the opinion that the day was truly sanctified, if one mass or the Gospel was heard on Sunday; but no one made inquiry about the word of God, nor was it taught by any one.

And now, in truth, although we have the word of God, still we do not suppress this abuse; we allow persons to preach to us and to admonish us continually, but hear them without earnestness and concern. Know, therefore, that it is not sufficient for us to hear only, but we should also learn and observe; and think not, that it is left to your discretion, or that little depends on it, but that it is God's commandment, who will require of you how you have heard, learned, and honored his word.

In like manner, those fastidious spirits must also be reproved, who, after having heard a sermon or two, are so vain as to presume that they understand it perfectly themselves, and have no further need for a teacher. For this is even the sin, which was heretofore numbered among irrevocable sins, and called akedeia, (axydɛia,) that is, listlessness or disgust,—a malignant and pernicious calamity, by which the devil fascinates and deceives many hearts, in order that he may overwhelm us, and clandestinely again draw away from us the word of God.

Permit us then to say to you, that even if you understood the word of God in the most perfect manner, and were master of all things, you are still, however, perpetually under the influence of Satan, who ceases neither day nor night, in his endeavors to deceive you, in order that he may excite in your heart unbelief and evil thoughts, against the former, and all commandments; you must, for this reason, perpetually have in your heart, on your lips, and before your ears, the word of God. But if the heart remains idle and the word does not find a response, he obtrudes himself, and has accomplished the injuries before we are aware of it. It has, moreover, such efficacy, that, if it is considered, heard, and treated of with sincerity, it never vanishes without fruit, but always excites new ideas and emotions, and creates a pure heart and thoughts; for they are not inactive or lifeless, but energetic, living words. And if no other motive and necessity urge us to a consideration of the divine word, this should excite every one to it, since through it Satan is alarmed and repelled, and this commandment fulfilled; and since it is more acceptable in the sight of God, than all glittering, hypocritical works.

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.

We have hitherto treated of the first three commandments, which

have express reference to God. with our whole heart, fear and that we should not misuse his holy name in lying, or any evil deeds, but use it to the praise of God, and to the benefit and salvation of our neighbors and ourselves. Third, that we should hear and exercise the word of God with diligence, on festival or holy-days, in order that all the deeds of our life may harmonize with it. And now the other seven follow, which are proposed in reference to our fellow men, and among which the first and greatest is:

First, that we should trust in him love him in all our life. Second,

Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother.

Upon this paternal and maternal state, God has particularly conferred praise above all other states which are subordinate to him, by commanding us not merely to love, but to honor our parents. For in reference to brothers, sisters, and neighbors in general, he commands nothing higher than to love them, so that he separates and distinguishes father and mother from all other persons on earth, and places them next to himself. For, to honor is much more sublime than to love, as it embraces not only love but modesty, humility, and reverence, towards a natural majesty. Nor does he simply require us to address them in a friendly tone and with reverence, but mostly to conduct and demean ourselves, both in our hearts and in our deportment, so as to hold them in high estimation and regard them as next to God. For that which we should honor from our hearts, we should indeed esteem preeminently.

It is necessary then, that young persons be impressed with the idea that they should regard their parents in God's stead, and consider that even if they be poor, weak, deficient, and peevish, they are nevertheless a father and a mother given of God. They are not deprived of this honor on account of their deportmen or defects; for this reason the personal appearance of the parents however deformed is not to be considered, but the will of God who thus created and ordered it. Otherwise we are, in truth, all alike in the sight of God, but in our midst things cannot exist without this inequality and ordinary distinction. For this reason, it is also commanded of God that you observe obedience to me as your father, and that I have the superiority.

Learn, then, in the first place, what that honor towards parents/ is which is required in this commandment; viz. that we should es teem them sincerely and worthily, as the highest treasure on earth: : should demean ourselves towards them modestly in our expressions

and we should not approach them maliciously, or look upon thera with contempt or disdain, but yield to them in their claims, and keep silence even if they act imprudently. Finally, we should manifest this honor in our conduct, that is, in love and goodness, which may serve, assist, and maintain them when they are old, sick, feeble, or in need; and all this not only willingly, but with humility and reverence, as if it were done in the presence of God. For whoever knows how he should esteem them in his heart, will not let them suffer with hunger and want, but will regard them equal and superior to himself, and impart to them whatever his ability and possessions will permit.

In the second place, observe and mark how great, how good, and holy a work is here proposed for children, which alas! is entirely neglected, and no one perceives that God has commanded it, or that it is a holy, divine declaration and doctrine. For if it had been held in this light, each one could have perceived from it, that they must have been holy people, who lived according to these words; consequently no one would have dared to establish any course of monastic life, or any ecclesiastical orders, had each child adhered to this commandment, and if he could have directed his conscience towards God and said: "If I am to perform good and holy works, I know of none indeed that are better than to render all honor and obedience to my parents, since God has ordered it himself; for what God commands must be far more noble than all that we can advise of ourselves and since there can be found no higher or better master than God, there can undoubtedly be no better doctrine than that which he gives. Now, he teaches abundantly what men should do, if they wish to perform really good works; and inasmuch as he commands these works to be done, he implies that they are well-pleasing to him. If then, it is God who commands this, and if he knows nothing better to propose, I shall be unable to amend it."

Had any father a pious son properly instructed in this manner, liberally educated and kept at home in the service and obedience of its superior, great pleasure and enjoyment he would see in it. But no one has obliged the command of God to be honored thus, but has suffered it to lie forgotten, or to be violated, so that a child is incapable of reflection, and while it gapes with silly astonishment after that which we have devised, not once does it consult God on the subject.

Let us, therefore, for God's sake, once teach young persons to banish from before their eyes all other things, and fix their attention first upon this commandment, and if they wish to serve God with

really good works, to perform that which is desireable to their pa rents, or to those to whom they are subject instead of their parents. For the child conscious of this and observing it, has the great consolation within his heart, which enables him to say with freedom and honor (in defiance of, and in opposition to, all who are engaged in their own self-chosen works :)" Behold! this work is well-pleasing to my God in heaven; of this I am certain." Let others come forward and boast of their great, their numerous, their tedious and laborious works, and then let us see whether they can produce a single work, more noble and important than the obedience due to father and mother, which God has commanded and which he places next to the obedience due to himself; and although, where his word and will maintain their proper ascendancy and obedience, nothing can be superior to the will and word of parents, yet this will and word must remain in due subserviency to him, and must not conflict with the preceeding commandments.

You should, therefore, rejoice in your heart, and thank God, because he has chosen you, and rendered you worthy to perform a work so precious and acceptable in his sight. And you should esteem it great and valuable, even if it is looked upon by others as the most insignificant and despicable, not on account of our worthiness, but because it is comprehended and embraced in the treasure and sanctuary, namely, God's word and command. O how deara treasure should it be to all Carthusians, monks, and nuns, if they could produce in all their religious austerities one single work before God, which was done according to his command; and could say with joyful hearts in his presence, "We are now certain that this work is well-pleasing to thee." How shall they, these indigent persons, appear, when they shall stand before God and all the world, blushing with shame in the presence of a child that has lived in obedience to this commandment, and when they must acknowledge that with the purposes and performances of their whole life, they have not been worthy to serve it with a drink of water? This justly happens to them on account of their diabolical perversion, since they trample God's command under foot, in torturing themselves to no purpose, with their own self-devised works, reaping derision and shame as their reward.

Should not the heart leap and melt with joy, when it goes to work and performs that which is commanded, so that it can say, "Behold, this is more noble than all Carthusian sanctity, even if they torture themselves to death by fasting and praying on their knees without intermission?" For in reference to the former, we have an indubitable declaration and testimony that he has commanded it; but in

reference to the latter, he has not enjoined a single word. But this is the misfortune and lamentable blindness of the world, that no one believes it. Thus the devil has fascinated us with false holiness and a pretence of our own works.

It is therefore my ardent desire, (I repeat it again,) that we might open our eyes and our ears, and take these things to heart, in order that we may not at some time be led away again from the pure word of God, by the delusive arts of the devil. Thus we might look for a happy period in which parents could enjoy the more peace, love, friendship, and harmony in their families, and children could gain the whole affection of their parents. Again, if they are pertinacious, and will not do that which they should, unless they are chastised, they provoke both their God and their parents, and by this means deprive themselves of this treasure and peace of conscience, and bring upon themselves nothing but misfortunes. And it is on this account, that we find the unfortunate state of affairs now existing in the world, of which every one complains, that both young and old are extremely dissolute and ungovernable, destitute of fear and honor, carrying nothing into effect unless forced by chastisement, and in a clandestine manner withdrawing from each other, and perpetrating whatever they can. On account of which God also punishes them, so that they fall into all manner of calamity and distress. And we also see, that parents themselves are generally uninformed; one simpleton instructs another; and as the parents have lived, so the children live after them.

And this should, I say, be the first and the greatest consideration urging us to an observance of this commandment, on account of which, if we were destitute of parents, we should desire God to propose for us wood and stone which we might call father and mother. How much more, since he has given us living parents, should we delight in being able to render honor and obedience to them, since we know that it is so well-pleasing to the Supreme Ruler of the universe and to all angels, and that it is so unpleasant to all devils, the noblest work which can be performed after the high service of God comprised in the foregoing commandments, the giving of alms and all other acts of benevolence, are still unequal to it. For God has placed this state in the first order, yes, he has instituted it in his own stead on earth. This will and pleasure of God should be a sufficient cause and inducement for us to do with willingness and delight whatever we are able.

We are indeed, under still further obligation in the sight of the world, to be thankful for the favors and all the benefits which we