about the year 373, having been bishop of Alexandria forty-six years. Thus the great St. Athanasius, after all his various conflicts with the enemies of his God and Saviour, at length ended his days in peace among his own people.

He was a person of very strong natural parts, being endowed with a piercing wit and solid judgment, both which were heightened by acquired instruction. He was well acquainted with the holy scripture of both testaments, and likewise with the sentiments of the catholic fathers of the Christian church. His piety was great and unfeigned, and his courage in defending the truth unconquerable. He was a most profound divine, an excellent preacher, and a prudent governor. To the poor he was an unwearied benefactor, an husband to widows, and a father to orphans. It is said concerning him by Nazianzen: "that to commend Athanasius, was to commend virtue itself; the course of his life being such, as caused it to be esteemed a kind of pattern for those of the episcopal function to follow: yet, notwithstanding his great qualities, he was of a very humble mind, easy of access, and courteous to all. He was undoubtedly, both by his understanding and resolution, the principal pillar and support of the true catholic faith in the times in which he lived; which, as it caused him to be very highly esteemed then, will also render his name venerable to the latest posterity."

Arius (whose false doctrines he so strenuously opposed) was a presbyter of Alexandria, and, it is said, was possessed of a tolerable good understanding, and some learning; but being disappointed in his expectation of succeeding to that bishopric on the decease of Achillas, he set on foot his heresy, affirming, "that our Saviour was a mere creature," in opposition to Alexander, who was chosen in his stead; and great disturbances arising in consequence of his new opinions, the emperor Constantine was constrained to call a general council, in order to have them examined. This assembly, which consisted of 318 bishops, besides a vast number of presbyters and deacons, met at Nice in Bythinia, and, after a careful examination, condemned the tenets of Arius; and, on his refusing to retract them, he was, by the emperor, sent into banishment, but, after he had been some time in exile, he got some of his party to insinuate at court

that

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that he had been misrepresented. On which, being re called, and brought before the emperor, he exhibited a confession of faith drawn up in seemingly orthodox terms, and, at the same time, called the searcher of hearts to witness, that that paper contained his real opinions. Being in consequence hereof restored to the favour of Constantine, an order was sent to Alexander, bishop of Constantinople to admit him to communion : but that prelate, being firmly persuaded that Arius was insincere, refused to comply with the injunction: whereupon the partizans of Arianism made preparation to introduce him into the church by force of arms the next day but, as they were going along, he was suddenly seized with a pain in his belly, and going to a privy hard by, it is said, he voided all his bowels, and died upon the spot.

MISCELLANIES.

Practical Discourses by THOMAS A KEMPIS.
Translated by BISHOP HORNE.

DISCOURSE VI.

Of bearing with the defects of others.

E not offended at the spots which you will oftentimes discover in the characters of your religious acquaintance; nor wonder if some fall away, and others grow lukewarm and careless, through the daily tempta tions of the adversary. For there is nothing extraordi nary in all this; nothing but what hath happened in all ages, through the infirmity of the flesh. Wild and thoughtless are we all by nature, like horse and mule that have no understanding; our mouths must be held with the bit and bridle of wholesome discipline, and thereby we must be fastened to the tree of life, the cross of the holy JESUS: Otherwise by living to ourselves, and after the desires of our own hearts we shall turn aside quickly from the right way, which leadeth through the straight gate to the king3 G 2

dom

don of heaven. Let us therefore pray for each other, that God would vouchsafe to strengthen and comfort us in all our tribulations and temptations, and to preserve us from being molested and deceived by the enemy, who goeth about seeking whom he may devour, and by what means he may draw a sout from the church to the world, and from thence to the pit of destruction. From those regions of eternal horror there is no hope of redemption: there wretched spirits seek for death, and find it not: there they are tormented day and night, because here they would not repent, but suffered their precious hours to pass unprofitably away.

2. Let us not look for ease and indulgence of the flesh in a world where we ought to be doing penance for our sins, by all the holy arts of mortification and self denial. Thus much is certain, that wheresoever we are, and whatsoever we do, in order to shift off the load that lieth upon us, we shall find no rest, no comfort, until we turn unto the Lord our God with sorrow and contrition of heart for the sins that are past, and with full purpose of amendment of life; that so we may escape from the wrath to come. The life of Christ and the examples of the Saints all conspire to teach us, that happiness upon earth consists in meekly and patiently enduring those evils, out of the reach of which no journeys by land, no voyages by sea can carry us. Jonah tried the experiment. He would have fled from the face of the Lord. He put himself aboard a ship, and there sought for rest but found none. He closed his eyes indeed, but was soon called upon to open them, to behold the waves raised against him by the breath of the Almighty. The lot discovered him, where he thought himself sufficiently concealed: and for his disobedience he was committed to a new and strange prison, being entombed alive in the belly of a whale: destitute of all help from man, he cried unto the lord, and was delivered, having been fully instructed in this salutary truth, that it is impossible to escape the hand of God, and that in obedience to the divine commands consisteth the felicity of man. Let us not therefore think of flying from those difficulties and troubles which arise in our Christian course, through the folly and perverseness of those about us: but let us stand firm, contend manfully, obey readily, pray frequently, labour diligently, and willingly keep silence; let us bear all things patiently for the sake of Christ, as holy men

have done before us, who after enduring many more grievous crosses than are laid upon us, now rejoice and sing this song in heaven: we went through fire and water, and thou broughtest us out into everlasting refreshment.

3. Manifold indeed are the dangers which on all hands surround us; many are those that trouble us, and they neither slumber nor sleep, but are incessantly employed in deceiving and drawing us from our holy purposes. But let us not despair, or cease to cry mightily to God our Saviour, even though we should find ourselves dull and lifeless, and sore straightened in spirit: insomuch that we know not which way to turn ourselves. For so it may be that God intendeth to try us, whether we love and will cleave to him in the day when he afflicteth us. The violence of the tempest should only incite us to ply our oars more vigorously; the fury of the enemy should rouse us to arms, to renew the battle, and contend the more earnestly against the world, the flesh and the devil. Thus every fresh provocation will improve our patience, and every hardship we endure in the warfare, will add a jewel to our crown. But woe be to him who is fainthearted in the day of trial, and looks back to the pleasures and indulgences of the world, which as a Christian he hath renounced, and which must so soon come to an end and perish for evermore.

4. The life of a Christian is a perpetual conflict with the temptations ministered continually by the different objects that surround him. Let him not therefore wonder, if he sometimes offend in word or deed. Men we are, and not angels; poor sinners in the land of our pilgrimage, and far from the city of our habitation; unstable in our ways, and prone to evil; not yet perfected in grace, not yet made happy in glory. This consideration should humble us, and lead us to the fountain of mercy for strength and refreshment, for without many a draught from the well of life, we can never go on our way, or fight the good fight. Without me, saith Christ, ye can do nothing. The flesh is weak and spiritless, until the breath of heaven giveth it life and courage to bear all adversities, which are sweetly ordered and disposed for good in the event. For we ourselves, and all things that happen unto us, are in the hands of God; and he who made us will never forsake us, unless we first forsake him. With confidence therefore let us ad

dress

dress ourselves to Christ in the heavens, and say every one of us; Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord, who shall pluck my feet out of the net.

5. Peace and rest are blessings prepared for the righteous in heaven, but no wise man expects to find them upon the earth; for then would our spiritual warfare be accomplished; which it cannot be, till the last enemy is overcome. In the mean time, whether a man be at home or abroad, with acquaintance or with strangers, he will never meet with persons and things entirely to his mind: something disagreeable will still present itself to disturb the tranquillity of his soul. And hence arises the absolute necessity of the grace of patience; hence it becomes our interest as well as our bounden duty to bear with those defects which God is pleased to permit; for by so doing we shall attain unto all that peace which this world will never permit us to enjoy. If thou art calumniated or injured by any one, the time is come when thou mayest gain a noble conquest over pride and anger; and grace and glory shall be thy exceeding great reward. Let us mourn for our sins in this particular, heretofore committed; let us humbly intreat for pardon, and it shall be granted us.

6. Let no man by despondency add evil to evil, but when his conscience accuseth him, let him have recourse to the remedy of confession. God only is without sin. His very angels he chargeth with folly; multitudes of whom fell through pride and a stubborn refusal to give the glory to whom it was due. The first man was tempted to disobedience, even in paradise, and was therefore cast out of that garden of delight into this waste and howling wilderness, wherein we now sojourn. How then can we be surprised, if a weak brother be sometimes seduced into sin, or at others vexed into impatience? Seldom do we read of a good and holy man of old, who was not troubled and persecuted by the perverse and ungodly of the time and country in which he lived. The conse quence was, his own trial and improvement while the affiction lasted, and in the end the glory of God manifested in the deliverance of his faithful servant.

7. Some indeed were smitten down by a sudden temptation, and others wearied out by a long series of tribulations, until shame and sorrow reminded them of some truths, which honours and pleasures had well nigh obli

terated.