16.— On Zeal for God.
"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
