stead, by authority and examj)le, and is epitome of Christianity, a learned and mysterious abridgment of all doctrines of the gospel, all the institutions of the holy fathers, and all the counsels of perfection." Montalembert speaks in a similar strain of Fsench declamatory eloquence. Monasti- cism knows very little of the gospel of freedom, and resolves Christianity into a new- law of obedience. ' We have availed ourselves, in this extract from the preface, of the translation of Montalembert, ii. 44 sq. 222 THIRD PERIOD. A.D. 311-590. to his cloister, what the bishop is to his diocese. In the more weighty matters he takes the congregation of the brethren into consultation ; in ordinary affairs only the older members. The formal entrance into the cloister must be preceded by a proba- tion or novitiate of one year (subsequently it was made three years), that no one might prematurely or rashly take the soleam step. If the novice repented his resolution, he could leave tJie cloister without hindrance ; if he adhered to it, lie was, at the close of his probation, subjected to an examination in presence of the abbot and the monks, and then, appealing to the saints, whose relics were in the cloister, he laid upon the altar of the chapel the irrevocable vow, written or at least subscribed by his own hand, and therewith cut off from himself forever all return to the world. From this important arrangement the cloister received its stability and the whole monastic institution derived additional earnestness, solidity, and permanence. The vow was threefold, comprising stdbilitas, perpetual adherence to the monastic order ; conversio morum, especially voluntary poverty and chastity, which were always regarded as the very essence of monastic piety nnder all its forms ; and obedientia coram Deo et Sanctis ejus, absolute obedience to the abbot, as the representative of God and Christ. This obedience is the cardinal virtue of a monk.' Tlie life of the cloister consisted of a judicious alternation of spiritual and bodily exercises. This is the great excellence of the rule of Benedict, who proceeded here upon the true principle, that idleness is the mortal enemy of the soul and the workshop of the devil.* Seven hours were to be devoted to prayer, singing of psalms, and meditation ; ^ from two to three * Cap. 5 : " Primus humilitatia gradus est obedientia sine mora. Haec convenit lis, qui nihil sibi Cliristo carius aliquid existimant ; propter servitium sanctum, quod professi sunt, seu propter metum gehennse, vel gloriam vitae aeternas, mox ut aliquid imperatum a majore fuerit, ac si divinitus imperetur, moram pati nesciunt in facicndo." ' Cap. 48 : " Otiositas inimica est animae ; et ideo certis temporibus oecupari debent fratres in labore manuum, certis iterum horis in lectione divina." ^ The horoe canonicce arc the NocturncB vigilicR, Matufince, Prima, Tertia, Sextci, Nona, Vcspcra, and Completorinm, and are taken (c. 16) from a literal interpro- § 44. THE KULE OF ST. BENEDICT. 223 hours,