's grace, in England,
as I trust shall never be put out.'

"When Dr Ridley saw the fire flaming up towards him, he cried, with a
wondrous loud voice, `Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit!' And
oft afterwards, `Lord, Lord, receive my spirit!' My master, on the
other side, did as vehemently cry, `O Father of Heaven, receive my
soul!' Who [Latimer] received the flame as it were embracing it, and
after he had stroked his face, and bathed his hands a little in the
fire, soon died, to the sight of all present having no pain. Dr
Ridley's suffering, on the contrary side, was fearful, and only to
compare with Bishop Hooper. Ask me not to say more touching it. But at
last the flame reached the gunpowder, and after that he was seen to stir
no more, only to fall down at Mr Latimer's feet. I will but say more,
that hundreds of them which saw the sight shed tears thereover."

No one spoke when Austin ended.

At last, John said softly, "`Never to be put out!' Lord, grant this
word of Thy martyr, and let that bright lamp lighted unto Thee give
light for ever!"

Three hundred years have run out since that dread October day, when the
candle was lighted at Oxford which should never be put out. And put out
it has never been. Satan and all his angels may blow against it, but
God holds it in the hollow of His hand, and there it is safe.

Yet there is a word of warning, as well as a word of hope. To the
Church at Ephesus saith our Lord, "I know thy works,"--yea, "and thy
labour,"--yea, "and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which
are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are
not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and
for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted." Can more than
this be said to our Church? Nay, can all this be said to her? God
grant it. "Nevertheless"--nevertheless!--"I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love." O Lord, how tenderly Thou
dealest! Not "left thy love:" it was not so bad as that. Yet see how
He notes the leaving of the _first_ love! A little colder; a little
deader; a little less ready to put on the coat, to defile the feet, to
rise and open to the Beloved. Only a little; but how that little
grieves His heart, who hath never left His first love. And what is the
end? "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick
out of his place, except thou repent."

"O earth,