which he who sinned would have totally lost, had not the compassion and consequent sufferings of the Son of God, meliorated the condign punishment.

JOSEPHUS mentions, that Tiberius Cæsar, inquiring why the governors of provinces remained so long in office, was answered by an example. "I have seen," said the respondent," an infirm man covered with ulcers, grievously tormented by a swarm of flies. When asked why he did not use a flap and drive off his tormentors, he answered, The very circumstance which you think would re

lieve me, would, in effect, promote tenfold suffering. For by driving away the flies now saturated with my blood, I should afford an opportunity to those that were empty and hungry to supply their place. And who doubts that the biting of a hungry insect is not ten thousand times more painful than that of one completely gorged,-unless the person attacked, be stone, and not flesh.'" (52)

APPLICATION.

My beloved, governors who are already enriched by plunder, are less likely to continue their oppression than they who are poor and needy.

TALE LII.

OF FIDELITY.

VALERIUS (53) records, that Fabius redeemed certain captives by the promise of a sum of money; which when the senate refused to confirm, he sold all the property he possessed, and with the produce paid down the stipu lated sum, caring less to be thought poor in lands than poor in honesty.

APPLICATION.

My beloved, Fabius is Christ, who at the expence of life, ransomed mankind from eternal death.

TALE LIII.

OF GOOD RULERS, WHO ARE NOT TO BE CHANGED.

VALERIUS Maximus (54) states, that when all the Syracusans desired the death of Dionysius, king of Sicily, a single woman every morning entreated the gods to continue his life, and his sovereignty. Dionysius, surprised at this solitary exception, inquired the reason. She answered, "When I was a girl, and governed by a tyrant, I wished for his removal, and presently we obtained a worse instead. Having got rid of him, a worse still succeeded; and therefore, under the justifiable apprehension that your place may be filled up by a very devil, I pray earnestly for your

longer continuance *.”

Dionysius, hearing

this, gave her no farther trouble.

APPLICATION.

My beloved, be not desirous of change. God is merciful and gracious-be content with His government.

TALE LIV.

OF A CELESTIAL KINGDOM.

THE emperor Frederic constructed a curious marble gate at the entrance of Capua. It stood above a fountain of running water; and

* The sentiment is similar to that of Shakspeare.

"And makes us rather bear those ills we have,

Than fly to others that we know not of."

Hamlet, Act III. Sc. 1.