Church ministers the most pious and apt to teach, were patronized by him, and one third part of his time he employed in translating the best foreign books into the Euglish tongue, and engaged in many other learned and liberal pursuits, calculated to promote the moral character of his subjects. Alfred died in the year 900.

9. Berengarius flourished about the year 1050, one of the darkest periods which settled upon the Church. He enlisted himself against the doctrine of transubstantiation, for which he was condemned both at Rome and Paris. For a time, being without friends, he seems to have been frightened into a renunciation of his opinions. But being convicted by his conscience of his error in so doing, he drew up his confession, in which he shewed that he saw the truth; but in his explanation there was still too great a conformity to the prevailing taste of error. The writings of Berengarius, however, after his death, served to correct the opinions of many, and were a formidable weapon in the hands of truth against the falsehoods of the Church of Rome.

10. Anselm was a native of Savoy, but came to England in 1092, where he was made archbishop of Canterbury. He was an evangelical man, as his writings testify. He embraced the doctrines of Augustine, many of whose books he copied and circulated. He spent much of his time in meditation and prayer, and seems on all occasions to have had the spiritual welfare of his flock at heart. He was not free from the superstitions of the times; but he entertained more correct views than many of his contemporaries, and did more for the cause of evangelical truth.

to guinnyed bite minst sit to bay Sdfilmwo PETER THE HERMIT PREACHING TO THE CRUSADERS.

PERIOD VI.

THE PERIOD OF THE CRUSADES AND OF THE PAPAL SCHISM WILL EXTEND FROM THE FIRST CRUSADE, 1095, TO THE COMMENCE

MENT OF THE REFORMATION, BY LUTHER, 1517.

Sec. 1. We have now arrived at the latter part of the eleventh century, at which time, we meet with the Crusades, or Holy Wars, as they were called. These wars are but little connected with the history of the kingdom of Christ; but, as they arose out of the superstition of the age-as they form a prominent feature in the history of the antichristian apostacy, and were improved by the popes to increase

What is the extent of the Period of the Crusades, and of the Papal Schism?

Sec. 1. Why in an ecclesiastical history, is it proper to give some account of the Crusades?

their influence, and especially as the relation of them throws some light on the history of Europe, during this benighted period, it may not be without its use to give in this place a concise account of them.

Sec. 2. In the year 637, as already mentioned, (Period 5, Sec. 18,) Jerusalem was conquered by the Saracens; but, influenced by self interest, they allowed the thousand pilgrims, who daily flocked to the "Holy City," on the payment of a moderate tribute, to visit the sepulchre of Christ-to perform their religious duties, and to retire in peace.

Towards the close of the tenth, and beginning of the eleventh century, the passion for pilgrimages was greatly increased, by an opinion which began to prevail over Europe, that the thousand years mentioned by John, (Rev. 20, 2-4) were nearly accomplished, and the end of the world at hand. A general consternation seized the minds of men. Numbers relinquished their possessions, forsook their families and friends, and hastened to the holy land, where they imagined Christ would suddenly appear to judge the living and the dead.

Sec. 3. In the year 1065, the Turks took. possession of Jerusalem; and the pilgrims were no longer safe. They were insulted; in their worship they were derided, and their effects were not unfrequently plundered.

Sec. 4. Towards the conclusion of the eleventh century (1095,) Peter the hermit, a

Sec. 2. In what year was Jerusalem conquered by the Saracens ? What privilege did they grant to

Christians?

When did the passion for pilgrimages greatly increase? What reason may be assigned for this?

Sec. 3. When did the Turks take possession of Jerusalem? What was the consequence to pilgrims?

Sec. 4. Who was Peter the hermit? At what time

Frenchman, born at Amiens, who had returned from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he had witnessed the trials, to which the pilgrims were exposed; conceived the project of arming the sovereigns and people of Europe, for the purpose of rescuing the holy sepulchre, out of the hands of the infidels.

With the above object in view, Peter travelled from prov. ince to province, exciting princes and people to embark in this holy enterprise. His personal appearance excited the curiosity of all classes. His clothes were exceedingly mean; his body seemed wasted with famine; his head was bare; his feet naked; in his hand he bore aloft a large crucifix. "When he painted the sufferings of the natives and pilgrims of Palestine," says Gibbon, "every heart was melted to compassion; every breast glowed with indignation, when he challenged the warriors of the age to defend their brethren, and rescue the Saviour."

Sec. 5. At this time, Urban II. occupied the papal chair. Perceiving the advantages of such an enterprise to the Roman Hierarchy, he entered into the views of Peter, and zealously set himself to enlist the princes and people of Europe, to arm against the Mahometans. In consequence of the measures adopted, a numerous army was collected, which, after a variety of fortune, reached Jerusalem, and was successful in planting the standard of the cross on the holy sepulchre.

did he conceive the project of arming the sovereigns of Europe, for rescuing the holy sepulchre from the Turks?

**

With this object in view, what steps did Peter take? What was the effect of this harangue upon the people?

Sec. 5. Who was the pope at this time? How did he regard the proposal of Peter? What was the success of the first enterprise.

Urban, at first, doubting the success of such a project, though he greatly desired it, summoned a council at Placentia. It consisted of 4000 ecclesiastics, and 30,000 of the people; all of whom unanimously declared for the war, though few seemed inclined personally to engage in the service. A second council was held, during the same year at Clermont, at which the pope himself addressed the multitude. At the conclusion of his address, they exclaimed, "It is the will of God! It is the will of God!"

Persons of all ranks now flew to arms with the utmost ardour. Eternal salvation was promised all who should go forth to the help of the Lord. A spirit of enthusiasm pervaded Europe. Not only nobles and bishops, with the thousands subject to their influence, entered into the cause with emulation; but even women, concealing their sex in the disguise of armour, were eager to share in the glory of the enterprise. Robbers, and incendiaries, and murderers, and other kindred characters, embraced the opportunity to expiate their sins, and to secure a place in the paradise of God.

At the head of an undisciplined multitude, amounting to 300,000, Peter the hermit, in the spring of 1096, commenced his march towards the east. Subject to little control, this army of banditti, for such it may properly be termed, marked their route with various outrages, particularly towards the Jews, thousands of whom they most inhumanly slew. The frown of providence seemed to settle upon this unholy multitude; for scarcely one third part of them reached Constantinople, and even these were defeated, and utterly destroyed, in a battle at Nice, by the Sultan Solyman.

A formidable body of disciplined troops was, however, following in the rear; and not long after reached the environs of Constantinople. At the head of these was the distinguished Godfrey of Bouillon, supported by Baldwin, his brother Robert, duke of Normandy, and various other distinguished princes, and generals of Europe. On reaching Nice, Godfrey reviewed his troops, which were found to amount to 100,000 horse, and 600,000 foot.

Nice was soon taken by the invaders; the conquest of

What measures did Urban take to rouse the public mind? With what effect? Who led the first body of men belonging to this expedition? What was their number? What their character? What their fate? Who led the more disciplined troops? What was their number? What places did they take? Whom did they