A.D. 1195. ΚΓΝΟ RICHARD AMENDS HIS CONDUCT. lawful, unless the revelation should come to him from above, or he should behold a sign. For he despised the person of his adviser, not understanding that sometimes the Lord reveals to babes the things that are hidden from the wise ; for the lepers announced good tidings to Samaria,31 and the ass of Balaam recalled its master from the unlawful way. AVherefore, the ' Sermit^-leaving the king, went his way, and hid himself from "Bëiorenis face. In process of time, however, although the before-named king despised the admonition of the poor hermit, still, by the inspiration of the Divine grace, he retained some part of his warning in his memory, having faith in the Lord that He who recalled the publicans and the Canaanitish woman to repentance, in His great mercy would give to him a penitent heart. Hence it was, that on the Lord's day in Easter week, the Lord visited him with a rod of iron, not that he might bruise him, but that he might receive the scourging to his advantage. For on that day, the Lord scourged him with a severe attack of illness, so that, calling before him religious men, he was not ashamed to confess the guiltiness of his life, and, after receiving absolution, took~~Dâclt Tas wîiè1 whom for a long time he had not known: and7putting_away all illicit intercourse, he remained constant to his wife, and they two became one flesh, and the Lord gave him health both of body and of soul. Oh ! happy the son, whom, "in this pilgrimage, the father's severity chastens for bis correction, and not for his destruction ! For the father corrects his son sometimes in kind words, and sometimes in harsh, that, by the one means or the other, he may recall him to do what'is right. And thus, in the furnace of justice does the Lord try His gold; there does He in adversity prove His holy one, that He may promote him to a crown. Truly, great and inexpressible are the works of the Lord, and His mercies are over all His works. For this king, over whose head his iniquities had passed away, was adopted by Christ as His son, and turning from his wickedness unto the Lord, was received by Him as a son. For God, in whose hands are the hearts of kings, and who turneth them whichever way He thinketh fit, instilled it into the heart of the king, that he should so quickly change his life and conversation for the better : for, rising early every day, he first sought the kingdom of God and its justice, and did not 3 1 Alluding to 2 Kings, vii.