himself before an unbelieving judge: I think myself happy, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee.' He said not this to flatter him, that was far from his intention; but because he would gain him by gentleness; and in part he gained him; and he, who, till then, was deemed a criminal, made captive the judge, who himself confessed the victory with a loud voice, saying: almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." What then

did Paul? He spread out his net wider, and said: 'I would, that not only thou, but also all, that hear me, were such as I am, except these bonds.' We must, therefore, lower ourselves to men's understanding. Thus did he proceed step by step. No one, who leadeth another to an imperial palace, would urge him to look into its interior, while he stood without, and before he had surveyed the court of entrance. The stranger would not deem it worthy of his admiration, if he entered not into the interior of the palace, and inspected not everything. In like manner, let us treat the heathen with condescension and with love. For love is the great instructress; she has power to free men from error; to form their minds; to take them by the hand, and lead them on to wisdom; yea, out of stones to make men. Would ye know her power? Bring me a man cowardly, terrified at a noise, and trembling at a shadow; let him be violent and rude,-more brute than man,-wanton and lustful,-deliver him into the hands of love; lead him into her school; and ye shall soon behold the coward transformed into a man of high spirit, and a fearless heart. Call not the Gentile fool without a cause, nor revile him. Should he question you concerning his religion, answer him, that it is a wicked and impious religion.

But should no one question you, nor compel you to speak, it were foolish wantonly to draw down enmity upon yourselves. Again, if ye instruct any one concerning your faith, say what the subject requireth, and no more. If a heathen seek you, and becometh your friend, discourse not with him concerning your religion, until his friendship for you be confirmed; and then, do it with gentleness. ... If we dispute with the Gentiles, let us silence them without anger, without harshness. For if we dispute with anger, we seem no longer to have confidence, but to be led by passion; but if we do so with gentleness, we manifest a true confidence.— Where anger is, the Holy Spirit dwelleth not. Hom. xxiii. on 1 Cor.

But some will say: We ought to bring more in, even against their will. Away with the idea! Christ did not use violence, nor compel men to come; for who that bid to honours, and crowns, and banquets, and festivals, drag people unwilling and bound? No one. For this is the part of one inflicting an insult. To the place of punishment He sends men against their will, but to his kingdom He calls willing minds. To the fire He brings men bound and bewailing themselves: to the endless store of blessings, not so. Else it would be a reproach to the very blessings themselves, if their nature be not such as that men should run to them of their own accord, and count it a great favour.-Hom. ii. Corinth.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES.

Long before sunrise the Religious leave their pallets of straw; they arise healthy, vigilant, and sober, and uniting themselves in a quire, they sing with joyful countenance and conscience, as out of one mouth, a hymn to the praise of God, thanking him for the good which he hath granted them in common, and for that which he hath bestowed upon each individual. They then on bended knees implore that God, whose praise they have sung, for things understood by few, for they seek not the things of this world, they offer up but one petitionthat they may be able to stand with confidence before that dreadful tribunal, when the only Son of God shall come to judge the living and the dead; that they may never hear those dreadful words, I know you not; and that with a pure conscience and many good works, they may pass through this troublous life. Their father and director beginneth the prayer. This devotion fulfilled, with the rising sun each proceedeth to his work, by which they earn much to distribute among the poor." And again he says: "After they have sung the morning hymn, and concluded the morning prayer, they read the Holy Scriptures. For the third hour, (9 A. M.) the sixth, (midday,) the ninth, (3 P. M.) and the evening,for these four portions of the day, various prayers and hymns are appointed. When they have finished their daily work, they seat themselves at table, and truly they have not many dishes; some eat only

bread and salt, others take oil besides, the weaker add herbs and vegetables. Having closed their meal with hymns, they lay themselves down upon straw. No complaints are heard among them: they accompany the departed with songs. They call this an attendance, not a burial. They say not: he is dead' but he is perfected." They all then thank God, and each man prayeth for such an end, thus to have come through the struggle of life, thus to have reposed from strife and toil, thus to have attained to the beholding of Christ. Should one of them become sick, there followeth not lamentation, but prayer. Not the hand of the physician, but faith alone hath oftentimes healed the sick. But should any one need a physician, neither skill nor patience will be found wanting. The soul of the sick man, free from all earthly cares, dwelleth unto his latest breath upon one thing alone, that he may leave this world, having found favor in the sight of God." He introduces the following prayer, which they offered up after a repast. "Blessed God, who hast nourished us from our youth up, and givest food to all flesh, fill our hearts with joy and gladness, in that having always a sufficiency, we may abound in every good work, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be glory, honour, and power, for ever and ever. Amen. Glory be to thee, O Lord; glory be to thee, O Holy One; glory be to thee, O King, for having rejoiced us with food. Fill us with the Holy Spirit, that we may be found well pleasing in thy sight, and not ashamed, when thou shalt reward each man according to his works. In another place he says:

Let us strip ourselves of our riches, that we may not be stripped of our righteousness. Let us put

on the new man.' Let us keep nothing old, nothing outward, nothing that can corrupt. Virtue is not toilsome, she is not difficult to attain. Dost thou not see them that are in the mountains? They forsake both house, and family, and preeminence, and shut themselves from the world, clothe themselves in sackcloth, strew ashes beneath them, and pen themselves up in a narrow cell. Did I enjoin you to do the like, would ye not start away? Would ye not say it was more than you could bear? no; I say not that we must needs do any thing like this-I would fain indeed it were so, but still I lay down no law.

But

Tell me not that those of whom I spoke were strong; for many far weaker, and richer, and more luxurious than thou art, have taken upon them that austere and rugged life. And why speak I of men? Damsels not yet twenty, who have spent their whole time in inner chambers, full of sweet ointments and perfumes, reclining on soft tapestry, themselves soft in their nature, and rendered yet more tender by over indulgence; who, all the day long, have had no other business than to adorn themselves, to wear jewels, and to enjoy every luxury; who never waited on themselves, but had numerous handmaids to stand beside them, who wore soft raiment, and revelled continually in roses. Yet, these, seized in a moment with the love for a heavenly spouse, have put off that indolence and pride-have forgotten their delicateness and youth, and like so many noble wrestlers, have divested themselves of their soft clothing, and rushed into the midst of the arena.— Perhaps I shall appear to be saying things incredible, yet nevertheless they are true. These then, these very tender damsels, have brought themselves