12.

I give you this, Fabiola, ¹ the best gift of my aged powers, to be as it were a funeral offering. Oftentimes have I praised virgins and widows and married women who have kept their garments always white ² and who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. ³ Happy indeed is she in her encomium who throughout her life has been stained by no defilement. But let envy depart and censoriousness be silent. If the father of the house is good why should our eye be evil? ⁴ The soul which fell among thieves has been P. 163 carried home upon the shoulders of Christ. ⁵ In our father’s house are many mansions. ⁶ Where sin hath abounded, grace hath much more abounded. ⁷ To whom more is forgiven the same loveth more. ⁸