But does
the crime of schism not exist? Ay, it does; but it is schism from the
true Church of Christ, the Church of which He is the head corner-stone,
the beautified in Heaven, the sanctified on earth; from God's people,
who are with Him in glory, who are with us here below, who are yet to be
born; from the glorious company of the redeemed; from Jesus Christ, the
Lamb of God, slain for the sins of the whole world, the risen Saviour,
the one Intercessor between God and man. Those are guilty of trying to
create schism who tell God's people--trusting to the same precious blood
shed on Calvary--that it is a crime to worship together, to commemorate
the Lord's death together, to put out the right hand of fellowship, to
call each other brethren; ay, those are the causers of schism, against
whose evil machinations Christian men have cause to pray.

But we must return to Spain. The year 1552 arrived. During it an
_auto-da-fe_ was celebrated at Seville, but as only a few poor Moors and
Jews were burnt, it did not create much sensation; still there was no
lack of spectators to see the burning. Several criminals were condemned
to do penance on the occasion, and among them was the once celebrated
preacher, Dr Egidius, whose crime was being true to his Lord and
Master. The high conical cap and yellow robe in which he appeared could
not make him ridiculous in the eyes of many of his fellow-citizens, even
of those who did not sympathise with his opinions. At length he was
liberated, and once more mixed with his friends at Seville. It was
necessary, however, for him to be very cautious, lest, as his movements
were watched, he should draw suspicion on them. Soon after he was
released, he set out for Valladolid, where his wounded spirit was much
refreshed by finding the progress the Gospel had made in that city and
its neighbourhood. Over-fatigued by his return journey, he died shortly
after his arrival in Seville. God, however, did not leave His Church in
Seville without a minister. Constantine Ponce de la Fuente, on the
death of Egidius, obtained the post of Canon-Magistrate in the Cathedral
of Seville, previously held by him. This made him the principal
preacher in the place, and gave him great influence, which he used in
spreading the truth of the Gospel. He published numerous evangelical
works suited to the understanding of the least educated of his
countrymen. His system was not so much to attack the errors of Rome,