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OF THE REFOKMATION. 259However little cohesion, then, there may be between thedifferent parts,in themselves so powerful, which compose thismonarchy, it chiefly owes to the Reformation, and to themanner in which its consequences were applied, whateverunityand internal stability it possesses.The late changesin Europe have increased its power, both by extending itsdominions, and by teachingit how to applyits resources.It has now 1 no distant territoryto protect ;but placed as itis in continual opposition to powerful adversaries, and deprived of the outworks which formerly guarded it,it mustmake the best use of those advantages to which the Reformation prepared the way, in order to maintain the proud station which it at present occupies.PRUSSIA.THE foundation of the Prussian monarchy was one of theearliest works of the Reformation. It was doubtless beyondmortal power to foresee that so noble a structure should everbe raised upon it. Such a result requireda concurrence offortunate circumstances, and a taskmaster to guide the work>such as hardly anystate could show within the annals of alike period of time. And yet the isthing so without theReformation, Europe would have had an elector of Brandenburgh,but no king of Prussia. In the beginning of thesixteenth century, Prussia was still under priestly dominion,being attached to the Teutonic order which had conqueredit ;and which, with itsgrand master, continued to governit. But scarcely had the new doctrines spread themselves,and pointed out a way by which spiritual princes mightrender their power hereditary, than Albert, grand master ofthe Teutonic order in Prussia, and a scion of the house ofof this kind.Brandenburgh, made the first successful attemptAs earlyas the year 1525 he secularized his dominions,and formed them into an hereditary duchy, though as a fiefof Poland, and became by his marriage the founder of aline, of which the last female descendant, Anne, espousedJohn Sigismond, then electoral prince of Brandenburgfa,and afterwards elector. When Prussia came into the possession of the electoral house of Brandenburgh,a fief;if was stillbut by the treaty of Wehlau, (1657,) and more folly1It must be rememl>ered that this was written in 1 8051 Tst.s 2