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 vein of  piety,  which  runs  through  his  works  surpasses  his science, or  whether  his  learning  exceeds  his  piety" — after having  explained  the  fifty  properties  of  divine  love  mentioned in  the  Canticles,  expired  at  the  close  of  three  days, smiling,  and  pronouncing  these  words  of  the  same  sacred text:  "Thy  love,  O  God,  is  strong  as  death"  (Cant. viii.  6).

The fervour  and  ardour  of  St.  Martin  at  the  hour  of  his death are  remarkable. St. Louis,  who  has  proved  himself as great  a  monarch  among  the  Saints  as  an  eminent  saint among kings,  being  attacked  by  the  plague,  ceased  not  to pray,  and  after  receiving  the  viaticum,  he  extended  his arms in  the  form  of  a  cross,  fixed  his  eyes  on  heaven, and, animated  with  love  and  confidence,  expired  in  saying with the  Psalmist:  "I  will  come  into  Thy  house,  O  Lord; I  will  worship  towards  Thy  holy  temple,  in  Thy  fear" (Ps.v. 8).

St. Peter  Celestine,  after  having  endured  the  most cruel and  incredible  afflictions,  seeing  the  end  of  his  days approach, began  to  sing  like  the  swan,  and  terminated  his song with  his  life,  by  these  words  of  the  last  Psalm:  "Let every  spirit  praise  the  Lord"  (Ps.  cl.  5).

St. Eusebia,  surnamed  the  Stranger,  died  kneeling  in fervent  prayer. St. Peter  the  Martyr  yielded  his  last  sigh in writing  (with  his  finger,  which  he  had  dipped  in  his blood)  the  articles  of  the  faith  for  which  he  sacrificed  his life, and  in  saying:  "Into  Thy  hands,  O  Lord,  I  commend my  spirit "  (Ps.  xxx.  6).

The great  apostle  of  the  Indies  and  Japan,  St.  Francis Xavier, expired  holding  a  crucifix,  which  he  tenderly embraced, and  incessantly  repeated  in  transports  of  love: "O Jesus!  the  God  of  my  heart!"

From his Treatise  on  "  The  Love  of  God.  "