the rude and un- disciplined world of the middle age, the Benedictine rule fur- nished a wholesome course of training and a constant stimulus to the obedience, self-control, order, and industry which were indispensable to the regeneration and healthy growth of social life.' ' The Catholic church has recognized three other rules besides that of St. Bene- dict, viz. : 1. That of St. Basil, which is still retained by tbe Oriental monks ; 2. That of St. Augustine, which is adopted by the regular canons, the order of the preaching brothers or Dominicans, and several military orders ; 8. The rule of St. Francis of Assisi, and his mendicant order, in the thirteenth century. " Pope Gregory believed the rule of St. Benedict even to be directly inspired, and Bossuet {Panegyric de Saint Benoit)^ in evident exaggeration, calls it "an I § 44. THE KULE OF ST. BENEDICT. 221 The spirit of the rule may be judged from the following sentences of the ^rologus^ which contains pious exhortations : "Having thus," he says, "my brethren, asked of the Lord who shall dwell in his tabernacle, we have heard the precepts prescribed to such a one. If we fulfil these conditions, we shall be heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Let us then prepare our hearts and bodies to fight under a holy obedience to these precepts ; and if it is not always possible for nature to obey, let us ask the Lord that he would deign to give us the succor of his grace. Would we avoid the pains of hell and attain eternal life, while there is still time, while we are still in this mortal body, and while the light of this life is bestowed upon us for that purpose, let us run and strive so as to reap an eter- nal reward. We must then form a school of divine servitude^ in which, we trust, nothing too heavy or rigorous will be established. But if, in conformity with right and justice, we should exercise a little severity for the amendment of vices or the preservation of charity, beware of fleeing under the impulse of terror from the way of salvation, which cannot but have a hard beginning. When a man has walked for some time in obedience and faith, his heart will expand, and he will run with the unspeakable sweetness of love in the way of God's commandments. May he grant that, never straying from the in- struction of the Master, and persevering in his doctrine in the monastery imtil death, we may share by patience in the suff'er- ings of Christ, and be worthy to share together his kingdom." ' The leading provisions of this rule are as follows : At the head of each society stands an abbot, who is elected by the monks, and, with their consent, appoints a provost {prcepositus), and, when the number of the brethren requires, deans over the several divisions {decamw), as assistants. He governs, in Chi'ist's