132 ^ije autle iFlotoers of 



exceeding fan6tity, was upon a time forely 

 tempted and tormented in fpirit concern- 

 ing the do6trine of Predeftination ; where- 

 fore he was moft melancholy and fad ; in- 

 afmuch as the Devil put it into his heart 

 that he was damned and was not one of 

 thofe ele6led unto Eternal Life, and that 

 all the good works which he wrought in 

 the Order would avail him naught. And 

 this temptation enduring day after day, he 

 for fheer fhame forbearing to reveal aught 

 of it to Saint Francis, yet paufed not in 

 praying and fafting : for which thing the 

 Enemy began to heap forrow upon forrow, 

 befides the inner battle, fhaking him from 

 without with evil vifions. Hence he once 

 appeared to him in the form of One Cruci- 

 fied, faying unto him : " O Brother Rufus, 

 why fhould you thus affli6l yourfelf with 

 penitence and prayers, forafmuch as you are 

 not one of the Ele6l? And beheve me, that 

 I know them whom I have chofen and pre- 

 deftined ; and put not your faith in the fon 

 of Peter Bernardone,"^ albeit he may tell you 

 to the contrary, and moreover queftion him 

 not concerning fuch matters, fmce neither 

 he nor any man elfe can know, fave only I, 



Who 



^ Saint Francis. 



