The events which have been noticed in Spain and Portugal, extended well into the sixteenth century, and thus belong to modern history; for the fifteenth is the last of the ten centuries known in history as "the Middle Ages," during which, as we have seen, the sufferings of the Jews were very terrible. It is impossible here to give a particular account of this persecuted race in all countries, during the centuries that have since elapsed.

In the sixteenth century took place that important movement in the Christian church, spoken of in history as "the Reformation."

In speaking of the Inquisition, allusion has been made to the feelings of mistrust and opposition, which had arisen in regard to the Pope, and the Church of which he claimed to be the head.

By the beginning of the eleventh century, the Papal power, or power of the Popes, was far greater than that of any sovereign; and kings were obliged to acknowledge and submit to it, because in case of any dispute, their subjects would probably have obeyed the Pope rather than their own sovereigns. Nor was this extraordinary, since the people were led by the priests to believe, that they could not possibly be saved, unless they obeyed the Pope in everything; and that on the other hand, he could forgive their sins, and ensure their salvation. Thus was the Pope put almost into the place of God.

This naturally produced evil consequences, and for more than two centuries the corruptions of the Church of Rome went on increasing: the real doctrines and truths of the Gospel were more and more forgotten, and its precepts disobeyed; so that wickedness seemed everywhere triumphant. Such a sad state of things led many to think, that as the Pope and his clergy were not teaching the truth as contained in the Scripture, some reform was greatly needed. This feeling once roused, spread rapidly; and in the beginning of the sixteenth century, it was strengthened and confirmed by the preaching of a German, called Martin Luther. Luther was born in a.d. 1483, at Eisleben, in Lower Saxony: wishing to devote himself to a religious life, he entered a monastery of Augustines. His fondness for learning caused him to be appointed as a teacher in the new University of Wittemberg: but his studies soon taught him that the church to which he belonged, had departed very far from Gospel truth and practice; and a journey to Rome showed him so much that was wrong in the lives and conduct of her clergy, as quite to destroy all his reverence for the Pope. His own mind being thus made up, Luther boldly declared his convictions; and taught that all who wished to be saved by Jesus Christ, must make a great change in their religious opinions and practice; and instead of blindly obeying the Church of Rome, must strive to worship God as the Apostles and early Christians had done; for this purpose he urged every individual to read and study the Holy Scriptures, which the Pope did not permit any member of his Church to do. People of all ranks listened to Luther's words; and many determined no longer to submit to the Pope's dictation, but to purify the Church, by extirpating the errors which had one after another crept into her doctrines and practice, so as to restore her to her original condition of a scriptural Church.

Whole nations now shook off the authority of the Pope, and became separate branches of the One Catholic or Universal Church established by the Apostles, and of which Jesus Christ is the true and only head. In a.d. 1517, when Henry the Eighth was King of England, such a branch was established in our own country, and called "the Church of England"; whilst to that branch over which the Pope still rules, we give the name of "the Church of Rome."

All the works of man are liable to error, and in this great separation from the Church of Rome, some mistakes were probably made; nor were all who advocated the changes actuated by holy and religious motives. But whatever mistakes may have been made, we find in the teaching of the Church of England the way of salvation. All of us who have been baptized into this Church, must ever remember with thankfulness that we belong to a Church which bids us take the Holy Scripture as our rule of life. As members of such a Church, let us always strive to act up to our baptismal vows, carefully studying all the articles of the Christian faith, that we may hold them fast; and that our faith may be firm and lively: let us renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil, constantly striving against sin in every form, so that we may truly keep the commandments and precepts of God: loving Him with all our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves, for His sake. If we are thus true and worthy members of the Church Militant upon earth, we shall, through the atonement and mediation of Jesus Christ, be hereafter received into His Church triumphant in Heaven.

Before we go on, it will be well to say a few words as to the word "Protestant," often applied both to Churches and individuals who have separated from the Church of Rome. To "protest," means to "object to," to "declare against." "Protestant," therefore, only means one who objects to anything, or declares against it; and so the word came to be applied to those, who so objected to the errors and false doctrines of the Church of Rome (which claimed for itself alone the title of Catholic), as to separate from it, and establish a reformed branch. In this sense the Church of England may be called Protestant; but we must never give up our claim of being a true and pure branch of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, of which Jesus Christ is the Head.

The separation from the Church of Rome was not effected in any country without great struggles; many battles were fought, and many crimes committed, under pretence of religion, on both sides.

Luther died in 1546, having lived to see the doctrines he had taught, too firmly established ever to be overthrown by the opposition of the Pope and his supporters, who made great efforts to bring all men back to the Church of Rome.

Mary, the daughter of Henry the Eighth, who became Queen of England on the death of her brother Edward the Sixth, a.d. 1553, tried hard to make her subjects submit again to the Church of Rome, and many were burnt to death for refusing to do so.

Elizabeth, who succeeded her sister Mary in 1558, was zealous for the doctrines opposed to the Papal teaching; and in her time the Church of England was firmly established in this country, though many Englishmen have never joined it, and continue to this day to be Roman Catholics, as we call those who belong to the Church of Rome, to distinguish them from those who have renounced her errors; for we all claim to be Catholics, as members of the Catholic or Universal Church of Christ. Many, too, in our own times have unhappily forsaken the Church of their forefathers, and joined that of Rome. Let us watch and pray, that we fall not into such grievous error.

The Reformation relieved the Jews from much active persecution, but, on the other hand, Luther declared, that no Christian might even employ a Jewish physician; for as the whole race lay under the curse of God, they ought not to cure those who were the children of God: the Jews naturally detested Luther, by whose advice many Christian princes in Germany, refused to receive them into their dominions. The chief persecution against the Israelites in Europe during this century, arose from their being falsely accused of causing a fire that did great damage in Bohemia. In Persia they suffered much from one of the kings, who was resolved to make them embrace the Mahometan faith.

The Jews at this time, seem to have enjoyed more peace in Egypt, Abyssinia, and other parts of Africa, than in any other countries in the world. They became numerous, wealthy, and powerful at Cairo, and also in Morocco, from whence one of them was sent as ambassador to the united provinces of Holland, in the beginning of the seventeenth century. Although the King of Portugal had banished the Jews from his European dominions, he allowed them to settle at Goa and other places, which then belonged to him in the East Indies: but, unfortunately, after some years, these Jews allowed themselves to be deceived by a pretended Messiah. The news spread to Portugal where some of the Israelites, who had become Christians, showed such joy at the intelligence, as to make it clear that they still clung to their old faith, and were Christians only in name. The Inquisition, therefore, interfered, and all Jews living in such parts of the East as were subject to the King of Portugal, were forced either to become Christians, or to leave the country.

The Jews had now been shut out of England for about 350 years; but when, after the murder of king Charles the First, Cromwell became ruler under the name of Protector, a.d. 1654, he, seeing the benefit which Holland had gained by allowing this persecuted race to settle in that country, was anxious to bring their industry and their riches back into Great Britain. At his request, the Parliament allowed Manasses Ben Israel, who was greatly looked up to by the whole Jewish people, to come to England, to beg permission for his countrymen to return: but the idea was so displeasing to the people in general, and was so strongly opposed by some persons of ability and learning, that Cromwell was unwillingly obliged to dismiss Manasses, without giving him any positive answer. Some of his countrymen, however, did venture into England, where they were left in peace, and allowed to reside together in a certain part of London: but no laws were made for their protection, though they were ready to pay large sums for any such marks of favour.

Unfortunately for Cromwell's project of re-establishing the Jews in England, a deputation arrived from the Asiatic Jews, for the purpose of making out that Cromwell was the Messiah. This made the Protector very angry; and when the object of these Jews became known, it excited so much indignation throughout the country, that they were obliged to leave the kingdom in all haste. This incident greatly increased the feelings of prejudice and dislike, with which the children of Israel were regarded. When Charles the Second was restored to the English throne, a.d. 1660, he, being greatly in want of money, sold to the Jews permission to settle in England, and their numbers increased greatly in consequence.

James the Second, who in 1685 succeeded his brother Charles, also favoured the Jews; and during this seventeenth century, they also regained a footing in France, from whence they had been finally banished in 1394, though, as has been said, some Jews were always to be found in different parts of that kingdom. The first place in which they were now permitted to reside and carry on trade, was Bordeaux; they were also allowed to buy estates in France.