doned sins." Ibid. Ep. iii. p. 310.-“ I address myself to you, who, having committed crimes, refuse to do penance; you, who are so timid, after you have been so impudent; you, who are ashamed to confess, after you have sinned without shame.—The Apostle says to the Priest : Impose not hands lightly on any one ; neither be partakers of other men's sins. (1 Tim. v. 22.) What then wilt thou do, who deceivest the Minister? Who either leavest him in ignorance, or confoundest his judgment by half communications. I entreat you, brethren, by that Lord whom no concealments can deceive, to cease from disguising a wounded conscience. A diseased man, if possessed of sense, hides not his wounds, however secret they may be, though the knife or fire should be applied.—And shall a sinner be afraid to purchase, by present shame, eternal life? Shall he dread to discover his sins to God, which are ill hidden from him, and at the time he holds out assistance to him?" Paræn. ad Panit. Ibid. p. 316.
SUPPRESSION OF THE PENITENTIARY.
Towards the close of the fourth century, an event took place at Constantinople, on which a stress has been laid, which, surely, it merits not. Nectarius was then Bishop of that See, who, in 381, succeeded to St. Gregory of Nazianzum, and who was followed, in 397, by St. John Chrysostom. The event, to which I allude, was the suppression of
