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Fathers Lambert, Croiset,  and  Nouet.

"I bear  them  witness,  that  they  have  a  zeal  for  God,  but  not  according  to knowledge."— Romans  x.  2.

[L'ABBE Lambert,  at  first  the  Vicar-General  of  the  diocese  of  Meaux, was afterwards  appointed  secretary  to  Monseigneur  de  Juigue,  Archbishop of  Paris,  and  with  him  he  travelled  through  Germany,  France, and England. In addition  to  other  works,  this  saintly  servant  of  God published a  life  of  Archbishop  Juigue. The good  abbé  died  in  Paris,  on  the  11th  of  June,  1836.]

We read  in  the  annals  of  ecclesiastical  history  that  the prefect Modestus  was  sent  to  St.  Basil,  at  that  time,  Bishop of Caesarea,  with  a  message  from  the  emperor,  threatening him with  his  vengeance  if  he  continued  to  exercise  his  zeal for the  conversion  of  his  subjects. The prefect  made specious proposals,  and  told  the  saint  that  much  might  be expected  from  his  masters  generosity  if  he  would  but moderate his  zeal. Promises succeeded  menaces,  for  such as these  are  all  that  man  can  do. St. Basil  replied  that, where God  was  concerned,  there  is  nothing  more  important for His  servants  to  do,  than  to  be  firm  in  the  exercise  of their  ministry.

The following  portion  of  his  reply  is  taken  from  the twentieth oration  of  St.  Gregory  of  Nazianzen: —

" When  there  is  any  question  of  our  essential  duties,  we will  be  as  obliging  and  as  humble  as  our  rules  prescribe; we  should  be  sorry  to  show  any  arrogance,  not  only  to