minds the first seeds of that religion, which influenced the whole of their subsequent lives. We allude to the influence, which such women, as the mother of Theodoret; Monica, the mother of Augustin; and Nonna, the mother of Gregory Nazianzen, exercised upon the religious education of their sons; a remarkable feature in the history of the great fathers of the early church.

This last observation applies to Chrysostom; for to his mother Anthusa, he owed the first Christian impulse which his mind received. Induced by a tender recollection of her husband, whom she lost soon after the birth of Chrysostom, and by anxiety for the education of her son, to which sole object she devoted her life, she remained a widow from her twentieth year. Affectionate fidelity to a departed husband was a quality held in much esteem among the Christians; even Libanius, the celebrated teacher of eloquence and literature in Antioch, who would not willingly have paid a tribute of praise to Christian virtue, exclaimed, when speaking of Anthusa: "What wives the Christians have!"

Chrysostom attended the school of this master, and readily availed himself of the advantages which it afforded him; but the pernicious effects which instruction from one so deeply prejudiced against the Christians might have produced, were counteracted by the religious principles which Anthusa continually instilled into the mind of her son, and by his early intercourse with the Scriptures. In later life Chrysostom was enabled, from his own experience, to speak of the blessed influence of an early and intimate acquaintance with the inspired volume. Throughout his writings, and his whole conduct, he affords a striking example of the mighty power which

the Word of God can exercise over the human heart; for by the study of that sacred volume, the great features of his character were formed. Hence arose his enthusiasm for holiness, his high moral energy, his unshaken constancy and ardent love, his aversion to the vain ostentation of his day, his eager zeal for truth and justice, animated by a fervent and steadfast faith. The Bible was to Chrysostom the book of life, which illustrated the great truths he preached. From that Book he derived, in his earliest works and discourses, those perfect images of an heroic, struggling, and victorious faith, by a contemplation of which he acquired strength during the severe sufferings of his closing days; and from the same living source he also drew the great moral principles which equally pervaded his first writings and his last letters, and which he faithfully observed during his whole life.

A. D. 367. What proficiency Chrysostom had made in his studies, may be gathered from an expression of Libanius on his death-bed. When asked, who was to succeed him in his school, "John," said he, "had not the Christians stolen him from us." The forum was at that time the great field to promotion, and Chrysostom commenced practising as an advocate. This led him into company, and he conceived a taste for theatrical entertainments. It is said, that, till late in life, he always carried about him a copy of Aristophanes. The bee has the art to extract honey from poisonous plants; and from the very corruptions of the stage, our Attic bee was enabled to cull some of the materials of his future fame as a preacher. One of his characteristic excellencies is that living and dramatic effect, which imparts such

vivacity to his compositions, and is so well calculated to enchain the attention of an auditory.

But he soon became equally disgusted with the stage and the bar; and a disinclination to worldly pursuits excited in his mind an increasing desire for a life of retirement. While in this happy frame of mind, Meletius, bishop of Antioch, took him under his especial care, and had the sagacity to foresee the eminent services which his talents would one day confer upon the church.

St. Chrysostom became warmly attached to this excellent prelate, but did not long enjoy his society and instructions. The zeal of Meletius in the defence of orthodox opinions had drawn down upon him the resentment of the Arians, at whose instigation he was banished from Antioch, for the third time, by the Emperor Valens. Grieved at this separation from his spiritual guide, and longing for that solitude, which is the nurse of great minds, he resolved to retire from the world with his friend Basil; the same who figures as the interlocutor in his famous "Dialogue on the Priesthood."

When Anthusa was made acquainted with her son's resolution, she found all her religion insufficient to enable her to support the thoughts of his lengthened and uncertain absence. Nothing can be more simply natural, yet more deeply touching, than his own account of the interview between them on this occasion.

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My mother," says he, "as soon as she suspected my design, took me by the hand, and asked me to go with her into her chamber; there, seating herself with me, on the side of the bed, where she had brought me into the world, she gave way to a torrent of tears, interrupted only by words which

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agitated me still more powerfully. My son,' said she, it was not long allowed me to enjoy the blessing of your father's virtues-the will of the Lord ordained it otherwise. His death followed close upon the sufferings I had endured in giving you birth: thus you were left an orphan in your cradle, and I became a widow in the very bloom of life.What I have had to struggle with, must be felt in order to be imagined. No, it is not language that can describe the difficulties to which a young woman is exposed, who, scarcely having quitted her paternal roof, without any knowledge of the world, finds herself suddenly plunged into mourning and desolation, and obliged to take upon herself all the burden of a situation for which she is unfitted equally by her sex and youth. How rigorous and painful are the duties she is called upon to fulfil ! What vigilance does it require to watch her servants, to repair their negligences, to guard against their dishonesty! What circumspection to avoid the snares which even her own family lay for her! what courage to defend herself against the injustice and brutality of assessors and tax-gatherers! If a father, in dying, leave only a daughter, however she may be, in some respects, an anxiety to a mother, she neither subjects her to so much expense nor so much solicitude. But if he leave a son, how great is a mother's responsibility! not a day passes but she trembles for him, setting aside all the expenses necessarily attendant on his education. Yet none of these considerations ever induced me to think of a second marriagenever could I have reconciled myself to the idea of introducing another husband into your father's house. I have braved the storm, and remained firm amidst all the oppositions I have met with; not even en

deavouring to evade any of the restraints and duties my task imposed upon me. I have escaped the tempest, thanks, certainly, to the help of God; but next to that, I have, without doubt, been supported through it by the consolation, so precious to the heart of a mother, in the midst of whatever afllictions may surround her, of seeing my son every day, and contemplating in him the living image and perfect resemblance of the husband I have lost.You gave me this consolation from your tenderest years, when you first began to utter the broken words so dear to a mother's ears. You cannot reproach me with any mismanagement or waste of your father's inheritance, as those too often may do, who have the misfortune to be left orphans-I have preserved it to you untouched, and I have even provided for all your expenses out of my own portion, and the money I have received from my family. Do not think, my dear son, that I mention these things to reproach you with them, as sacrifices; the only gratitude I ask of you is, not to make me a second time a widow, by opening a wound which time is beginning to heal. Do not leave me till you have closed my eyes: my last hour cannot be very long delayed. At your age you may hope to attain a period of life still far distant; but at mine, only one thought remains, and that is of death.

As soon

therefore as you have paid the last duties to me, as soon as you have laid my remains by the side of those of your father, you will be free to go where you please to risk the dangers of navigation, on whatever sea you may desire. No one will then

have any right to oppose your wishes: but till that time, whilst one breath of life remains in me, bear with my presence, and do not become weary of