delicate texture, because it was woven with stripes, blood, bruises, and other various instances of malice. Of which texture, nothing more is meant than this" I have raised thee up," because I have redeemed thee; do not throw thyself into further evil. Go," said our Lord," and sin no more." This is the vest of Joseph-the garment dyed in the blood of a goat. Gen. xxxvii. That same Christ our King, gave to us an all glorious crown; that is, when he submitted to be crowned for our sakes. And of a truth, "Thy dignity is from me”— even from that crown. John xix. "Jesus went forth, bearing the crown of thorns." Christ is our champion, who gave us a ring-that is, the hole in his right hand; and we ourselves may perceive how faithfully it is written—“ I have loved thee, do thou also love." Rev.i. "Christ our mediator loved us, and washed us from our sins in his blood." He gave us another ring, which is the puncture in his left hand, where we see written, "What have I done? how much? why?"—"What have I done?" I have despoiled myself, receiving the form of a ser

vant.

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How much?" I have made God and man. Why?" To redeem the lost. Concerning these three-Zachary xiii. “What are the wounds in the middle of thy hands? And he answered, saying, I am wounded by these men in their house, who loved me." Christ is our brother, and son of the eternal King. He gave us a third ring-to wit, the hole in his right foot; and what can be understood by it, except, "Thou art noble, despise not thy nobility?" In like manner, Christ is our brothergerman. And he gave us a fourth ring, the puncture in his left foot, on which is written, Approach; fear not-I am thy brother." Christ is also our spouse; he gave us a signet, with which he confirmed our inheritance : that is, the wound made in his side by the spear, on account of the great love, with which he loved us. And what can this signify but "Thou art now joined to me through mercy; sin no more."

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Let us study, my beloved, so to keep the gifts of the world, that we may be able to exclaim, as in St. Matthew, "Lord, thou gavest

to me five talents ;" and thus, unquestionably, we shall reign in the bosom of bliss. That we may be thought worthy the Father, Son, &c.

TALE II.

OF MERCY.

THE Emperor Titus made a law, that whosoever provided not for his parents, should be condemned to death. It happened that there were two brethren, descended from the same father. One of them had a son who discovered his uncle in the greatest indigence; and immediately, in compliance with the law, but in opposition to the will of his father, administered to his wants. Thereupon the father expelled him from his house. Notwithstanding he still maintained his poor uncle, and supplied him with every requisite. By and by,

the uncle became rich and the father indigent. Now, when the son beheld the altered circumstances of his parent, he liberally supported him also, to the great indignation of his uncle, who drove him from his house, and said"Formerly, when I was poor, thou gavest me support, in opposition to thy father; for which, I constituted thee my heir, in the place of a son. But an ungrateful son ought not to obtain an inheritance; and rather than such, we should adopt a stranger. Therefore, since thou hast been ungrateful to thy father in maintaining me contrary to his command, thou shalt never possess my inheritance." The son thus answered his uncle. No one can be punished for executing what the law commands and compels. Now the law of nature obliges children to assist their parents in necessity, and especially to honour them: therefore, I cannot justly be deprived of the inheritance."

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APPLICATION.

My beloved, the two brothers are the Son of God and the world, which both proceed from

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one heavenly Father. The first, begotten; the second, created. Between them, from the beginning, discord arose, and continues to this day; so that he who is the friend of the one, is an enemy to the other. According to St.. Jamesiv. "Whosoever would become the friend of this world, shall be accounted an enemy to God." The only son is every Christian, who is the progeny of Christ, because he is descended from him by faith. Therefore, we should not feed fat the world with pride, avarice, and other vices, if we would be the children of God. And if our desires are contrary, too surely we shall be excluded from the family of Christ, and lose our heavenly inheritance. If we maintain and cherish Christ by works of love and of piety, the world indeed will abhor us-but better is it to be at enmity with the world than forego an inheritance in Heaven.