"Our

is the spoken word of Paul the Apostle; conversation," saith he, " is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall change the body of our humility, conforming it to the body of His glory." That such we shall be, Christ the Lord also promises when in these words He prays the Father for us, that we may be with Him, and live with Him in the eternal seats, and be joyful in the realms of heaven. Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; and may see the glory which Thou gavest Me before the world began."

He who is going to the seat of Christ, to the brightness of the heavenly kingdoms, ought not to weep and lament, but rather according to the promise of the Lord, according to his belief of the truth, to be joyful in this his departure and translation. Thus accordingly we find Enoch was translated, who pleased God, as divine Scripture bears witness, and speaks in Genesis: "And Enoch pleased God and he was not found after, because God translated him." His having been found well-pleasing in the Sight of God, wrought for him a translation out of this infectious world. Thus also the Holy Spirit teacheth by Solomon, that they who please God are earlier taken hence, more speedily set free; lest abiding longer in this world they are polluted by its contact with them. "He was taken away," saith he, “lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, for his soul pleased God; wherefore hasted He to take him away from the midst of wickedness." Then

also in the Psalms, the soul devoted in spiritual faith unto its God, makes haste unto the Lord, saying, "How amiable are Thy Tabernacles, O God of Hosts! My soul longeth and hasteth unto the courts of God." It is for him to wish to remain long below, who finds below his enjoyment, whom a flattering and deceiving world attracts by the enticement of earthly pleasure.

Furthermore, whereas the world hates the Christian, wherefore love that which hates thee? and not rather follow Christ, Who hath redeemed and loves thee? John in his Epistle cries out and says, warning us that we be not made lovers of the world, while we indulge in carnal desires, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: if any man love the world, the Love of the Father is not in him ; for all that is in the world is lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, and pride of life; which is not of the Father, but of the lust of the world; and the world will pass away and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the Will of God abideth for ever, even as God abideth for ever." Rather, dearest brethren, in fulness of spirit, firm faith, and hearty courage, let us be prepared unto all the Will of God, shutting out our dread of death, and thinking of the deathlessness which comes beyond it. Herein let us manifest that we live as we believe; on the one hand, by not lamenting the departure of them we love; and on the other, when the day of our own summons comes, by going without delay, and with a ready mind, unto the Lord Who calls us.

Even as the servants of God ought thus to do, now ought they to do so much more, in a world which has begun to crumble, and is beset with storms of harassing calamity; for seeing ill things are begun, and since we know that worse are impending, we ought to account it our greatest gain, to take our departure hence the sooner. If the walls of your mansion were tottering with age, the roof shaking above you, and the edifice, wasted and wearied out, threatening an instant ruin of its time-enfeebled structure, would you not in all haste go forth from it? If when you were on a voyage a swelling and troublous tempest tossed up the waves in its strength, and betokened impending shipwreck, would you not hurry forward to the port? See a world tottering and going down, witnessing to its own dissolution, not merely in the old age of things, but in their conclusions, and thank you not God, are you not rejoiced, that escaping by an earlier removal, you are rescued from overhanging ruins and shipwrecks and plagues?

We ought to consider, dearest brethren, we ought indeed to retain in our meditations, that we have renounced the world, and are continuing here, for this mean season, as strangers and pilgrims. Let us embrace the day which makes over each of us to his own resting place, which after rescuing us hence, and ridding us of the chains of earth, places us back in Paradise, and in the heavenly kingdom. What man that is journeying abroad, doth not hasten backward to his native land? Who that is speeding a voyage towards them he loves, longs not with more

ardour for a prosperous wind, that so he may embrace his friends the sooner? Paradise we are to reckon for our native land; Patriarchs are now our parents: wherefore not haste and run to behold our country, to salute our parents? It is a large and loving company who expect us there, parents, brothers, children, a manifold and numerous assemblage longing after us, who having security of their own immortality, still feel anxiety for our salvation. What a common gladness, both to them and us, when we pass into their presence and their embrace! And O sweet heavenly realms, where death can never terrify, and life can never end! Ah perfect and perpetual bliss! There is the glorious company of the Apostles; there is the assembly of Prophets exulting; there is the innumerable multitude of Martyrs crowned after their victory of strife and passion; there are virgins triumphant, who have overcome all earthly passions; there are merciful men, obtaining mercy, who fulfilled the works of righteousness by dealing food and bounty to the poor, and in obedience to the instructions of the Lord translated the inheritance of earth into the treasuries of heaven. To these, dearest brethren, let us with eager longings hasten; let it be the portion which we desire, speedily to be among them, speedily to be gone to Christ: God behold this thought of ours! this purpose of our mind and faith may the Lord Jesus Christ witness, Who will make the recompences of His glory the larger according as man's longings after Him have been the stronger.

De Mortalit.

Tuesday in Holy Week.

THE CROSS OF CHRIST. S. CHRYSOSTOM.

LET no man be ashamed of the honoured symbols of our salvation, and of the chiefest of all good things, whereby we even live, and whereby we are; but as a crown, so let us bear about the Cross of Christ, yea, for by it all things are wrought that are wrought among us. Whether one is to be new-born, the Cross is there; or to be nourished with that Mystical Food, or to be ordained, or to do anything else, everywhere our symbol of victory is present. Therefore both upon our house and walls, and windows, and upon our forehead, and upon our mind, we inscribe it with much care.

For of the salvation wrought for us, and of our common freedom, and of the goodness of our Lord, this is the sign. "For as a sheep was He led to the slaughter." When therefore thou signest thyself, think of the purpose of the Cross, and quench anger and all the other passions. When thou signest thyself, fill thy forehead with all courage, make thy soul free. And ye know assuredly what are the things that give freedom. Wherefore also Paul leading us there, I mean unto the freedom that beseems us, did on this wise lead us unto it, having reminded