lect to-day's lesson about holy Naboth and his vineyard.
The king asked him to make it over to him, as a ground, not for
vines, but for common pot-herbs. What was his answer? 'God forbid I
should give to thee the inheritance of my fathers!' The king was
saddened when another's property was justly denied him; but he was
beguiled by a woman's counsel. Naboth shed his blood rather than
give up his vines. Shall he refuse his own vineyard, and we
surrender the Church of Christ?

"What contumacy, then, was there in my answer? I did but say at the
interview, 'God forbid I should surrender Christ's heritage!' I
added, 'the heritage of our fathers;' yes, of our Dionysius, who
died in exile for the faith's sake, of Eustorgius the Confessor, of
Myrocles, and of all the other faithful bishops back. I answered
as a priest: let the Emperor act as an Emperor; he shall rob me of
my life sooner than of my fidelity.

"In what respect was my answer other than respectful? Does the
Emperor wish to tax us? I make no opposition. The Church lands pay
taxes. Does he require our lands? He has power to claim them; we
will not prevent him. The contributions of the people will suffice
for the poor. Let not our enemies take offence at our lands; they
may away with them, if it please the Emperor; not that I give them,
but I make no opposition. Do they seek my gold? I can truly say,
silver and gold I seek not. But they take offence at my raising
contributions. Nor have I any great fear of the charge. I confess I
have stipendiaries; they are the poor of Christ's flock; a treasure
which I am well used in amassing. May this at all times be my
offence, to exact contributions for the poor. And if they accuse me
of defending myself by means of them, I am far from denying, I
court the charge. The poor _are_ my defenders, but it is by their
prayers. Blind though they be, lame, feeble, and aged, yet they
have a strength greater than that of the stoutest warriors. In a
word, gifts made to them are a claim upon the Lord; as it is
written, 'He who giveth to the poor, lendeth to God;' but a
military guard oftentimes has no title to divine grace.

"They say, too, that the people are misled by the verses of my
hymns. I frankly confess this also. Truly those hymns have in them
a high stra