fear of my God; and of this I shall appoint my conscience inspector, that I may do nothing but what is well-pleasing to Him, and required by the brevity of life. A conscientious heart goes perpetually like a watch, and, if we attend to it, will tell us correctly what the hour is, and when it is time either for walking circumspectly, forsaking sin, or turning to God.

Thou faithful God! I thank Thee for having put the watch of conscience into the breast of man, and that, amidst all his enjoyments and employments, it strikes the hour so clearly that he cannot choose but hear it. Grant me grace piously to regulate my actions by it, and to lose no opportunity of doing good.

CLIII.

The Ring.

LADY of quality once asked Gotthold what lessons in the practice of piety she should learn from the gold rings upon her fingers. Let the marriage one, he replied, remind you that your soul is the bride of the Lord Jesus, espoused to Him in faith; and for this reason, be at all times true to Him, and strive to keep your soul,

like a pure and chaste virgin, unspotted from the world and its pollutions. When worldly and sinful thoughts intrude into your mind, consider that they are the unchaste suggestions of Satan, who would fain estrange you from the Lord Jesus. If there be a stone set in the ring, reflect that, in the same way, Christ, the bright jasper and ruby, must be embraced by our faith; because, of itself, faith is of little worth, but with Christ, and through Him, is worth heaven itself.

CLIV.

Second Meditation on the Ring.

ROCEEDING, Gotthold said: As the right hand, by wielding the pen or sword, and undergoing all kinds of toil, earns and procures the rings, and yet must often resign to the left, which does less of the work, the honor of wearing them; even so, remember that in the world they who merit honor most are frequently destitute of it; and look to yourself, whether the honor you enjoy has been really deserved; or whether, for example, men merely call you a Christian, and say

you are virtuous, godly, benevolent, while perhaps you are conscious of never having yet earnestly attempted to be what these names imply that you are.

CLV.

Wheat.

OOKING on one day while a farmer's wheat was being thrashed, Gotthold observed that the men not only stoutly beat it, but trode upon it with their feet; and, finally, by various

expedients, separated the good grain from the chaff, dust, and other impurities. How comes it, he asked himself, that whatever is of a useful nature, and intended to be profitable to the world, must suffer much, and be subjected to every kind of ill-treatment; but that man, who himself does with other things as he lists, is unwilling to suffer, or permit God to deal as He lists with him? Wheat, which is the noblest of all the products of the earth, is here thrashed, trode upon, swept about, tossed in the air, sifted, shaken and shovelled, and afterwards ground, re-sifted, and baked, and so arrives at last upon the tables of princes and kings. What, then, do I mean in being displeased with God, because He does not strew my path with rose-leaves, or translate me to heaven in an easy-chair? By what

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other process could the wheat be cleaned? and how could I be sanctified or saved, were I to remain a stranger to the cross, and to affliction?

Deal with me, therefore, O my God! as Thou wilt, and grant that what is Thy will, may also be mine. Thrash, toss, and sift me, that at last I may appear as white and pure bread upon Thy table. I will suffer all the more willingly, knowing, as I do, the words of Thy servant: Bread-corn is bruised, and yet not destroyed by thrashing. This also is done by the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.1

CLVI.

Loss of Memory.

ROM the letter of a friend, Gotthold learned that a man of learning, with whom he was acquainted, had lost his memory, and thereby been incapacitated for all business of importance. Having often both heard and read of similar cases, he reflected upon them, and ere long convinced himself that the Most High has good reasons for permitting them to happen. They serve to teach men that it is in His power to deprive them of intellectual gifts, no less than of goods of fortune and advantages

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of person; and, consequently, that in every respect He is their Lord Superior. And this lesson should induce them to fear and love Him, and to use all things for the advancement of His glory, and in accordance with His will.

Moreover, he proceeded, I am not sure whether a retentive memory is absolutely preferable to a feeble one or not. No doubt the memory is a treasury in which a fund of sound and useful knowledge, experience, precepts, and instances, may be collected and preserved. By many a one, however, it is filled with things which are evil, and which, in place of promoting, prove a great hinderance to holiness and salvation. Happy the man who always remembers-1st, his sin, that he may be kept from security, and pride, exercise constant repentance, and, with faith and humility, have recourse to God's mercy and the Saviour's merits; 2d, the benefits he has received from others that he may show his gratitude; 3d, death—that, like a Christian, he may prepare for its approach. But happy, likewise, the man who totally forgets-1st, his own good deeds, so as never to vaunt them before God or man, nor in heart or word upbraid those to whom they were done; 2d, the injuries and affronts he has received from others, so as never to indulge anger or revenge; and 3d, lost property, so as not vainly to distress and vex himself with cares. Vouchsafe to me, O my God! this kind of memory, and this kind of forgetfulness.