one spirit.

Therefore said he, 'Glory,

all ye that are right in heart.'-Hom. on

LEARN to give thanks unto God, both in prosperity and in tribulation. Learn to have in thy heart what every man has on his tongue: God's will be done! The common speech of the people is mostly saving doctrine. Who says not daily, What God wills, that let Him do? -Hom. on Ps. 33.

SEE

CV.

what there is in a human soul.

It has not of itself light, has not of itself powers but all that is fair in a soul, is virtue and wisdom: but it neither is wise for itself, nor strong for itself; nor itself is light to itself; nor itself is virtue to itself. There is a certain origin and fountain of virtue; there is a certain root of wisdom; there is a certain, so to speak, if this must also be said, region of

unchangeable truth: from this the soul withdrawing is made dark, drawing near is made light.-Hom. on Ps. 59.

CVI.

IT remains that thou seek what is better than thy soul. What shall that be, I pray thee, but thy God? Thou findest no other better than thy soul; for when thy nature shall be perfected, it will be equalled with the angels. Now there is nothing higher, save the Creator.-Hom. on Ps. 33.

THIS

CVII.

is man's righteousness in this life, fasting, alms, and prayer. Wouldst thou have thy prayer fly upward to God? Make for it those two wings of alms and fasting.- Hom. on Ps. 43.

Fasting, in its large and general import, is to abstain from the iniquities and unlawful pleasures of the world.-On S. John, Hom. 17.

CVIII.

HOW is the proud heart fed? If a

man be proud, he is envious: it cannot be otherwise. Pride is the mother of envy; it cannot but generate it, and ever co-exist with it. Every proud man is, therefore, envious: if envious, he feeds on the misfortunes of others.-Hom. on Ps. 101.

CIX.

THERE are some things which we

do not believe unless we understand them; and there are other things which we do not understand unless we believe them.--Hom. on Ps. 119.

CX.

THE very reason why one does well to believe is, because it is not a thing to be quickly apprehended, for if it were a thing to be quickly apprehended, it would not need to be believed, because it

would be seen. Thou believest, because thou dost not apprehend; but by believing thou becomest meet to apprehend. For if thou believe not, thou wilt never apprehend, because thou wilt remain less meet.-On S. John, Hom. 36.

CXI.

STAGS are said, when they cross straits

to adjacent islands, for the sake of pasture, to lay their heads one upon the other; but one who goes before carries his head alone, and does not lay it upon another; but when his own strength flags, he retreats from his position in front and retires behind, that he also may rest upon another; and thus all bear their burdens, and reach what they desire, and suffer not shipwreck, because love is as a ship to them. Love, therefore, bears burdens, and let it not fear lest it be overwhelmed by them.-On Ps. 129.

CXII.

Nor

THINE eyes have seen what is imperfect of me, and in Thy Book shall they all be written. Not the perfect only, but the imperfect also. Let not the imperfect fear; only let them hold on. because I said, 'Let them not fear,' let them love imperfection, and remain where they have been found. Let them hold on as much as in them lies. Let them daily add, daily draw near; yet let them not draw back from the Body of the Lord; that compacted together in one body, and among these members, they may be accounted worthy to have those words pronounced of them, 'Thine eyes did see what was imperfect of me, and in Thy Book shall they all be written.'—

Hom. on Ps. 139.

CXIII.

GOD has praised Himself, that He might be properly praised by man;