often takes especial pains to make himself clear, on any difficult subject, to those of slower understanding, and bids those of the cleverer sort wait for them. There seems then no reason why men or women, or even the poor among us, should not be taught by S. Augustine, to say the least, as well as by any, such as we are. There is nothing learned in this. It is people's own fault if they make a show of learning, or argue, in a shallow way, from this or that Father, whom they happen to hear alleged in controversy. The Fathers spoke to the hearts of their own people; the members of the One Body of Christ, in their own day; they will yet speak to the heart, if they are read with hearts which God teaches.

This selection has come, then, as a grateful contribution from one whose blessed influence in winning, by God's help, poor and rich to the love of Christ, will long be valued, when the recent storms will be remembered only to be deplored.

It will be followed, if God will, by selections for Advent, and perhaps by others.

will form a whole by itself.

Christ Church, Sexagesima. 1852.

But each

E. B. P.

Ash-Wednesday.

TRUE PENITENCE. S. CYPRIAN.

I INTREAT you, most dear brethren, let each confess his sin, while the sinner is yet among the living, while his confession can be accepted, while the satisfaction and remission wrought by the priests are pleasing before the Lord. Let us turn to the Lord with the whole heart, and call down the mercy of God, by expressing repentance for our offence by genuine grief. Before Him let the soul be laid prostrate, with Him let our sadness gain peace, on Him all our hope be leant. How we ought to intreat, Himself teaches us. "Turn ye," saith He, "unto Me, with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rend your hearts and not your garments." To the Lord let us return with all our heart. Let us appease His wrath and displeasure, with fastings, with weepings, with mournings, as Himself teaches. Are we to think that he makes lamentation with his whole heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning, who fattening on rich repasts, and swollen with abundant dainties, never gives share of his meat and drink for the necessity of the poor? Moving with gay and pleasant step, wherein does he weep over his ruin? Or if arrayed in

B

costly garments, does he care to please others, who displeases God? Or is she weeping and lamenting who can find leisure to enrobe herself in precious raiment, without considering that robe of Christ which she has lost; and to take to her costly ornaments and elaborate necklaces, never weeping at the forfeiture of her divine and heavenly adorning? Naked thou art, though garbed in foreign draperies and silken robes. Studded with gold and pearls, and gems, still thou art unsightly, if Christ's Beauty is wanting. If thou hadst lost any friend thou lovest, parted away by death, thou wouldest groan in sadness and weep, and with disordered countenance, altered dress, hair neglected, gloomy looks, and dejected visage, wouldest express the indications of sorrow. It is thine own soul, wretched woman, that thou hast lost; the spiritual life gone, thou for a while leadest on a life of thine own, and movest about, wearing thy death upon thee, yet there is no bitter mourning, no groaning continual, thou dost not withdraw away, either from shame for thy guilt, or to prolong thy lamentation. Lo, wounds of sin more deep, and increased delinquency; to offend, nor do amends; to have fallen from duty, and not lament thy fall. Ananias, Azarias and Misael, the illustrious and noble children, refrained not from confession before God, even amid the flames and heat of the fiery furnace. Though having a good conscience, and with acceptance oftentimes acquired before the Lord, by submission of faith and fear, yet ceased they not to keep hold of their humility,