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did flow into his foul, that he was almoft 

 befide himfelf : and thanking God with his 

 whole heart, he went on until he came to 

 the place where Saint Francis lay ill. And 

 albeit Saint Francis was grievously ill, 

 neverthelefs hearing Brother Rinieri's ap- 

 proach, he rofe and went out to meet him, 

 and embracing him mofl: fweetly, faid : 

 " Brother Rinieri, my beloved fon, of all 

 the Brethren throughout the world moft 

 Angularly do I love thee." And faying 

 thefe words he made the fign of the moft 

 Holy Crofs upon his brow, and after kiffed 

 him there. And then he faid : " My be- 

 loved fon, God the Lord hath permitted 

 this Temptation for your great increafe in 

 merit : but if you defire not this increafe, 

 it fhall not be thine." Wonderful to relate! 

 So foon as Saint Francis had uttered thefe 

 words, inflantly all Temptation departed 

 from him, as if he never in his life had felt 

 aught of the kind, and he was left greatly 

 comforted. 



