dangers and misfortunes under which they had groaned. The ex voto without number with which the walls are covered as with tapestry, form an obvious testimony of the favours which have been received there; and the immense treasures, composed of the offerings of all the Catholic world, prove authentically the veneration which they have felt for this sacred place, and force conviction upon every impartial mind. All in short serves to prove how fully the faithful were persuaded, that it was in reality the sacred house of Nazareth, in which our Lord and his holy Mother had dwelt, and the miracles continually wrought in this sanctuary, fully demonstrate how willing the Lord is to augment the glory of this divine asylum.

It is not then surprising, after miracles so unheard of and long continued, that so many holy and respectable persons should have come from the most distant countries to this holy place, to offer the homage of their piety and respect, and that they have left there proofs so sincere and liberal of their veneration. It is not more astonishing that sovereign Pontiffs have granted to this sanctuary so many indulgencies, privileges, and liberal gifts.

If a father, a husband, a friend, take delight in looking upon the portrait of a son, of a wife, of a friend, how much more are Catholics entitled to enjoy the sight of one of the most ancient representations of the Mother of God. Master and only sovereign of all that exists, it is not surprising then to see the real head of the universal church taking so much care to increase if it were possible the celebrity and worship due to Mary. Among so many other things which respect no less the affairs of heaven than earth, his tender piety has made him consider this object as one of the most worthy of his fine

soul, and of the unwavering faith which sustains and animates him in all that he does. It is on this account therefore that this holy Pontiff has exhibited so much solicitude, so much pomp, to render this deposit precious in the place in which heaven itself has placed it. This providence of our almighty Lord, who for five ages has watched over his work with singular care, and preserved to us a monument so worthy of veneration, proves evidently that this sanctuary is the object of his complacency, and as this house has been the abode of the daughter of so many kings, it has inspired very recently the worthy son of the first monarch of the world to take it under his royal protection. Antiquity, splendour, tradition, magnificent presents, collections of people from the most distant countries, all tend to prove that this sacred pledge has been confided to Loretto, as a present which she has received from the hand of God himself. Holy city, fear nothing then while thou shalt possess this celestial treasure, while thou shalt render thyself thus worthy, peace, abundance, security, joy, happiness, shall form thy portion.

New Zion, more happy shalt thou be as divine grace shall be poured out upon Italy, upon the whole world, but especially upon the pious prince who has taken thee under his protection. Doubt not but that thou shalt secure to thyself the blessing of heaven which is never wanting to sustain the throne of wise and virtuous kings who favour the church, its principles, and its laws.

So many proofs, in fact, so many testimonies of persons the most respectable, ought to close the mouths of unbelieving critics who, seduced by a spirit of contradiction and malignity, wish to attempt to obscure the glory of the great Sanctuary of Loretto. It is not by superficial opposition, neither by

sophistry that one can be made to doubt of the truth of the translation of the sacred house; undoubtedly inhabited formerly by the very august Mother of God. The house where the divine word became incarnate, for the salvation of the human species. The house where the Lord of the Universe has lived and been educated. Glory immortal to Jesus Christ, to his eternal Father, and to the Holy Spirit who lives and reigns in all ages. Amen. [The description of the Sacred Chapel, and the enumeration of many of its splendid gifts, with the names of the donors, many of them of great fame and distinction, together with its costly ornaments and foundations for masses of immense expense, the translator passes over.]

As I write for the French in particular, I cannot resist the inclination I feel to describe the va

rious gifts which the kings of France, predecessors of Napoleon the great, have made to this Sanctuary, the object of their piety as it is now of the special protection of Prince Eugene, viceroy of Italy.

Gifts ex voto, offered to the church of Loretto by the Kings, Queens and Lords of France.

One lamp of silver, by Catherine de Medicis, wife of Henry Second. An extremely rich vase made of a sapphire stone, surmounted by an angel holding a lily formed of precious stones, by Henry III.

A jewel representing Marie de Medicis, wife of Henry IV, enriched by a great number of diamonds. Present from this Queen.

Two angels of silver bearing each a taper always burning at the foot of the grate, before the sacred statue, by the duke d'Epernon.

A lamp and a silver ship, by the city of Paris.

Two silver lamps, by the Duc de Joyeuse, 1584.

One heart and two picture frames

of silver, upon which is written in Latin and in French, the consecration which the people of Canada made of their persons to the church of Loretto in the year 1684.

A book of devotion decorated with precious stones, by Henrietta Queen of England, sister of Louis XIII. Two crowns of gold loaded with diamonds and precious stones. These crowns ornament still the head of the Sacred statue: by the queen Mother of Louis XIV. Louis XIV. at his birth carried by An infant of gold representing an Angel of silver, which weighs 100 marcs, and the infant weighs 48 marcs, by the same Queen.

A heart of gold embellished with precious stones, with two eyes of gold also, and garnished in the

same

manner, by Christine of France wife of the Duke of Savoy.

A Castle of silver representing that of Vincennes, by the Prince of Conty, brother to the Great

Conde.

A silver statue of the holy Virgin, by a religious monastery in Paris, 1643.

A statue of silver of the great Conde represented on his knees, by the same prince.

A picture in silver representing the Duke of Montpensier on his knees before the holy virgin, by Louis of Bourbon, duke of Montpensier, 1571.

A picture in silver, which represents the citadel of Tournon, by Madam Claude of Tournon.

A silver lamp weighing 60 marcs, by the duke de Grequi Charles Sciara.

A lamp of silver which belonged to Louis de Marrillac, Marshall of France, offered by Renede Marrillac.

A silver statue of the virgin, by Louis Perrochel, counsellor of the Parliament at Paris.

A picture of silver, by Chavigny.

A picture in silver representing

ed valuable thoughts, but were too much encumbered with useless or erroneous matter to be worthy of printing entire. Among them all, if one would be at the pains to look them over, there might be found some useful, as well as some curious things. We have bestowed a vacant hour upon them, and have brought forth a selection, of which the following are a portion.

DOUBLE DEALING.

All transactions in secular affairs should be equally guarded and honourable. Persons entering into contracts in trade and business, who so shape their terms as to afford an opportunity of getting away from the obligation, are highly criminal before God. Some think

God will not narrowly inspect pecuniary matters, but they will do well to look into this, and see whether God passes over such matters. In the first days of the church it became a practice with some who possessed estates to sell them and deposit the avails in the common stock of the church. Ananias, a professed disciple, sold his possesion and brought a part of the price, pretending it was the whole, and laid it at the apostles' feet as others had done. His wife too was privy to the deception and acted her part in carrying it on. And both were struck dead on the spot for prevaricating. An awful warning to prevaricators.-Fast Sermon, on the Sin and Folly of Prevaricating.

one of our sages, is the plague of wise men and the idol of fools.' An appeal to custom is no uncom mon apology for evi! practices. We can exclaim against no popular vice, no misuse of religion, no perversion of moral principle, but custom is offered as an excuse. To fall in with custom is an easy, a popular thing, but it is a principle which if admitted must tend to the utter ruin of any man, or nation of men whatever.

On the other hand, want of custom is as often pleaded as a reason for not doing this or that.—Ib.

FALSE CHARITY.

When and where we can put a favourable construction upon what may have some appearance of evil about it we are certainly bound to do it. But shall we dare to pronounce a thing done upon a good motive, or hope it is so, when there is no evidence that it is, but the evidence is to the contrary? It is often said, that we cannot see into the heart, and therefore should not judge of motive. True, we cannot see into the heart, but we can see what comes out of it, and it is by what comes out, that we ought to judge of the state that is within. We dare not ascribe any bad thing to a good motive;-a good heart out of its treasure bringeth forth good things, and an evil heart, evil things. Shall I hope and believe that that is done for the glory of the Redeemer which is clearly tending to pamper self-love?— Shall I say that a man is offering the sacrifice of righteousness unto the Lord when it is to be seen that he is offering sacrifice to his own net and burning incense to his own drag? Shall I express a hope that a thing is done in charity and for the good and wealth of Christs' whole church, when that same thing is directed and is tending to the gratification of pride, of bigotry,

of self-love, of mere party and party spirit? To go this length in charity is to level all distinction between virtue and vice-between depravity and purity-between Christ and Belial. It is to confound in one mass, good and evil, and to fill up the great gulf which God has fixed between heaven and hell, and to cast up the high way across it, so that the societies of the two worlds may no longer be each a separate and distinct people.-Ib.

TREATING TRIFLES AS THINGS OF

fore we must think, and let think, and have charity." And so we must on minor questions, as Paul had. Whether a man should eat meat or only herbs, or whether he should observe some particular days or not, these were indifferent things. But it was not indifferent whether a man should, or not, be a blasphemer, an idolater, an adulterer, a thief, a busy body in other men's matters.

All that scoff at sin will God at length scoff at, and upon such sinners will he at last pour out his in

PORTANCE AS TRIFLES.

Some men attach an importance to a mere outward ceremony, to a form of worship, to the mode of administering an ordinance, to some internal regulation, some by-law, in the affairs of Christian society; and rather than omit or waive this little thing, they would suffer half the kingdom of Christ to be deranged. While on the other hand, some men, or the self-same men, would have little scruple upon a grand point of doctrine-upon some bold line of discipline-upon what is essential to the gospel and glory of Christ. The Jewish Pharisees treated things in this way: the tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, they considered a great thing-but the weighty matters of the law, justice, mercy, faith, these were trifles.-Ib.

this shall be the portion of their cup.-lb.

GOD NOT DECEIVED BY THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE.

:

Before men, a great deal of our secret intentions and designs may be concealed, but before God, all is open, from him nothing is hid. And it is to God that we are accountable it matters but little, how long and how well we may conduct ourselves to the approbation of men; if God is not pleased with us, he will hang on our skirts and hover about us as an enemy. It may be some time, before God will discover to us his displeasure, and this will be so much the worse: and as it affects nations and churches, it is terrible. God has given his law-the precept is plain, but men think the precept may neatly be avoided, and so they equivocate and ease off, and God gives them their way for a while, but at last it comes upon them.—Ib.

HOW TO GAIN THE DIVINE FAVOR.

It is a plain path--the plain path of sincerity: and nothing is so easy as to please God. He requires nothing that is unreasonable, and he has told us exactly what he would have us to do; and he will make, too, every allowance for our igno