n, and the revenues of a prebend, which had been
assigned to him; the former he accepted, but absolutely refused the
other. He carried one of the brothers with him to Geneva, but he never
took any pains to get him preferred to an honourable post, as any other
possessed of his credit would have done. He took care indeed of the
honour of his brother's family, by getting him freed from an adultress,
and obtaining leave for him to marry again; but even his enemies relate
that he made him learn the trade of a bookbinder, which he followed all
his life after.

_Calvin as a friend of civil liberty._

The Rev. Dr. Wisner, in his late discourse at Plymouth, on the
anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims, makes the following
assertion:--"Much as the name of Calvin has been scoffed at and loaded
with reproach by many sons of freedom, there is not an historical
proposition more susceptible of complete demonstration than this, that
_no man has lived to whom the world is under greater obligations for the
freedom it now enjoys, than John Calvin_." In a note appended to the
sermon, Dr. Wisner gives the following testimonies, from history, of the
truth of this proposition--testimonies which deserve the more attention,
as they come from Calvin's opposers. We copy the note from the Boston
Recorder.

"It may not be unacceptable to the reader, to add a few particulars in
confirmation of the statement in reference to the influence of Calvin in
forming the opinions and character of the Puritans, and thus
contributing to the discovery and establishment of the principles of
religious and civil liberty.

"The peculiarities of the religious doctrines of the Puritans had an
important influence in producing in them determined and persevering
resistance to arbitrary power, and a successful vindication of their
religious and political rights. The fact is sufficiently illustrated in
the quotation in the sermon from the Edinburg Review. It is admitted by
Hume, and by all, whatever their religious opinions, who have thoroughly
investigated the springs of action in those discoverers, and founders of
religious and civil freedom. But the doctrinal views of the Puritans
were derived from Calvin.

"Their disapprobation of the rites and ceremonies enjoined by the
English government was a prominent means of leading them to the
discovery, and stimulating to the successful vindication of the
principles of religious and civil liberty. And that disappro