21. On the clear understanding of the Holy scriptures

" Declaratio sermonxim tuornm illuminaty ct iiUellectum dat parvulis."* " The declaration of thy words giveth light ^ and bestoweth understanding on little ones.''^ 1. All that is written in the Old and New Testarpents, has been written for our instruction, and with the design of bringing us to serve God faithfully, to inspire in us a horror of what is evil, and a love, boundless, pure, and entire, both in this world, and in that which is to come, for Him who is our sovereign good.

Ask humbly for a knowledge of what thou art ignorant of, and ask respectfully from those who are better instructed than thyself, for the right understanding of what thou dost not comprehend. " For the declaration of the words of God giveth light to the hearts of the little ones."

If thou art not capable of rising to the knowledge of the most sublime truths, learn with " the little ones," to know such as are small ; it is of such that our Lord Jesus hath said, " Su^er the little children to come to me, for the kingdom of heaven is for such."* Beware therefore of rashly sounding what is concealed from thy understanding ; leave to the Holy Spirit the care of discovering such to thee. Follow His inspirations with a lively faith ; for the Holy Spirit is the source of all truth, and He can never bear testimony to error.

2. If on some points, many persons have doubts, attribute them to the blindness of their spirit, or to their ignorance, and not to the silence or obscurity of the Holy Scriptures, which unfold all the needful documents of eternal salvation.

Read then with pleasure the canonical Scriptures ; and to this reading be careful to join the explication of them which the doctors of the Church have given, and thus study to understand them well.

But, nevertheless, let not thy diligence in this study withdraw thee from prayer, or the celebration, or the hearing of the holy mass ; for often during holy mass, and in the fervour of prayer, God communicates to devout souls many hidden things which He conceals from those who search curiously, and full of self-sufficiency.

Simple words bring instruction to the little ones and the ignorant ; Init subtle explanations, which they do not understand, are vain and profitless.

Those that in the refectory, or in the choir, listen attentively to the reading, and seek with prudence to penetrate the mystical sense of the facts recited to them, extract, from all they hear or read, the honey of the word of God.

Whence, though during life, man may ever add something to his knowledge, and discover every day truths of a higher order ; yet he shall not attain to the clear and perfect intelligence of the angels ; nor shall he enjoy the beatific vision, till, by the help of Christ, he shall have entered into the glory of eternal bliss. o o 3. Strong and solid food is hurtful to little ones ; the weak and babes must be fed with light and delicate nourishment.

Simple music and moderate songs sometimes touch the ear more pleasantly than the swell of voices, which break on the hearing like peals of thunder, and fatigue rather than charm.

Frequent flashes of lightning dazzle the eye ; while a moderate light keeps the vision in activity.

The imprudent traveller, who would rashly swim across a deep river, may be drowned ; but he that passes by the bridge, reaches the other side without fear of danger.

The lamb passes freely in a narrow path ; where the heavy bullock falls, and is caught, but to be led to the slaughter.

So the soul whose faith is simple, and whose submission humble, findeth grace ; where the soul full of confidence in itself, loses all it possesses.

High knowledge but too easily puffeth up the proud ; and turns, at last, to the confusion of those who glory therein, 4. I have seen simple souls bathed in tears in the fervour of prayer, while those who sang with a loud and melodious voice, felt nothing but dryness of heart. And why this difference ? — because the simple and humble soul, in all it says or does, seeks only the glory of God. The voice of the simple in heart, is with God in heaven ; the voice of the wandering and dissipated singer, is v/ith men in the streets and public places.

He that attend^ seriously to the spiritual sense of the Psalms, who reads them slowly, or sings them with attention, tastes, in abundance, the sweetness of devotion. For the Lord is indeed sweet to such as are right in heart, and to those who seek His "flory, and not the gratification of their own vanity.

Blessed is the voice of him that sings and declares the praises of God in such a manner, as to fill the hearts of those who hear him with compunction.

5. Before crowinsf, the cock plumes his wings, as if to prepare himself; so should the o-ood christian or the pious preacher correct his own faults before he undertakes to correct those of others. He that would announce with prudence and success, the word of God, must begin by correcting in himself those vices he condemns in others.

It is thus that St. Paul, while instructing others, humbly calls himself the chief of sinners. "Jesus Christ hath come into this world to o save sinners, of whom I am the chief,"* and " who am not worthy to be called an apostle." And why, 0 most glorious saint ? — " because 1 persecuted the Church of God." How then art thou now become a vessel of election, filled with holiness, and truly worthy of all glory ? I owe it not either to myself or to men, but by the vocation and revelation of Jesus Christ, from whom 1 have learned to be meek and humble of heart, and to be obedient to His gospel. I know of no good in myself; all that I do or teach, I attribute to Him, who, by His grace, hath called me to the faith which I preach, and to which I shall be faithful unto death. For only " by the grace of God I am what I am."t And His grace in me has not been in vain ; but remains in me, and shall remain till I come to Him who liath redeemed me and saved me by His precious blood.