Luther wrote in all thirty-seven hymns. We look in vain for fine taste or poetic imagery. The hymns are like the Reformer-hard, perhaps, but impressive. Nevertheless, they suited the times: the people taught them instantly. Vigorous songs were needed, and in Luther's hymns we see bold enunciations of the truth, clad in the beauty of simplicity. Of the number he wrote we have three in our collection; No. 62 (C. H. B.)—

and a fine paraphrase of the 130th Psalm, No. 501 (C. H. B.)——

"Out of the depths I cry to Thee."

This last was most fittingly chanted as the body of the great and good man was borne to its last resting-place. His friends laid his remains beneath the shadows of the cathedral of Wittemberg. How very remarkable! On the doors of this church the brave monk nailed his celebrated 'Theses," and now those same tenets are declared over his grave in the heart-utterances of his own song. Vincit veritas.

That the Reformation stirred the hearts of the people of Germany to sing, we may learn from the calculation made by Wetzel, in 1718. He estimated the printed German hymns at fifty-five thousand, filling about three hundred volumes. Many of these were simple, but sweet melodies, suitable for service at home.

Joachim Neander-not the historian-one of the first and best of the hymn-writers of the "Reformed Church," contributed largely to the above collection. Wild and careless as a student at Bremen, he was neverthelees earnest and devoted as a man. Like many another, he went to church to scoff, but "remained to pray." In a retreat near Mettmann on the Rhine, known to this day as "Neander's Cave," he dwelt for some months, and there composed many of his hymns. No. 514 (C. H. B.) is one of a plaintive and penitential order from his pen:

"Behold me here in grief draw near."

Perhaps the next in rank to Luther is Paul Gerhardt, who was born a century later than his leader. Of his one hundred and twenty-three songs, his beautiful hymn of trust (Nos. 703, 704),

"Commit thou all thy griefs,"

is the best known. How fine is the stanza,

"Give to the winds thy fears."

The whole, we are told, was written without pause or effort, and in one of the darkest hours of his life-an hour of destitution and banishment. Because his preaching did not suit the King he was ordered to resign his pastorate at the Nicholai Church, Berlin, and to leave the country. While on the road, accompanied by his wife, who was almost brokenhearted, he halted at an inn, and in a little arbour in the garden he wrote those lines which have led many a weary soul to "trust in the Lord." Truly, many men

"Are cradled into poetry by wrong,

And learn in suffering what they teach in song."

But Gerhardt's night of sorrow quickly passed away. On returning to his wife, two gentlemen entered the room, and assured him that he was not forsaken, for the Duke Christian of Merseburg had sent them to bring him back, and to inform him that he (the Duke) had settled a pension on him, "to atone for the injustice of which he had been the victim.' Shortly afterwards he was restored to office, and for twenty-five years faithfully preached those truths he has bequeathed to us in song.

With the birth of the eighteenth century appeared Count Zinzendorf, the founder and champion of the United Moravian Brethren. He was born at Dresden, May 26, 1700, and is described as a man most zealous and self-denying. His efforts for the spread of truth were not confined to his own country, but extended to all parts of the world. He visited Pennsylvania, and laboured among the North American Indians. He was a "singing preacher"-a Moody and Sankey in one. He wrote two thousand hymns, and, possessing a retentive memory, he was able at any time to recall them. Sometimes he would sing a number of verses taken from different hymns, and, being remarkable for extemporaneous compositions, he would intersperse his written hymns with others composed at the moment," thus producing a kind of lyric discourse-an echo to the voice of the Hebrew prophets-which seems to have produced a profound impression." No. 586 (C. H. B.),

"Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness,"

a translation by John Wesley, is one of his, as is also No. 169 (C. H. B.), "Eternal Depth of Love Divine,"

an intensely devotional hymn. He died May 9, 1760, owing more than a quarter of a million of money, the burden of the debt of the Moravians, which he took upon himself at their insolvency.

Contemporary with Zinzendorf was Tersteegen, a man of peculiar temperament, but an instrument of great good. Never robust (being delicate from a child, and suffering much from frequent attacks of neuralgia), he nevertheless laboured incessantly for the good of others. He owned a "tender" conscience, and sought to obey its monitions. His conversion was through the efforts and instruction of a mystic at Mülheim. He himself became a mystic, but one of the purest type. No. 4 (C. H. B.),

"Lord, our God, in reverence lowly,"

is a specimen of the poetic beauty and devotional character of his hymns. This good man died in his seventy-third year.

No. 464 (C. H. B.) is from the German, written by Lange, the words of which are dear to many Christian hearts,

"What no human eye hath seen."

We have other hymns from the "land of Luther," with which many of our readers will be familiar. In closing our meditation of German hymnists we would call to mind one hymn, well known to all our readers, for often has it proved to the solitary mourner "a song in the night." It is "from the German of H. S. Oswald," and is a translation by Frances Elizabeth Cox. The hymn is No. 718 (C. H. B.,

"Oh, let him whose sorrow."

When sweetly sung how effective it is in imparting assurance and rest!

It will often have occurred to those familiar with our hymn-book that in our translations we have but few hymns from France, Switzerland, or Spain. There is no Continental hymn-literature to equal that of Germany. Most assuredly that land sang the pean of the Reformation. France presents us with a few sacred poets, of whom Fénélon is one of the chief. His name immediately suggests another, Madame Guyon, rendered familiar to the lover of poesy by the pen of William Cowper, who translated a number of her poems.

This must conclude our roaming abroad. Our next research must be on British soil-of hymnists which, from a national spirit, we must ever love the best.

BRIEF EXPOSITION

OF THE

SUNDAY-SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL LESSONS

FOR 1883.

FEBRUARY 4.

SUBJECT THE PRINCE OF LIFE. (G. T.: John i. 4; Acts iii. 12—26.) INTRODUCTION.-Briefly narrate and explain the circumstances that led up to Peter's eloquent and faithful address.

LEADING THOUGHTS.-The mission of Christ was to bless mankind in turning everyone from his iniquity: this mission was grossly misunderstood by the Jews, who crucified their Messiah. But because they did it ignorantly, fulfilling God's determinate counsel and the Scriptures, they were earnestly exhorted to repentance and remission of sins through faith in Jesus, so that after all they might share His salvation and blessing when the times of refreshing, &c.

12. Power or Godliness. Human goodness is well, but no substitute for miraculous or divine energy. Moreover, the restoration to health of diseased limbs in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, is no matter for wonderment when you remember that this same Jesus is the Prince of Life (John i. 4), at the breath of whose mouth, life, health, vigour are given to all. But when anything grand is done, there is no doubt a danger of allowing the eyes of the people to rest on us as though we by our power had done it. Resist the temptation and lift the eyes UP.

13. Hath glorified. How divergent the thoughts of God and man! (Is. lv. 8). He whom men called a sower of sedition (Luke xxiii. 2), blasphemer, mocked and murdered, HIM hath God glorified. The point is, that He whom they rejected, God hath recognised as His servant and Son, and glorified. The reprobation of men is more than counterbalanced by God's approbation. Do you live with a sense of this approval ?

14. Murderer. Barabbas (Mark xv. 7). Crime seeks company. Wouldbe murderers crave the release of those of similar disposition and character. Fine contrast-denied Holy and Just, desired a murderer, Barabbas.

15. Killed. . . of life. This is startling. kill the Author of life. Life, in two senses. (1) (2) The Source and Captain of true spiritual life. destroyer of life. What perverseness! And yet children of the covenant.

Men, maddened by malice,
Physical life (Acts xvii. 28).
And prefer a murderer, the
they called themselves the

16. Through faith. A doubt has been expressed as to whose faith-the lame man's or Apostles'. Though power to heal was given to the Apostles (Mark ix. 23), yet the faith of the lame man would seem to be necessary (see John ii. 40). So spiritual healing by faith in Jesus.

17, 18. Ignorance. They were probably sincere, hence the Apostolic excuse; but did they allow themselves to be influenced by the evidence of Christ's Messiahship as they ought? A suffering Messiah they disdained; they would have none but a conquering Messiah. And a suffering Saviour was foretold (Luke xxiv. 26; Is. liii. &c.).

19. Refreshing (ávagic). “Refreshing coolness after heat," respite, rest. Dr. A. Clarke suggests, "the reference is to the space that elapsed from this to the destruction of Jerusalem. This was a time of respite that God gave them to repent of their sins, and be converted." But it not improbably refers to the conversion of the Jews, and bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles.

21. Times of restitution. The restoration of man to God in the kingdom of divine grace, and the deliverance of the world from the darkness and dominion of sin and the devil. This was the purpose of Christ's advent, this was the theme of the prophets from the earliest times. And this must be accomplished ere Christ shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation. The heavens must receive Him till, &c. Pray therefore: "The righteousness that never ends But makes an end of sin, &c." (Hymn 10).

23. Will not hear... destroyed. Consequence of self-will and impenitence is exclusion from covenant of grace. God has exalted Christ a Prince and Saviour to give repentance to Israel and turning. Will they, will you, be turned, converted, that your sins may be blotted out?

25. Special reason why they should-" children of the covenant."

26. The most mistaken notions obtained respecting the mission of the Christ; amongst them, that He would bring them temporal good-national advancement. His blessings spiritual, and we learn that it is a greater good to be turned from iniquity, and live holy lives, than come into the possession of mere worldly wealth. Has Christ turned you?

SOME ALTERATIONS IN REVISED VERSION.-12. For "holiness " read "goodness." 13. For "Son Jesus read "His Servant Jesus." 14. For "Holy and Just" read "Holy and Righteous One." 18. For "that Christ" read "that His Christ" should suffer. 19. For "repent and be converted" read "repent and turn again, that so there may come seasons of refreshing." 26. For "His Son Jesus" read "His Servant." But it is well observed that "Servant" should be understood in the most exalted sense: Matt. xii. 18; Is. xlii. 1, "Behold My Servant whom I have chosen," &c.

SKELETON LESSON FOR TEACHING.

I. The mission of Christ.-(1) To bless humanity. (2) How? By turning men from iniquity: hence (3) The highest form of blessing is spiritual. II. The mission misunderstood. (1) How? Jews expected a reigning Messiah but He was afflicted. (2) Their opposition. (3) Its culmination: "Crucify Him."

III. The mission accomplished.—(1) Scriptures fulfilled. (2) Christ's death and exaltation, glorified. (3) Salvation provided, offered them. (4) Why? Did what they did in ignorance. (5) Children of covenant. Would they accept? Will you? If not, no hope.

ILLUSTRATION.-Sunday-School Book, Hymn 139:

Beecher says:

"Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;

From our sins and fears release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee."

"God receives a soul like the sea receives a bather, to return it

again, purer and whiter than He took it."

FEBRUARY 11.

SUBJECT "NONE OTHER NAME." (Acts iv. 1-17; G. T. ver. 12.)

Review previous Lesson.

LEADING THOUGHTS. The offence of the few, groundless, inasmuch as many had proved by actual experience Christ's power of healing, physical and moral: the particular occurrence in question simply indisputable, as a notable miracle had been wrought: as they, therefore, could not suppress the fact they would minimise its influence by suppressing the men who published it.

1. Captain: among the priests who served the Temple in course, certain were told off to preserve order, having a superior called Captain. Saducees: one of the leading religious (or otherwise) sects among the Jews, holding materialistic views and denying the resurrection and immortality (Acts ii. 3, 8).

2. Grieved: vexed and annoyed at being treated with scant regard, and occasioning a disturbance about the Temple. Through Jesus. resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus the basis of the doctrine of general resurrection and earnest of its realisation (1 Cor. xv. 13—21).

3. Hold next day. After arresting them the day was too advanced for dealing properly with them, so they put them in prison till the morrow.

4. Many believe: upwards of a thousand are supposed to have been led to belief in Christ through this notable miracle of healing.

5, 6. These constituted the Sanhedrim or National Council that took cognizance of ecclesiastical and religious matters. Saul of Tarsus, it has been thought, was there, but it is not certain; Peter and the healed man, however,

were.

7. Authority. Their anxiety was to show the deed to have been done by magic or the like, which, being unlawful, was punishable with death (Lev. xx. 27). Thus they would compass at once their silence and destruction.

8. Peter filled. Though they had deprived the Apostles of freedom they yet could not bind or restrain the Holy Ghost, here given in fulfilment of Christ's promise (Mark xiii. 11; Luke xxi. 15); hence his eloquence and

power.

9. The good deed. This is the subject of investigation, it seems, not the teaching. But the miracle authenticated the teaching.

10. All-this took place before the nation representively. The name (see previous Lesson, 12-16).

11. Stone. Christ, in Matt. xxi. 42, applies Psalm cxviii. 18 to Himself. At nought. The first part of the prophecy indisputably accomplished in Christ crucified. The first part thus becomes a pledge of the second part. Cornerprobably a proverbial expression to set forth that often the despised and rejected is after all indispensable, and raised to a position of honour and glory (1 Peter ii. 7).

12. None other name. "Behold Lamb" (John i. 29). If this Saviour rejected, their condition utterly hopeless. This name Jesus-the only shelter. His blood alone can cleanse. Physical and spiritual healing in the name of Jesus of Nazareth; none other.

13. Boldness-not impudence and defiance, but self-possession and readiness. Ignorant. Apostles were men of good sense and general average intelligence, but not brought up in the Schools and privileged to sit at the feet of the great masters, like Paul at Gamaliel's. Marvelled. Remember Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost. A little thing, for the Divine to astonish the human. Been with Jesus. Probably seen with Him, or could see it in teaching and deportment. A man's sentiments, speech, and carriage often betray where he has been, the company he keeps.

15. Conferred . . . selves. They were losing ground, and held a private meeting to consider what, as they could not disprove the fact, and the fact