suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with GoD. For even hereunto were ye called; because CHRIST also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow His steps; Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, he threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously, Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by Whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

Of all the words in the Bible especially addressed to servants, I know none more animating than these, and long as the quotation is, one word is so linked with another, that it must be read to the end to get at the meaning; nor do I wonder that of a state affording such blessed opportunity to follow in the very footsteps of our LORD and SAVIOUR, the Apostle Paul should be understood to mean where he says unto such an one, "But if thou mayest be made free, use it rather," that is, use servitude rather. (1 Cor. vii. 21.) But how few, how very few are willing to follow out the Apostle's exhortation, abiding in the same calling wherein we were called, or, in the words familiar to us from our childhood, to do our duty in that state of life unto which it hath pleased God to call us. Is it not too much the habit of every one of us to be discontented with our place, casting about how we may better ourselves, as it is called, by escaping from the situation in which the providence of GoD hath set-us, and fondly deceiving ourselves with the idea that it is the hinderance to our serving, when in very truth it is for help, and a means in His hand for our perfecting in holiness? And till we will believe, that GOD Who knoweth all things, hath in His love and wisdom chosen better for us than we can choose for ourselves, we shall go on from day to day grudging and bemoaning our hard lot, when we might be proving what is that good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God, and daily growing in grace and in the knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.

It is written in the Psalms, "What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose ;" and in like manner as Zita feared the LORD, So was she taught of Him in the way that He hath chosen, the way of chastening, the way of making perfect through suffering. And the blessed result of His teaching was that she became a saint, and such a saint as there are but few; and in the midst of trials and afflictions, her soul too dwelt at ease, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the FATHER, in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, while she submitted herself to those over her in the fear of GOD. Indeed this joyful acquiescence in all the will of God, as year after year passed away and found her still a poor, despised, and what we would call

an ill-used servant girl, was one of the loveliest features of the saintly character of Zita. "I would not stop in my place a day to be made such a slave of! not I!" would be the indignant exclamation of too many a servant in such circumstances, and yet our calling is like Zita's, to follow in the footsteps of our LORD. As far as I can gather from the brief story of her life, she never seems to have had a thought of leaving the family where at so early an age she was placed by others, but Zita was no slave; she was the freeborn child of GoD, and therefore did she serve Him as no slave can serve, not with eye-service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing GOD, and whatsoever she did it was done not grudgingly, nor of necessity, but cheerfully and heartily as unto the LORD, and not unto men. And even in this life Zita was not left without reward. She had the peace of God in her heart, and the reward of the inheritance before her, and the joy of the LORD was her strength, and by patient continuance in well-doing, she attained at length to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Her master and mistress were constrained at last to acknowledge that in this lowly servant girl, GoD had sent them a treasure whose value they had been slow to learn, and that of all their servants there was none like Zita, whose diligence, fidelity, patience, and meekness, from the time she entered their service, had been a pattern to the household. They raised her to the place of housekeeper, and even the servants, overcome by the uniform respect and charity with which Zita behaved to them, confessed the truly Christian excellence of her conduct, and learned to love, to fear, and to obey her in her new situation. Let us, however, bear in mind, that the story which takes but few words to tell it, was spread over many years. The time of Zita's servitude extended to wellnigh half a century, and when during this long period the change in her condition, of which I have spoken took place is not recorded in the life from which this is compiled. But if it had been the will of God for the trial of the faith of His child and the perfecting of her patience, to have left her to suffer hardships and persecution and reproach, would not her joy have still been great, and her reward in heaven, even the joy and the reward of those who suffer for conscience toward GoD, endure grief, suffering wrongfully? I dwell upon this because we are so apt to look for and expect a recompense of another kind than that which God hath promised.

We are told of Zita that when she had won the esteem and confidence of her master and mistress, and was put in a place of trust and authority over others, she still continued the same humble, diligent, and faithful servant as before, nor did she as housekeeper claim any privilege beyond the others or any exemption from her wonted labours, but rather exerted herself the more on this account to set an example of all diligence to the rest. If sent on any commissions for the family to a distance, she never hesitated on account

C

of the weather, but set out at once, executed them punctually, and often returned wet through without a murmur.

We are told of Joseph in the house of his master Potiphar, that the LORD was with him, and made all that he did to prosper in his hand, so that his master made him overseer of his house, putting all that he had into the hand of his faithful servant, (Gen. xxxix. 3, 4,) and it was so with Zita's master and mistress; for seeing the grace given unto her, they not only put her in authority over the other servants, but trusted her with the management of their own affairs, so that she had to buy all that was needed in the family, and in this office she was most scrupulously careful to avoid all waste and unnecessary expense, considering herself bound to study the utmost economy, as responsible to GOD for all the money that passed through her hands; and when her master, finding that by GOD's blessing upon her faithful stewardship, his goods seemed as it were to multiply in her hands, gave her full authority to give of his substance what alms she judged convenient to the poor, she was only the more careful to exercise discretion in the matter; and while she gladly availed herself of his permission, to do nothing without reference to her master. She had through her meekness of wisdom, her humility and patience, obtained such an influence over those around her, that often when her master's anger was excited, and when no one else knowing the violence of his temper dared to speak in behalf of the offenders, a word from Zita would appease him and procure their pardon. It pained her greatly to hear others spoken ill of, and she would always endeavour to defend or to excuse them, remembering the many warnings against judging another, and yet in the exercise of the oversight committed to her, she was most careful to behave herself wisely in a perfect way, not suffering any wickedness to pass unreproved; and so on one occasion when a man-servant had spoken words unfitting for the ears of a Christian household, she sought and obtained his immediate discharge, desiring that it should be in her master's house, as in the house of David the beloved, who would "not know a wicked person." (Psalm ci.)

Zita was now able, had she desired to do so, to lay up of her wages against sickness or old age; but in the largeness of her faith, hope, and love, she kept back nothing for herself beyond the homely clothing suited to her station, giving all besides to the poor. Diligent as Zita was in the service of her earthly master, often saying that slothfulness in our earthly calling was a sure sign that our devotion was false, she was not the less devout in the service of the LORD. The writer of her life makes mention of her selfdenial, her fastings and her prayers; but of this much must be mere conjecture, and of such things, belonging as they do to the hidden life of Saints, but little can be known. The active duties to which Zita was called, and which she so faithfully fulfilled,

would seem to have required that she should eat her meat with gladness and singleness of heart, while they could leave her but little time for the closet or the Church; but of the fasting which appeared not unto men, and of the tears which God hath stored in His bottle, and of the prayer without ceasing which no business might interrupt, and which like the lamps of the wise virgins went not out by night, He only knoweth Who seeth in secret, and shall yet reward openly. This much we may believe, that as she was not slothful in business, so also was she fervent in spirit, serving the LORD. The neighbouring Church of S. Frigidian, and the homely garret assigned her in her master's house, witnessed her earnest prayers in public and in private. Often during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and at the time of communion, she was seen to weep abundantly, like that blessed penitent who washed the feet of JESUS with her tears, and did wipe them with the hair of her head, for she also loved much. In her last sickness she understood that the time of her departure was at hand, for the secret of the LORD was with her, and He made known to her His will concerning her; and so having received the Holy Eucharist, and being strengthened by the pilgrim's food in the Communion of the Body and the Blood of CHRIST, she fell asleep in JESUS, in the sixtieth year of her age, and in the year of our LORD 1272, and was buried in the Church of S. Frigidian. And now being absent from the body, she is present with the LORD, and together with her blessed mother, and with all saints, she waits for the morning of the resurrection when the poor in spirit shall have their portion in the kingdom of heaven.

GOD has suffered in this instance the story of a saintly life to be handed down to us; but how many are there of whom the world is not worthy, and of whom the world has never heard, whose names it may be are written only in the Lamb's book of life, but who, like Zita, in poverty and servitude, having followed their LORD and Master, shall be owned of Him in the day that cometh, when He shall make up His jewels, and give reward unto those that fear His name, both small and great.

In poverty and lowliness,

Whate'er our lot may be,

So grant us, Lord, in holiness,
To serve and follow Thee.

We ask not for the world's reward,
A dearer boon we seek ;

To trace the footprints of our LORD,
The Lowly and the Meek.

We ask but in the place assigned,
Our calling to fulfil;

GOD tells us

"SUFFICIENT unto the day is the evil thereof!" so: we know it to be so. Yet, as though we had not pain enough, we fret and wear out ourselves with the cares of to-morrow, regardless not only of the sin, but of the vanity of doing so; for this night our souls may be required of us, and what will it then