eloquence, which always seemed to have new attractions for them.

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Cir

His

He addressed his people in a discourse full of tenderness and paternal regard." What shall I say to you?" he exclaimed: nay, I will repeat no other words than those with which I parted from you, Blessed be the name of the Lord!' They were the text of my farewell discourse; they shall be the text of that of my return among you. cumstances may change; my heart, and the language to which it gives utterance, shall not change. Blessed be God who permitted my exile ! Blessed be God who hath brought about my return! name be blessed both when He sends the tempest, and when the calm succeeds it. I repeat these words that your hearts may be penetrated with the deep importance of the duty of blessing God in all things. Let us bless His name when his hand is heavy upon us, to humble and chastise us; let us bless His name when his hand is upon us to raise us from the dust and cheer us. The holy Job, from whom I borrow these words, rendered thanks to the Lord when rich, and when overtaken by poverty, he still rendered thanks. In the days of prosperity, he showed no insolence towards his brethren; in his adversity he uttered no complaint against his God. In good as in bad fortune, let us recognize the hand of Providence, which disposes both the one and the other for our good. The pilot relaxes not his vigilance in the calm, no more than he lost confidence when the storm was raging. Blessed be God, who disposes all the events of life!

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Though divided from you in body, I have not for a moment been dissevered from you in spirit. You were continually present to my thoughts, not

only during the day, but also during the darkness of the night. It is then that the lively impressions of the day are reproduced in the active imagination, that slumbers not. When sleep has closed my eyes, I think I still behold you assembled in this temple, and imagine that I am discoursing to you. To such an image my heart clings with delight; it seems penetrated with the tender sentiment breathed by the spouse in the Canticles: I slumber, but my heart watcheth.' Yes, though separated far from you, I saw you, I heard you, I was in the midst of you. You see what the effect of persecution is; it has served but to quicken the zeal, and strengthen the bonds of our mutual attachment. Before, I was

dear to my people, now the very Jews respect your pastor. They sought to tear me from my flock, and it has had the effect of bringing back to me the stragglers from the fold. Have I to thank my enemies for this, or rather, have I not to thank the divine mercy, which has rendered their unjust attempts subservient to God's glory? Before, it was the church only that was filled; now the public place has itself become the Church. The most perfect accord prevails among the head and the members. Our holy meetings are no longer disturbed; the most respectful silence reigns around; all is recollectedness and devotion. On one side the sacred hymns burst forth and are wafted like incense on high; on the other, are hearts subdued, and open to the influence of grace. Public games are this day celebrated; do any assist at them? No, all have hastened in crowds to the churches. Was I wrong in describing to you the advantages to be derived from tribulation, when supported in a becoming spirit? Sufferings affecting the body are

painful; but how amply are they compensated by peace of heart! If such the recompense, heaven grant us a repetition of the trial ! Who can tell the joy of the pastor in suffering for his flock. Where shall I, too, find words to express my joy? I cast my eyes on every side, and not a corner but is occupied. Far and wide hath the spiritual vine put forth its branches; the nets are broken on account of the multitude of fishes. And where are they who desolated the flock? O prodigy the shepherd was far away; the sheep could not hear his voice; single and alone have they put the wolves to flight. In the absence of the bridegroom, they have scattered the strange suitors; and where are they now? They are confounded and we have triumphed. God grant that your zeal may find its due recompense. I am persuaded that it is in no small part to your prayers that the triumph is due. God cannot resist the prayers of a whole people. And do you continue, my children, as you have done, to aid me by your prayers. Should my hands fail me in the hour of prayer, support them with your hands. Pray with me and for me; for so will you also be praying for yourselves. I live and breathe but for your good. It is your interest that fills my heart. Form around me a rampart, as soldiers in the day of battle, close their ranks around their leader, and cover him with their bucklers and their bodies. The glory of your Bishop, be it what it may, shall redound upon yourselves and with redoubled splendor. Let us close, by returning thanks to God for all his mercies, to Whom be honor and glory, both now and for evermore. Amen."

Reconciliations of circumstance are, generally, of short duration; the empress could no more forget

her real hatred of Chrysostom, than her forced condescension towards him. The courtiers, to divert her mortification, or rather to ingratiate themselves in her favour, organized a festival on the dedication of a silver statue, erected to her honour, in the public place between the Senate and the Church of Saint Sophia. The ceremonies and dances on this occasion were sufficiently Pagan in their character, to have shocked the religious feelings of a far less zealous Christian than Chrysostom: he attacked them, with his wonted power, as profane, indecent, and idolatrous. His discourse was represented to the Empress as an insult on her person: she was willing to consider it so, because it afforded her an excuse for renewing her injuries towards him.

The decision of the Council which had condemned Chrysostom, not having been formally annulled, his reassumption of his pastoral duties might, according to a decree of the Council of Antioch, with respect to such cases, be considered as irregular. In the hope of rendering him liable a second time to censures on this account, the bishops of Greece and of the East convened themselves again at Constantinople, to debate upon the measures to be pursued respecting him. It was just before Easter, and his adversaries were extremely desirous to get him sent away, before the celebration of that sacred season. The Emperor was weak enough to yield to their cabals, and the evening before the festival, Chrysos tom received an order to resign his office. The people, hearing this, immediately left the churches, and assembled together to offer up their devotions, with their bishop, at the public baths, built by Constantine.

Three thousand catechumens who had received

baptism the day before, still in the white garments they had worn on the occasion, covered the adjoining fields. The court, as cruel as it was cowardly, sent a troop of Thracian guards to disperse them, which they did with the utmost ferocity; inflicting blows even upon the aged priests, till the pavement was covered with blood, and outraging the women and children in the most brutal manner. These persecutions were continued from Easter till Pentecost, during which time Chrysostom's life was repeatedly attempted, but was preserved by the citizens, who guarded his house, relieving each other in companies, night and day. At length the sentence of his exile was pronounced. "I am not afraid of banishment," said he, on hearing his sentence; "the earth is the Lord's, and I shall find Him whithersoever I may go." But though full of fortitude on his own account, the desolation of his people, and the circumstances under which he left them, made a profound impression on his heart. In order to guard against the commotions which, from the exceedingly agitated state of the city, it was possible his removal might excite, he ordered a horse to be held, as if in waiting for him, at the great western door of the Cathedral, and whilst the multitude were waiting there, in the hope of seeing him, he privately quitted it by the eastern side, and immediately embarked for Bithynia.

He arrived at Nicia, the capital of that province, on the 20th of June, 404. But he was not long suffered to remain there in tranquillity: the malice of the Empress still pursued him, and, at her instigation, an order came from the court for him to be removed to Cucusus, a small town on the frontier of Lower Armenia, in the deserts of Mount Taurus, a