15. O Lord God, I esteem it a signal mercy that I do not possess many of those qualities and endowments which, in the eyes of men, appear glorious, and attract admiration and applause.

16. What can be more at rest than the heart that, in simplicity and singleness, regardeth only Thee?

17. We ask whether such a man be a profound scholar, or an eloquent writer; but how poor in spirit he is, how patient, how meek, how holy, how resigned, we regard as questions of no importance.

18. My God! my all! enough to say for him that understandeth; and often to say it, delightful to him that loveth.

19. How often has the growth of holiness been checked by its being too hastily known and too highly commended. 20. O my God, soften the rigour of my banishment and assuage the violence of my sorrow!

HUSS.

BORN 1376-MARTYRED 1415.

1. Truly it is a serious thing to rejoice without perturbation, and to count all joy in manifold trials. It is easy to speak of and to expound this, but to fulfil it is a serious. thing. The most enduring and bravest of soldiers, though knowing that on the third day He was to rise, and by death overcome His enemies, yet after the Last Supper, was troubled in spirit, and said, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.

2. I protest that I have never felt myself overwhelmed by persecution; that I am only borne down by my sins, and by the errors of the Christian people.

What

3. What are the riches of the world to me! affliction can their loss cause me! What is it to me to lose the favour of the world, which makes us swerve from the path of Christ! What signifies infamy, which, when supported with humility, proves, purifies, and illuminates the children of God in such a manner that they shine like the bright sun in their Father's kingdom! And lastly, what is death, should this miserable life be torn from me! He who loses it in this world triumphs even over death, and finds true life in the next.

4. I do not desire to live in this corrupted age, unless I can lead to repentance myself and others, according to the will of God.

5. Pontiffs and priests, Scribes and Pharisees, Herod and Pilate, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, condemned the Truth; they crucified and buried it; but it rose from the tomb and conquered them all, sending forth in its stead twelve preachers of the word.

6. Strengthen your hearts, dearly beloved, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is nigh. Think how the Son of God, Himself God eternal, became man in order to help us. The immortal Physician came to heal our incurable sores. The all-powerful Lord came, not to trouble the dead, but to vivify the living, and redeem His elect from eternal death.

7. Mediate on those benefits which our Lord has heaped on us by His first coming, and strengthen your hearts, for His second coming is near, and with it the sentence of the great Judge, infinitely wise, infinitely just, infinitely formidable, from whom neither the great nor the learned of this world can escape; with whom will come the just, the preachers of His word, and all who have been unjustly persecuted in this world.

8. Study to avenge the insults offered to God, rather than your own. Alas! it is in this point that the whole world is mistaken, for all men are more ready to avenge their own injuries than those of God.

9. Now the saints no longer suffer anxieties and torments, but enjoy a sweet and unchangeable peace, as well as infinite joy. Peter and Paul reign already with the King of heaven; they are with the angelic choir; they behold the King of kings in His magnificence; no sorrows afflict them; they are filled with ineffable happiness.

SAVONAROLA.

BORN 1452-DIED 1498.

1. Do you wish I should preach well? Give me time to converse with my children. In this way,' said Savonarola, 'I have learned much, for God ofttimes speaks and expounds His revelations by these simple youths, as by pure vessels full of the Holy Spirit.'

2. What is Babylon but Rome? Babylon signifies confusion. There is not in the world greater confusion of crimes and all sorts of iniquity than at Rome. Since they have made it a dwelling for harlots, God will make it a stall for swine and horses!

3. O Lord, delay not, that the unbelievers and the wicked may not say, 'Where is the God of these men, who have so often repented and fasted?' Thou seest the bad become every day worse, and now they seem to have become incorrigible. Stretch forth, stretch forth Thy hand, Thy mighty arm! I can do no more-I think not what more to say. There is nothing left for me but to weep. I would dissolve in tears upon this pulpit. I ask not, O Lord, that thou shouldst hear us for our merits, but for Thy mercy, for the love of Thy Son. Look upon the face of Thine Anointed, have compassion Dost Thou see them here, all afflicted, Dost thou not love them, O my God? Didst Thou not become incarnate for them? Wert thou not crucified,

on Thy sheep. all persecuted?

didst Thou not die for them? If I cannot prevail—if this work is too much for me, recall my soul-take me away, What have thy sheep

I am the guilty one;

O Lord! release me from life. done? They have done nothing. yet, O Lord, have not respect to my sins, have respect this once to Thy loving-kindness, Thy tenderness, Thy bowels of mercies, and let us feel all Thy compassion.

4. When any one begins to enjoy the Holy Spirit, he is glad to be alone, and immediately separates himself from other comforts and corporeal recreations, which would not be, if he did not feel within his heart greater consolations than those he refuses.

5. The old chaste time of the first Church has departed. Rome, polluted with all vices, rushes on towards a second fall. But to denounce her condition, is only to excite fruitless enmity. Nothing then remains, but to lament silently, and to hold fast the hope of a better future.

6. O infinite love! I have grievously sinned, and Thou, Jesus, wert stricken. I have been Thine enemy, and Thou, Jesus, for love of me, wert nailed to the cross.

7. In spiritual life we must fix our hearts on the love of Jesus Christ before everything, if we would proceed regularly in good works.

8. Would you see how one place or state is not more advantageous than another to the careless man? Judas the disciple of Christ was wicked; the school of Christ availed him not.

9. Many have been victorious in great temptations, and ruined by little ones.

10. Wonder ye that the good work has so many ene