th intent to deliver us
from that gloomy bondage, and to convert us to the faith of Christ. God
so blessed his efforts that as their consequence, Germany is Christian
at this day; and he, leaving his English name of Winfrid, the
Peace-Conqueror (though a truer name he could never have had), is known
among us as Boniface, the doer of good deeds. Since his day, four
hundred years have passed, and the Church of Christ throughout the world
has woefully departed from the pure faith. We are come out, like the
Apostles, a little company,--like them, poor and unlearned,--but rich in
the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord; we are come to tread in
their steps, to do the work they did, and to call the world back to the
pure truth of the earliest days of Christendom. And we come here,
because it is here that our first duty is due. We come to give back to
England the precious jewel of the true faith which she gave to us four
hundred years ago. Let every one of us clearly understand for what we
are to be ready. We tread in our Master's steps, and our Master was not
flattered and complimented by the world. He came bringing salvation,
and the world would none of it, nor of Him. So, if we find the world
hates us, let us be neither surprised nor afraid, but remember that it
hated Him, and that as He was, so are we in this world. Let us be
prepared to go with Him, if need be, both into prison and to death. If
we suffer with Him, we shall reign. Brethren, if we seek to reign, we
must make account first to suffer."

"We are ready!" cried at least a dozen voices.

"Will ye who are foremost now, be the foremost in that day?" asked
Gerhardt, looking round upon them with a rather compassionate smile.
"God grant it may be so! Now, my friends, I must further remind you--
not that ye know it not, but that ye may bear its importance in mind--
that beyond those beliefs common to all Christians, our faith confesses
three great doctrines which ye must teach.

"First, that Holy Scripture alone containeth all things necessary to
salvation; and nothing is to be taught as an article of faith but what
God has revealed.

"Secondly, the Church of God consists of all who hear and understand the
Word of God. All the saved were elect of God before the foundation of
the world; all who are justified by Christ go into life eternal.
Therefore it follows that there is no Purgatory, and all masses are
damnable, especially those for the dead. A