acceptable in his sight.

"Yet he by no means desires that I should be inattentive, or seek rest and peace in nature instead of in real resignation; for by this means I should unconsciously deprive myself of his operation. His living Spirit desires to work constantly and without intermission; and he that impedes his influx, cannot excuse himself on the plea of the impossibility of resisting his operation. Yet he wearies no one with his work, for he acts as a still small voice,' and through his strength, it is not difficult for an individual, who is conscious of his justification in the blood of the Lamb, to soar aloft on the wings of faith and love.

“The Lord giveth grace to the humble; for all the graces of the Holy Spirit flow in the vale of the humble heart. But true humility has its root and basis in that justification which is by grace. Now as long as the man acknowledges that he possesses nothing in himself, and finds all in Christ, his heart melts in celestial felicity, and is refreshed and invigorated by the Lord. But no sooner does the heart exalt itself, and does not seek and find its salvation simply and exclusively in the remission of sins-the individual enters upon a false way, which is replete with disturbance and uneasiness.

"Yet hath God also his seasons of temptation and humiliation; and that the man's innermost heart may

be made manifest to him, he must pass through many trials, although he may not have deviated from the true and correct path. But how easy it is to go astray from this extremely narrow way! How easily something insinuates itself into the mind, of which the individual is not immediately conscious, which detaches him from child-like simplicity, so that he supposes he knows some better road, and yet deviates imperceptibly from the gospel to the law. For the gospel possesses an angelic simplicity, and renders the individual child-like and kind towards all men. It is transcendant brightness, a penetrating light, a pure stream of peace, a rest from all our own works, an enjoyment of God and his felicity.

"Blessed is he who does not suffer himself to lose sight of his aim: which is easily the case, when we do not look alone to Christ, but to the example of others, and when we wish to exalt ourselves, and to be great in the new man before the time. No one can add to his stature one cubit, however much he may strive to do so. The same is the case with the inner man. Nature will gladly go her own way, and sees no other means of becoming perfect, than by seeking to be something. But God's path is very different; for he brings to nought that which is, that he himself may be all in all. included in the single verse, the Son, hath eternal life."

And all this is indeed "He that believeth on Lord Jesus, let thy

good Spirit lead me in a plain path; for thy Name's

CHAPTER II.

Removal to Hamburgh and Leipzig-Labours there and opposition to them-Call to Erfurt-Expulsion from thence Is appointed Professor of the oriental languages in the University of Halle.

FRANKE continued in Lüneburg, where he instituted a philobiblical society, similar to that established in Leipzig, for mutual exercise in expounding the Scriptures, till towards Lent of the year 1688: he then travelled to Hamburgh, where he remained till about Christmas of the same year. He felt particularly happy in Hamburgh, in the society of those who were like-minded, in which each communicated his experience, and mutually exhorted and edified one another. Franké impressively recommended associations of this kind to others. "It is with Christians" says he, " as with burning coals: if these are scattered far apart, one after the other is easily extinguished; but when collected together, the fire of the one preserves that of the other, and the glowing coals often ignite others that lie near." Franké entered into a friendly connection in Hamburgh with Nicholas Langé, afterwards superintendant in Brandenburg, and in consequence of several con

sultations with him upon the defective state of the instruction of the young, he was induced to establish a private school in Hamburgh for children. This occupation had great influence upon the whole of his future life. "Here," says he, "I not only learnt patience, charity, and indulgence, whilst struggling against my own faults which manifested themselves, particularly in reproving the children-but it also became increasingly evident to me, how corrupt was the customary mode of instruction, and how highly defective the methods in use for the training of children; and this excited in me, even then, the most ardent wish, that God would graciously grant that I might contribute something to the improvement of the method of instructing and educating the young." He often asserted, that his teaching the children in Hamburgh must be considered in reality as the basis of all that which God effected through him in the sequel; for whilst calling it to mind in Hallé, he hit upon the idea of shewing by his own example, how education might be improved. The result of the experiment he had made in Hamburgh, he afterwards published, in a work entitled "On the training up of children to godliness and christian prudence."

Towards Christmas 1688, Franké obtained permission from his uncle to retain the stipend he had previously engaged, and remove to any university he pleased. That passage of Scripture occurring to him, When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,' he was induced again to make choice of Leipzig. He hoped from having previously been well received there, that God would now prosper him in scattering the seeds of a fervent and unadulterated piety in many a youthful heart by a

course of exegetical and practical lectures, which he justly regarded as very suitable for the time. He certainly foresaw, "that they would not be able to bear the truth, nor be satisfied when they were told that a real change must take place in every one, and that the customary time spent at the university did not constitute the individual an useful servant of God;"-but the faith he possessed in his heart did not suffer him to fear; he was resolved loudly and openly to preach the truth he had recognized and experienced, whatever sufferings it might occasion him, since reproach and persecution act as showers of rain upon the seed of faith.

But before he commenced his lectures in Leipzig, he wished first to strengthen himself still more by intercourse with SPENER-a man for whom he naturally felt the highest veneration. Therefore after a mere preliminary residence of a week in Leipzig, he repaired to Dresden, and was joyfully received by Spener, with whom he took up his residence. He communicated his resolution to Spener, who fully approved of it, and promised at the same time, if necessary, openly to testify, that he himself perfectly agreed with him. The two months which Franké spent with Spener, proved one of the most beneficial seasons he ever experienced.

Towards Lent, 1689, he returned to Leipzig, and commenced his active career, in the capacity of private tutor. He read exegetical and practical lectures upon the Epistles to the Corinthians, Ephesians, and Philippians, and also read a course of lectures on the aids and hindrances in the study of divinity. The applause bestowed on him was very great. The room he had hired in Paul's college near his own