thing to object to the life and conversation of others."* Nevertheless, it were much to be desired that the primitive rule of daily sermons were revived among us.† Many earnest souls would find comfort in them, and they would be a witness which, in these lax and frivolous times, the Church much needs against the world. Meantime, the house of God is the only place of public resort which now you ought to love.

3. Lastly, you will keep constantly before your thoughts, that the true and real fast is, to fast from sin, -all sin, but, in a special manner, your own besetting sin. Fasting is not like natural medicine, which takes effect while men sleep; it can only do its work, and effect its end, while men are awake, while they work with it, and lay all its lessons to heart. No outward chastisement, whether of God's inflicting, or your own choice, will avail you anything, unless you apply it to yourself. Remember, God "poured upon Israel the fury of His anger, and the strength of battle: and it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.” ‡

* S. Chrysostom, Hom. vi. on Genesis, and Hom. vii. tom. ii. pp. 49, 61.

+ In S. Barnabas', Pimlico, the daily Lenten services are as follow:-Matins at 8: Evensong at 4: Sermon, followed by Litany, at 8. On Wednesday and Friday, the Litany is also said at 12.

Is. xlii. 25.

It will be a terrible judgment upon you, to fast and keep Lent, and yet "to lay it not to heart.” Esau fasted; but nothing came of it, save the loss of his birthright. The Pharisees fasted; but pride and vainglory was all their fruit, and the terrible "woe" of Jesus-all their reward.

O! where is the repentance of our times? whither has it fled where has it hid itself? The very air we breathe is contaminated with our heinous sins; but where is penitence? Penitence is not for the angels; they sinned not. Penitence is not for devils; their judgment is sealed.

Penitence is for us; it is for us of the English nation, for us of the English metropolis, for us of the English Church; for our rulers, spiritual and temporal; for us, as heads and members of families; for us, as masters and servants; for us, as tutors and pupils; for us, as individuals, each with his and her individual soul. But where is it to be found?

The people of Nineveh sinned, and would not eat; they sinned, and would not drink; they sinned, and would not be clothed; nay more,-they sinned, and would not suffer their beasts to feed. But alas, alas! we sin, and yet we eat; we sin, and yet we drink; we sin, and yet we clothe ourselves; nay, in eating and drinking, and clothes, we sin over again, and add sin to sin, as if we had no belief in penitence, and defied the God of justice to punish!

Let me speak to you in the solemn words of S. Chrysostom: "If you gain nothing by these continual meetings and exhortations, and by this season of fasting, to the advantage of your soul, they will not only do you no good, but be the occasion of a severer condemnation. If, after so much care and pains bestowed upon you, you continue the same. If the angry man does not become meek, and the passionate mild and gentle. If the envious does not reduce himself to a friendly temper, nor the covetous man depart from his madness and fury in the pursuit of riches, and give himself to alms-deeds and feeding the poor. If the intemperate man does not become chaste and sober, and the vainglorious learn to despise false honour and seek for that which is true. If he that is negligent of charity to his neighbour, does not stir up himself and endeavour, not only not to come behind the publicans (who love those that love them), but also to look friendly upon his enemies, and exercise all acts of charity towards them. If you do not conquer these affections, and all others which spring up from your natural corruption ;-though you assemble here every day, and enjoy continual preaching and teaching, and have the assistance of fasting,-what pardon can you expect, what excuse shall you make for yourselves?”*

* S. Chrysostom, Hom. xi. on Genesis, tom. ii. p. 107.

And, finally, in the words of S. Ambrose,-" True repentance ought not to be in word only, but in deed. This is true repentance indeed, if you set before your eyes from what glory you are fallen. If you consider with yourself, out of what book your name is blotted. If you believe, that now you are near unto utter darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth without end. And, when you are certainly persuaded that these things are true, as indeed they are ; that the soul that sinneth is in danger of hell-fire ; that there is no means after baptism left to escape, but only repentance; be content to suffer any labour, to undergo any affliction, to be freed from eternal punishment. The diseases of the body move the sick man to purge the body. Let your disease of soul move you also to take the purgation of repentance; let the desire of your salvation move you ; let the fear of eternal death and torment move you. Embrace that which purgeth the soul. Eschew that which polluteth it. Nothing so defiles the soul as a filthy body."*

And now, may God take you and keep you, and direct your steps aright, this blessed season! O! may you be among those "many" of whom S. Augustinet tells, that they willingly came under the yoke; and, of proud and haughty men, became meek

* S. Ambrose ad Origen, Laps. c. 8.

+ Quoted in Drexelius on Eternity, con. iii. cap. 3.

and lowly; desiring to be what before they despised; and hating to be what before they were ; passing by, like strangers, things present, and making haste, with greediness, after things to come! May God, of His mercy, give you grace to pant after your eternal home; to choose abstinence before fulness; watching before sleep; poverty before riches; to count pain against sin a pleasure; and love for hatred, and goodwill for injury, a very joy ;-and all-for hope of your Eternal Home!

Who would not suffer all things here, for an Eternal Home hereafter !

SO LIVE TO GOD, THAT THOU MAYEST LIVE WITH GOD: SO LIVE ON EARTH, THAT THOU MAYEST LIVE IN HEAVEN. S. GREGORY.