under correction, will by degrees proceed to the exterrnination of the secedcrs !70 For the plantation of our heavenly Father will not be rooted up. A most violent tempest is now toss-ing the ship ; I have hold of the helm, and do you invite me to sleep ? Do you collect and place before my eyes the benefits that have been conferred upon me by our lord the king, and speak of my being elevated from a lowly state to the highest position ? Still, in my simplicity, to give you some small answer, what lowly state is it you are thinking of? If you look at the time at which he placed me high in his service, there were the archdeaconry of Canterbury, the priorship of Beverley, many benefices, several prebendal stalls, with other things, not a few, which, at that period at-tached to my name, go far to disprove that I was in such a low position as you affirm, with relation to the things of this world. And if you look at the origin of my family and my ancestors, they were citizens of London, who dwelt in the midst of their fellow-citizens without reproach, and persons by no means of the lowest station. But as, one day, when the darkness of the world is removed, we shall be judged by the light of truth, which will be the most glorious, to have been born of humble parents, or even those of the lowest rank, or of the great and honored ones of the world ? For the Apostle says : ' Those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon those we bestow more abundant honor.'71 ' What do pedigrees avail ?' says the heathen poet. What then ought a learned and religious Christian bishop to say? But perhaps, by your mention of my lowly condition, it was your intention to put me somewhat to confusion ; however, how criminal it is to put one's father to confusion, you yourseB? will see from the commandment of the Lord, which you have received as to "honoring your father. But, as for commending the king's favour to me, there was no great need to take the trouble of recapi-tulating his services done to me. For I call the Lord as my witness that nothing under the sun do I prefer to his favour and safety, save only those things which belong to God and to the Holy Church ; for otherwise it will not be possible for him to reign with happiness or with safety. As it is, so be it. There are many other favours, and still greater ones, than are mentioned in your letter, which I have received at his hands. 70 « Apostasiœ," meaning himself and his followers. « 1 Cor. xii. 23. A.D. 1167. THE AKCHBISHOP TO THE BISHOP OF LONDON. 299