good fruits produced by a firm faith, working by zealous love. Persons were astonished at seeing even the manners and expression of countenance of their nearest relations wholly changed. Nor did this metamorphosis take place in a few instances only. Many in every rank and every order of society seemed inspired by a new influence.

Religious houses, dignitaries in the church, private individuals, men of the first eminence in the faculty, the law, and the army, ministers of state, peers of the realm, princes of the blood royal; each could produce several out of their number, who began truly to fear and love GOD. Their savor began to be diffused all around.

About this time, M. de St. Cyran became acquainted with the celebrated monastery of Port Royal. M. Zamet, Bishop of Langres, had been induced by Louisa, first wife of the Duke of Longueville, to establish a religious house in honor of the blessed Eucharist. The abbesse of Port Royal, Marie Angelique Arnauld, was a lady greatly distinguished for the depth of

her piety, and for her uncommon strength of mind. She had also acquired a great portion of celebrity by the astonishing reform she had recently established at Port Royal; and was then occupied in effecting, throughout a variety of religious houses of the same order. M. Zamet was persuaded he could not make choice of any person so well qualified to establish his new institution. The house was scarcely founded, when it was involved in numerous and unexpected difficulties, from the enmity which the Bishop of Sens entertained towards M. Zamet. M. de St. Cyran was unacquainted with either party. A small tract, said to be written by one of the new society, had been much handed about in Paris. It was entitled "Chapelet secret du Saint Sacrement," and consisted chiefly of prayers, or spontaneous effusions of heart, on the blessed sacrament. It was characterized by much fervent piety on the one hand, whilst on the other, many passages were expressed with an enthusiasm, and an unguarded latitude, which rendered them sus

ceptible of a malicious construction. This little work was in reality a private meditation, surreptitiously obtained from its author, M. de Sens most vehemently declared himself against it. and endeavoured, in a little pamphlet which he published, to hold it up to the ridicule of the public. M. de St. Cyran had indeed perceived the unguarded expressions in the Chapelet secret, but he also appreciated the deep piety which breathed through the whole. Seeing that piety itself was attacked, he wrote a very able defence, which completely decided the public mind in favour of the work so much patronised by M. de Langres. The Bishop was much pleased with the work. He introduced himself to its author, and the acquaintance, thus casually begun, soon improved into a high veneration and esteem. M. Zamet was soon after appointed to a post out of Paris. He requested M. de St. Cyran to direct the new institution in his absence. Other difficulties however arose, and a short time after M. de Zamet's Institut du St. Sacrement was

dropped. The nuns returned to Port Royal. They did not fail to speak of M. de St. Cyran's extraordinary merit. During his residence at Paris also, he had formed an intimacy with M. Arnauld D'Andilly, eldest brother to the abbess of Port Royal. He introduced M. de St. Cyran personally to his sister, the Rev. Mother Mary Angelica.

Such was the origin of M. de St. Cyran's acquaintance with Port Royal; he was soon after instituted director of that monastery, since so distinguished for talent, learning, and piety, and so persecuted, as the head-quarters of the reputed Jansenists.

At this period however, the recent reform at Port Royal was the theme of general admiration. Both M. de St. Cyran and his followers appeared at this season to grow in favour equally with GOD and man.

The calm was not of long duration. About this period was announced the intention of Jansenius to publish a translation of St. Austin, with an ample commentary. This celebrated work occupied

its venerable author twenty years. On the very day of its completion he was seized with the plague, and expired.

The Jesuits had long entertained a secret enmity against the bishop of Ypres. Many years before, a contest had taken place between the Jesuits and the university of Louvain. Jansenius was, from his office in the university, deputed to plead in its behalf. Jansenius proved successful. It is said the Jesuits never forgave him. In their enmity to Jansenius, they soon included M. de St. Cyran, his early friend.

The dislike of the Jesuits was fomented also by the opposition of their theological sentiments. The Jesuits did not agree with the disciples of St. Austin, in holding the doctrines of grace. So far, no doubt, but many wise and good men might have united with them in opinión, though at the same time they would have shrunk from taking part in the persecutions by which it was afterwards maintained. Of this number it is well known was Fenelon. In another point likewise the Jesuits differed from the friends of Jansenius. M. de St. Cyran was charged