[Illustration: MARTIN LUTHER. WILL^M COLLINS, GLASGOW.] HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. BY J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNÉ, D.D. J'appelle accessoire, l'estat des affaires de ceste vie caduque et transitoire. J'appelle principal, le gouvernement spirituel auquel reluit souverainement la providence de Dieu.--THEODORE DE BEZE. By _accessory_ I mean the state of affairs in this fading and transitory life. By principal I mean the spiritual government in which the providence of God is sovereignly displayed. A NEW TRANSLATION: (CONTAINING THE AUTHOR'S LAST IMPROVEMENTS,) BY HENRY BEVERIDGE, ESQ. ADVOCATE. VOLUME FIRST. GLASGOW: PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM COLLINS. LONDON: R. GROOMBRIDGE AND SONS. 1845. GLASGOW: WILLIAM COLLINS AND CO., PRINTERS. TRANSLATOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. D'Aubigné's History of the Reformation is so well known and so highly appreciated as to make it not only unnecessary, but almost presumptuous, for a mere Translator to say any thing in commendation of it. The public feeling unquestionably is, that of the works which have recently appeared, it is one of the most talented, interesting, important, and seasonable. The mere lapse of time, aided by the active misrepresentations of the Romish party, had begun to make an impression in some degree unfavourable to the principles of the Reformation. This admirable work has again placed these principles in their true light. By its vivid display of what Rome was and did, it has impressively reminded us of what she still is, and is prepared to do. Her great boast is, that she has never changed. If so, she longs to return to her former course, and will return to it the first moment that circumstances enable her to do so. Being thus warned, our duty is plain. We must prepare for the combat; and of all preparations, none promises to be more effectual than that of thoroughly embuing the public mind with the facts so graphically delineated, and the principles so luminously and forcibly expounded in this work of D'Aubigné. But, it may be asked, Has not this purpose been effected already, or at least may it not be effected without the instrumentality of a new translation?