This contest was by no means confined to Leipsic, but spread with incredible celerity through

fessions, of both sexes, who declared that they were called by a divine impulse, to pull up iniquity by the root; to restore to its

mults excited, animosities kindled, || profligacy and enthusiasm, and and the matter at length brought who deserved the title of delirious to a public trial in which the fanatics better than any other depious and learned men above- nomination. mentioned were, indeed, declared free from the errors and heresies that had been laid to their charge, but were, at the same time, pro-all the Lutheran churches in the hibited from carrying on the plan different states and kingdoms of of religious instruction they had Europe. For, from this time, in undertaken with such zeal. It all the cites, towns, and villages, was during these troubles and di- where Lutheranism was professed visions that the invidious denomi- there started up, all of a sudden, nation of Pietists was first invent-persons of various ranks and proed; it may, at least, be affirmed, that it was not commonly known before this period. It was at first applied by some giddy and inconsiderate persons to those who fre-primitive lustre, and propagate quented the Biblical Colleges, and through the world, the declining lived in a manner suitable to the cause of piety and virtue; to goinstructions and exhortations that vern the church of Christ by wiser were addressed to them in these rules than those by which it was seminaries of piety. It was after-at present directed; and who, wards made use of to characterize partly in their writings, and partall those who were either distin-ly in their private and public disguished by the excessive austerity of their manners, or who, regardless of truth and opinion, were only intent upon practice, and turned the whole vigour of their efforts towards the attainment of religious feelings and habits. But as it is the fate of all those deno-were not all conducted and comminations by which peculiar sects posed with equal wisdom, piety, are distinguished to be variously and prudence, were, however, deand often very improperly applied, signed to promote the same geneso the title of Pietists was fre- ral purpose. In the mean time quently given, in common con- these unusual proceedings filled versation, to persons of eminent with uneasy and alarming apprewisdom and sanctity, who werehensions both those who were equally remarkable for their ad- entrusted with the government of herence to truth and their love the church, and those who sat at of piety; and, not seldom, to per- the helm of the state. These apsons whose motley characters ex-prehensions were justified by this hibited an enormous mixture of important consideration, that the

courses, pointed out the means and measures that were necessary to bring about this important revolution. Several religious societies were formed in various places, which though they dif fered in some circumstances, and

pious and well-meaning persons || form of their ecclesiastical disci pline and polity. The former had at their head the learned and pious Spener, who, in the year 1691, removed from Dresden to Berlin, and whose sentiments were adopted by the professors of the new academy of Hall; and particu

who composed these assemblies had indiscreetly admitted into their community a parcel of extravagant and hot-headed fanatics, who foretold the approaching destruction of Babel (by which they meant the Lutheran church), terrified the populace with ficti-larly by Franckius and Paulus tious visions, assumed the autho- Antonius, who had been invited rity of prophets honoured with a thither from Leipsic, where they divine commission, obscured the began to be suspected of Pietism. sublime truths of religion by a Though few pretended to treat gloomy kind of jargon of their own either with indignation or coninvention, and revived doctrines tempt the intentions and purposes that had long before been con- of these good men (which, indeed, demned by the church. The none could despise without affectmost violent debates arose in alling to appear the enemy of practhe Lutheran churches; and per- tical religion and virtue), yet sons whose differences were occa-many eminent divines, and more sioned rather by mere words and especially the professors and pasquestions of little consequence, tors of Wittemberg, were of opithan by any doctrines or in- nion, that, in the execution of stitutions of considerable import- this laudable purpose, several ance, attacked one another with maxims were adopted, and certain the bitterest animosity; and, in measures employed, that were many countries severe laws were prejudicial to the truth, and also at length enacted against the detrimental to the interests of the Pietists. church. Hence they looked on These revivers of piety were of themselves as obliged to proceed two kinds, who, by their different publicly against Spener, in the manner of proceeding, deserve to year 1695, and afterwards against be placed in two distinct classes. his disciples and adherents, as the One sect of these practical reform-inventors and promoters of erroers proposed to carry on their neous and dangerous opinions. plan without introducing any These debates are of a recent change into the doctrine, disci- date; so that those who are pline, or form of government desirous of knowing more partithat were established in the Lu- cularly how far the principles of theran church. The other main-equity, moderation, and candour, tained, on the contrary, that it influenced the conduct and directwas impossible to promote theed the proceedings of the contendprogress of real piety among the ing parties, may easily receive a Lutherans without making consi- satisfactory information. derable alterations in their doctrine, and changing the whole

These debates turned upon a variety of points, and therefore

the matter of them cannot be learning with divine wisdom was comprehended under any one ge- to be most carefully avoided; neral head. If we consider them, that, on the contrary, all those indeed, in relation to their origin who were designed for the minisand the circumstances that gave try should be accustomed from rise to them, we shall then be able their early youth to the perusal to reduce them to some fixed prin- and study of the Holy Scriptures; ciples. It is well known, that that they should be taught a plain those who had the advancement of system of theology drawn from piety most zealously at heart were these unerring sources of truth; possessed of a notion that no order and that the whole course of their of men contributed more to retard education was to be so directed its progress than the clergy, whose as to render them useful in life, peculiar vocation it was to incul- by the practical power of their cate and promote it. Looking doctrine and the commanding upon this as the root of the evil, influence of their example. As it was but natural that their plans these maxims were propagated of reformation should begin here; with the greatest industry and and, accordingly, they laid it zeal, and were explained inadverdown as an essential principle, that tently, by some, without those renone should be admitted into the strictions which prudence seemed ministry but such as had received to require, these professed patrons a proper education, were distin- and revivers of piety were suspectguished by their wisdom and ed of designs that could not but sanctity of manners, and had render them obnoxious to censure. hearts filled with divine love. They were supposed to despise Hence they proposed, in the first philosophy and learning; to treat place, a thorough reformation of with indifference, and even to rethe schools of divinity; and they nounce, all enquiries into the naexplained clearly enough what ture and foundations of religious they meant by this reformation, truth; to disapprove of the zeal which consisted in the following and labours of those who defendpoints: That the systematical ed it against such as either cortheology which reigned in the rupted or opposed it; and to academies, and was composed of place the whole of their theology intricate and disputable doctrines, in certain vague and incoherent deand obscure and unusual forms of clamations concerning the duties expression, should be totally abo- of morality. Hence arose those lished; that polemical divinity, famous disputes concerning the which comprehended the contro-use of philosophy and the value of versies subsisting between Chris- || human learning, considered in contians of different communions, nexion with ne interests of reshould be less eagerly studied and ligion, the dignity and usefulness less frequently treated, though not of systematic theology, the necesentirely neglected; that all mix-sity of polemic divinity, the excelture of philosophy and human lence of the mystic system, and al

so concerning the true method of instructing the people.

and intricate debates concerning the following questions: "Whe"ther the religious knowledge ac"quired by a wicked man can be "termed theology?" "Whether "a vicious person can, in effect, "attain a true knowledge of reli

These revivers of declining pi

The second great object that employed the zeal and attention of the persons now under consideration, was, that the candidates for the ministry should not only for the future receive such an aca-"gion?" "How far the office demical education as would tend "and ministry of an impious ecrather to solid utility than to "clesiastic can be pronounced samere speculation, but also that "lutary and efficacious?" "Whe they should dedicate themselves to "ther a licentious and ungodly God in a peculiar manner, and " man cannot be susceptible of exhibit the most striking examples "illumination?" and other quesof piety and virtue. This maxim, tions of a like nature. which, when considered in itself, must be acknowledged to be high-ety went still further. In order to ly laudable, not only gave occa- render the ministry of their pastors sion to several new regulations, as successful as possible in rousdesigned to restrain the passions of ing men from their indolence, and the studious youth, to inspire them in stemming the torrent of corwith pious sentiments, and to ex-ruption and immorality, they cite in them holy resolutions, but judged two things indispensibly also produced another maxim, necessary. The first was, to supwhich was a lasting source of con- press entirely, in the course of troversy and debate, viz. "That public instruction, and more es"no person that was not himself pecially in that delivered from "a model of piety and divine the pulpit, certain maxims and "love was qualified to be a public phrases which the corruption of "teacher of piety, or a guide to men leads them frequently to in"others in the way of salvation."terpret in a manner favourable to This opinion was considered by the indulgence of their passions. many as derogatory from the pow-Such, in the judgment of the Pieer and efficacy of the Word of tists, were the following proposiGod, which cannot be deprived tions: No man is able to attain of its divine influence by the vices to that perfection which the divine. of its ministers; and as a sort of law requires; good works are not revival of the long exploded errors necessary to salvation; in the act of the Donatists: and what ren-of justification, on the part of man, dered it peculiarly liable to an in-faith alone is concerned, without terpretation of this nature was,good works. The second step they the imprudence of some Pietists. ook in order to give efficacy to who inculcated and explained it heir plans of reformation, was, without those restrictions that to form new rules of life and manwere necessary to render it unex-ners much more rigorous and ceptionable. Hence arose endless austere than those that had been

So far Mosheim, whose account of the Pietists seems to have been drawn up with a degree of severity. Indeed, he represents the real character of Franck and his colleagues as regardless of truth and opinion. A more recent historian, however (Dr. Haweis), observes, "that no men more rigidly

formerly practised; and to place in the class of sinful and unlawful gratifications several kinds of pleasure and amusement which had hitherto been looked upon as innocent in themselves, and which could only become good or evil in consequence of the respective characters of those who used them with prudence or abus-contended for or taught more exed them with intemperance. Thus,plicitly the fundamental doctrines dancing, pantomimes, public of Christianity: from all I have sports, theatrical diversions, the read or known, I am disposed to reading of humorous and comical believe they were remarkably books, with several other kinds of amiable in their behaviour, kind in pleasure and entertainment, were their spirit, and compassionate to prohibited by the Pietists as un- the feeble-minded." lawful and unseemly; and, therefore, by no means of an indifferent nature. The third thing on which the Pietists insisted, was, that, besides the stated meetings for public worship, private assemblies should be held prayer and other religious ex-articles included in this definiercises.

The other class of Pietists already mentioned, whose reforming views extended so far as to change the system of doctrine and the form of ecclesiastical government that were established in the Lutheran church, comprehended persons of various characters and different ways of thinking. Some of them were totally destitute of judgment; their errors were the reveries of a disordered brain; and they were rather considered as lunatics than as heretics. Others were less extravagant, and tempered the singular notions they had derived from reading or meditation, with a certain mixture of the important truths and doctrines of religion.

PIETY consists in a firm belief and in right conceptions of the being, pertections, and providence of God; with suitable affections to him, resemblance of his moral perfections, and a constant obedience to his will. The different

tion, such as knowledge, veneration, love, resignation, &c., are explained in their proper places in this work.

We shall, however, present the reader with a few ideas on the subject of early piety; a subject of infinite importance, and which we beg our young readers especially to regard. "Youth," says Mr. Jay, is a period which presents the fewest obstacles to the practice of godliness, whether we consider our external circumstances, our natural powers, or our moral habits. In that season we are most free from those troubles which embitter, those schemes which engross, those engagements which hinder us in more advanced and connected life. Then the bo