134 ^8^ Hittlr jFlotoers oC 



Grace of God ? Wherefore I would that 

 at all hazards you come before his face 

 with me ; forafmuch as I fee clearly that 

 you are led afbray of the Devil." And hav- 

 ing faid this, Brother Rufus was moved, 

 and went forth to Saint Francis, and Saint 

 Francis feeing him from afar began to 

 cry aloud, *' O wicked Brother Rufus, in 

 whom have you trufted ? " And Brother 

 Rufus drawing near to him, he told him in 

 due order all his temptation brought upon 

 him by the Devil from within and from 

 without, and clearly fhowed him that he 

 who had appeared to him was the Devil 

 and not Chrift, and that in no manner muft 

 he confent to his fuggeftions ; but when the 

 Devil fhould again fay to him, " You are 

 damned," he fhould make anfwer, " Open 

 your mouth ; " " and this fhall be for a fign 

 unto you that he is the Devil and not Chrift : 

 for fo foon as you have given him this 

 anfwer, ftraightway he fhall flee thence. 

 By another token alfo fhall you know that 

 he is the Devil, forafmuch as he hath hard- 

 ened your heart againft all goodnefs, which 

 thing is proper to his office ; but Chrift the 

 Bleffed did never yet make hard the heart 

 of the faithful, but rather foftens it, even 



as 



