into his interior frame, might imagine that he was afraid of dangers and toils, and repented of the step he had taken.

But it was in him only the consciousness of the greatness and difficulty of the calling that made him serious, since he began the work, not in the arrogance of human self-confidence, but with fear and trembling in dependence on God; he was well aware of his own unworthiness and weakness; he depended only on the power of God, and appearing more quiet and reserved before men, he had turned his whole heart to Him. When one who wished to accompany him in his missionary work, asked him whether he still remained firm to his resolution, he answered, "When I was asked to go for God's name among the heathen, I could not venture to decline such a call. Yes; with all my powers I wish to go hence, and no man can make me waver in the resolution."

The most striking points in Anschar's character were his unwearied patience, his winning love, and his steadfast faith, when dangers and obstacles stood in his way.

These distinguishing qualities were tried in a variety of ways from his first entrance on this mission. The Danes whom he accompanied on their return to their native country, appear to have been at that time great strangers to the nature of christianity. Anschar met with rough treatment from them till his arrival at Cologne, when the bishop of that city, Hadelbod, furnished him with a convenient vessel by which he might procced by sea.

This induced Harold to become his associate, and Anschar now succeeded in subduing the rude manners of the Danes. King Harold was afterward expelled from his kingdom. Anschar could do nothing more excepting to purchase native children in order to educate them for teachers to the people, and found a little school at Hadeby, in Schleswig, the first christian institution in these regions.

His companion, Autbert, was taken from him by an illness which obliged him to return to his native country. Yet these untoward circumstances could not turn him aside--a proof how free he was from self; for the more self-love is mingled with zeal, flowing even from the purest fountain, so

much more restless and impatient it is to see the fruit of its own labors. In proportion as zeal is purified from the alloy of self, it carries on the work of God, in the consciousness that "neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase;" it will leave to Him when and where to give that increase.

While in this unfavorable situation he received a call to a new missionary undertaking in Sweden, and he immediately complied with it, convinced that it came from God. He proceeded to that country in a merchant vessel, as an ambassador from king Lewis the Pious, with presents for the king of that place. They were attacked by pirates, and lost every thing; with great difficulty they gained the shore and saved their lives. Several of Anschar's companions wished to return; but he declared "that what might happen to him was in God's hands, but that he had made up his mind not to return until he had discovered whether it was God's will that the gospel should be published there.”

At a later period he was suddenly fallen upon in the seat of his diocese, at Hamburg, by the pagan Normans; he lost every thing, and saved himself with the greatest difficulty. He was obliged to take refuge on the estate of a pious female of rank in Holstein; but as soon as he could find safety and quiet in his own diocese, he was immediately intent on widening the sphere of his labors.

The unfavorable prospect, on account of the enmity of Horick, the reigning sovereign of Denmark, who had taken a principal part in those incursions into the diocese of Hamburg, could not deter him. He knew the omnipotence of love; he prayed continually for the conversion and salvation of those who threatened destruction to him and all christians with fire and sword. He allowed himself to be employed by king Lewis, of Germany, as an ambassador to king Horick; he made him presents, won his heart by love, and, at last, Horick placed such confidence in him that he would treat only through him with the German empire; and he then made use of this personal attachment of the king to accomplish something for the christian church. He obtained permission from

him to erect a church in the town of Schleswig, which as a mart of commerce, was peculiarly fitted to spread christianity further inland. He also procured from this king a letter of introduction to the Swedish king, Olof. Horick wrote to the effect that "he had never in his life seen so good a man; that he never found one so trustworthy; and, since he had found so much goodness in him, he had permitted him to undertake what he wished in reference to christianity in his own land, and he hoped that king Olof would also permit him to publish the gospel in his kingdom, for he certainly wished to effect nothing but what was good and right."

When Anschar arrived in Sweden, he found the pagans greatly opposed to the strange religion. His friends advised him only to make use of the presents he had brought with him, in order to rescue his life from the impending danger. But Anschar answered, "I would give nothing here to redeem my life; for, if the Lord has so determined, I am ready to suffer tortures and even death here for his name's sake." He invited the king to an entertainment, gave him the presents, and won his heart, for he knew well how to become all things to all men; and afterward the Lord helped him in the way which his infinite wisdom had opened for him.

Anschar experienced many wonderful answers to prayer in the course of his laborious and dangerous ministry. This was known, and many sick persons came to him to obtain a cure by his prayers. But he himself disowned the reputation of a worker of miracles, and said: "If I were thought worthy before my God of that, I would beseech him to grant me this miracle, that by his grace he would make of me a holy man.

When, after four and thirty years' labor, in his sixty-fourth year, he came to his end through the sufferings of a painful malady, he frequently said, with Job, "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" After receiving the Holy Supper, he raised his hands to heaven and prayed that the grace of God might forgive every one who had in any way injured him. He then frequently repeated the words, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness. Be merciful to me, a sinner. Into thy,

hands I commend my spirit." And, after he had commended his spirit to the grace of God, looking toward heaven, he left this world, in the year 865.

CHAPTER XXI.

Gregory, Abbot of Utrecht.

EAGERLY LISTENS TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF BONIFACE, AND FOLLOWS HIM; DIES IN THE CHURCH, AT AN ADVANCED AGE.

B

ONIFACE took a peculiar interest in the young, and, in this instance, sowed the seed which, after his death, brought forth abundant fruit. He left behind him those who, having been educated and trained by him, continued to

labor in different spheres and the same spirit.

Among these, his scholars, the abbot, Gregory, distinguished himself. The manner in which Boniface first became connected with him shows, in a remarkable manner, with what power he could operate on youthful minds.

When Boniface left his first field of labor in Friesland, and was travelling to Hesse, he came to a nunnery, situate on the Moselle, in the territory of Triers, where he was hospitably received by the abbess Addula.

It was a custom of the times to read a portion of the Scriptures during meals. For this office the abbess chose her grandson, a lad of fifteen years, just returned from school. After Boniface had pronounced the blessing, the youth read out of the Latin Bible. Boniface thought he observed marks of intelligence in his countenance; and, when he had finished, said, "You read well, my son, but do you understand what you read?" The youth, who did not catch his meaning, said certainly, he well understood what he had been reading. "Then, tell me," said Boniface, "how you understand it.” The youth began to read it over again, when Boniface interrupted him by saying, "No, my son, that is not what I mean:

I know very well that you can read it; but you must give me, in your mother tongue, what you have read." The youth acknowledged that he was not able. "Shall I, then, tell you what it is?" said Boniface; and, when the youth requested him to do so, he let him read the whole once more, distinctly, and then he himself translated it into German, and preached upon it before the whole company.

And, as Lindger, a scholar of Gregory, who is the narrator of this incident, tells us, "it was evident from what source these words came; for they pressed with such power and rapidity on Gregory's mind that at a single exhortation of this teacher, hitherto unknown to him, he forgot parents and native land, and at once went up to his grandmother and said, that he wished to go with this man and learn from him to understand the Scriptures."

The abbess tried to keep him back, and represented to him that this person was an entire stranger to him, and that he knew not whither he was going. But, "many waters can not quench love." Gregory was firm to his resolution, and said to his grandmother: "If you will not give me a horse to ride with him, I will follow him on foot." When she saw that something heavenly had touched the youth's heart, she gave him a horse and servant, and allowed him to go with Boniface.

Lindger says, respecting it: "It appears to me that at that time the same spirit was working in this young man which inflamed the apostles, when, at the word of the Lord, they forsook their nets and their father, and followed their Redeemer. This was the work of the Supreme Artificer,-that same Divine Spirit who works all in all, imparting to every one as He will."

Gregory from that time followed Boniface wherever he went, amidst all his dangers and toils, as a most faithful scholar. He traveled with him at a later period to Rome, and brought back bibles with him, which he used in the instruction of youth. He also accompanied him on his last journey to Friesland, and, after his teacher's martyrdom labored much for the spread of the gospel and christian edu