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    even-in the day-time , thcTFoad must be undiscernible , from the frost and snow " M /' y Lord , " replied the hermit , "I should blush to esteem these trifles

    as any inconvenience , m serving a heavenly monarch , when I have so often braved dangers , far more imminent , for the chance of serving an earthly prince . " " You are right , " the king said . x ( How wonderful , that so much should

    be sacrificed to temporal potentates ; whilst so little should be endured in serving Him , the only King , immortal and invisible , to whom alone true honour and power belong—that God , who has done so much for us !"

    " Surely , however , " continued Lord Dumbarton to the hermit , you must be thoroughly tired with passing all your time alone in this gloomy forest ?" " No , " interposed the king , himself replying to the question ; * ' he has ^ indeed , chosen a path widely different to that of the world . Death , which

    discovers all things , will shew that he has chosen the right one . " The king paused for a reply ; none being made , he continued : " There is a difference , " said he , turning to the hermit , " between you and the rest of

    mankind : you will die the death of the righteous ; and you will rise at the resurrection of the just . But they , "here he paused ; his eyes seemed full of tears , and his mind absent , as if

    intent on pamful recollection . After a few moments he hastily rose , and taking a polite and kind leave of the gentleman , returned with his retinue to the monastery . During his whole stay , the king assisted at all the offices . In all of

    them h 3 manifested a deep and fervent devotion . His misfortunes seemed to have been the means of awakening his heart , to worship God in spirit and in truth . Next day the king prepared to depart at an early hour .

    On taking leave , he threw himself at M . de Ranch ' s feet ; and , with tears , requested his parting benediction . The abbot bestowed it in a most solemn and affecting manner . The king , on rising , recognized the monk on whose arm he leant to get U P- He was a nobleman who had long served in his areay ( the honoura-

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    ble Robert Graham ) i " , " said «*§ king , addressing himself to hfrny " * f have never ceased to regret the geife £ rosity with which you made a sacrifi&S of a splendid fortune in behalf of yda *

    king . I can , however , now grieve ait it no longer ; since I perceive that your misfortunes in the service of aii earthly monarch , have proved th& blessed means of ytfur having devoted your heart to a heavenly one . "

    The king then mounted his hdrs < i and departed . James II ., from that period , re ^ peated his visits to La Trappe annuall y ^ On these occasions he always bore his part in the exercises of the comi

    munity . He often assisted at the conferences of the monks , and spoke with much unction . It is said , that the king ' s character appeared to undergo a strikingly perceptible , though a progressive change .

    He , every year , appeared to grow in piety and grace ; and he evidently increased in patience and submission to the Divine Will . In 1696 , the queen accompanied the king to La Trappe . She was

    accommodated for three days , with all her retinue , in a house adjoining the monastery , built for the reception of the commendatory abbots . She was much pleased with her visit , and expressed herself to be not less edified than the king .

    Both of them entertained sentiments of the highest veneration for M . de Ranc £ . Their acquaintance , thus begun , was soon matured into a solid friendship . They commenced a correspondence , which was regularly rnaintained on both sides till M . de Ranees death .

    The following are the terms in which the king expressed himself , respecting M . de Ranc £ : , " I really think nothing has afforded me so much consolation , since my misfortune , as the conversation of that venerable saint the abbot de la Trappe . When I first arrived in France I had

    but a very superficial view of religion . ; if I might be said to have any thing deserving that name . The abbot de la Trappe was the first person who gave me any solid instruction with respect to genuine Christianity . ' ¦ \ " I formerly looked upon God a ^ an omnipotent creator , an < l as tat * ai > bi-

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    Tfie yisit of James IL to the Monastery qf l * a Tvappe . Sf &

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1821, page 575, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2505/page/7/