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Homily by St. Bernard, Abbat [of Clairvaux.] (Expos. of this Gospel.)

I take it that these words are those concerning which the Church crieth, from the ends of the earth unto her undying Bridegroom: By the words of Thy lips I have kept me to strait paths," (Ps. xvi. 4.) These are the words which throughout all the earth have persuaded men to despise the world, and of their own will to make themselves poor,-these are the words which have filled the cloisters with monks, and the deserts with hermits,these are the words which have plundered Egypt, and robbed her of her goodliest vessels,-these are the living and effectual words, converting the soul, instinct with the happy desire for holiness, and the truth of the faithful promises.

Eighth Lesson.

THE world passeth away, and the lust thereof, and it is better to pass away from it than to leave it to pass away from us. Behold, we have left all, and have followed Thee. He rejoiced as a strong man to run a race, and neither canst thou follow the runner if thou be weighted. It is not a bad exchange to have left all things for Him Who is above all things, for rather with Him shall things be given unto us-and when thou possessest Him, He alone will be all-in all who for Him have left all. And I say not all possessions but all desires, and them most chiefly.

Ninth Lesson. Of St. Chrysogonus, who is also commemorated at Lauds.