rejoice, whose hearts God has touched and opened to acknowledge their sins and weep over their misery, but who have also besought God for grace and the forgiveness of their sins, after having so often offended him in their lives, and are thus brought to an acquaintance with the Lamb of God, who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his blood. However weak they may be, let them nevertheless rejoice, because they have been made partakers of such distinguished felicity, as that of Christ being glorified also in them, were it even in the smallest degree. Let them not despise this divine favour, since the Lord does not despise them, but privileges them with being amongst the number of those, whom he presents to his Father, as being glorified in them. Let them on the contrary, make a right use of this grain of divine knowledge, and also add, so to speak, one grain to another of the knowledge, both of their own misery and of the grace which is in Christ Jesus; it will thus gradually accumulate, and Christ be increasingly glorified in them."

Besides these religious meetings at the orphanhouse, Franké performed divine service daily in the church, as long as he continued to preach in Glaucha. The hour of evening prayer, except on the Saturday and Sunday, was 'preceded by a short catechization. On Saturdays, as well as on the eve of festival days, the texts for the following day were read; and the subjects intended to be preached upon were also stated for the purposes of preparation. Towards evening of the Sundays and festivals, that which had been preached was briefly recapitulated, and it was shown how every thing by the grace of God was to be

applied, during the approaching week, for the purposes of consolation, invigoration, and a godly life. On Thursday evenings, Arndt's "True Christianity," forming the subject of the sermons on Friday, the chapter from that work was read for the following day, and the importance of the subject stated. Finally, on the Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, those who intended to confess, were exhorted to sincere repentance.

These religious services generally lasted, without the catechization, half or three quarters of an hour. Franké himself relates the origin of them in his instructions respecting the administration of the pastoral office, as follows:-" On entering upon my office, in order not to neglect the duty of a preacher, who is bound to set a good example to his own house, I commenced these devotional services only in my own house with my family and boarders; and had nothing further in view. I continued it also in simplicity of heart during the whole of the summer. Some of you then gradually appeared, who were desirous of attending my morning and evening devotions, although without being bidden or invited by me. Wishing not to hinder any one in his devotions, but rather being desirous of assisting you to obtain more grace from God, I admitted you, until so many attended, that it was found objectionable by some, and therefore the matter was so arranged by the electoral commission at that time, (to which complaints had been made of these religious services,) that in order to avoid giving offence, I should hold these services before supper in the evening, on which you manifested more zeal for them than before, and came in greater numbers to them; until at length, after

they had been continued in this manner for some months in the house, and not a few of you had testified how much you were edified by them, it was ordered by the consistory of the duchy of Magdeburg, that I should remove these meetings to the public church; since which, I have to commend your diligence even to the present time, in attending them even more numerously and frequently than when they were held in the house."

Franke's son furnishes us with a more particular account of these meetings, and the opposition they had to encounter. He says, "Notwithstanding Franké had altered the hour of his evening devotions to a season before supper, because they were exclaimed against by many, as prohibited nocturnal assemblies; yet the invectives, especially on the part of the preachers in Hallé, did not cease, since they began to manifest an influence upon the sentiments of the numerous hearers. A variety of injurious reports were spread respecting Franké's domestic devotions, of which indeed nothing could be proved when the matter came to be investigated; and when Chancellor Von Seckendorf explained to Franké, that it appeared advisable to him to yield the point respecting the meetings, and rather close them entirely, Franké remarked in reply, that he had found the congregation at Glaucha in a very wild and neglected state; that this was the first symptom of success which God had permitted him to see; that he could not resolve upon extinguishing this spark himself; but if the commission felt at liberty, notwithstanding, to forbid the meeting, he would not resist their prohibition. This declaration visibly perplexed the sincere and conscientious Von Seckendorf. "You

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wish to lay it upon our consciences?" was his replyi "Yes," said Franké, "I will leave it entirely to your responsibility." Well, then, there is one alternative left," replied Seckendorf-" we will transfer the meeting to the church."

Franké sought also, finally, to promote real and vital religion, both in and out of his parish, by a number of larger or smaller tracts, " for the Promotion of Christian instruction and edification ;" and to these belong especially, his "Simple Instruction respecting the Duties of the Ministerial Office, and its salutary application on the part of the hearers," written, originally, exclusively for his own congregation, but, for the most part, of general utility. It treated of the observance of the Lord's day, fast and festival days, recapitulation' of the sermons, catechization, week-day preaching, prayer-meetings, and the expounding of the scriptures.

Franke's other writings for the promotion of Christian instruction and edification, are chiefly the following:

1. Plain directions how the Holy Scriptures ought to be read, in order to real edification.

2. Introduction to the reading of the Holy Scriptures, and the New Testament in particular.

3. Special directions for the right understanding of the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians.

4. The same, with reference to the Colossians. 5. Christ the marrow of the Holy Scriptures; or plain directions how Christ, the marrow of the whole Bible, may be properly sought, found, tasted, and the soul be thereby nourished, satisfied, and preserved unto eternal life.

6. Short Introduction to the Christian Religion.

7. The fundamental rules of Jesus Christ.

8. Concise directions to the true, pure, and apostolical knowledge of Jesus Christ.

9. Scriptural Instructions how to pray aright, and in a manner well pleasing to God.

10. Scriptural Rules of Life.

11. Reflections upon Grace and Truth; what these words signify in the Holy Scriptures; how our whole religion rests upon them, and that man, by a true and vital knowledge of them, may attain to complete consolation, together with life and power in his soul.

12. On imperfect Conversions.

13. Reply to the question, How is Dancing to be regarded, as practised in the world?

14. A two-fold Scriptural Address to some Christian Friends abroad.-Franké took advantage of the departure of two students for their respective homes, to give them an open letter, which they might shew "to pious and sincere children of God," in the places through which they passed.

15. Lastly, we have still to mention an excellent work of Franké's, dedicated more particularly to the clergy, but destined also for general instruction and edification, entitled, "Nicodemus, or a tract on the Fear of Man."