4*4 PIETRO GJANNONE. 



the holy gholr, and the prophets ; but Francis was 

 announced to his mother "by the prophets, by the Lord 

 Jefus Chrift, by an angel, and in the form of a pil- 

 grim to the domefbics. John prophefied in his mo- 

 ther's womb, and afterwards ; Francis did the fame in 

 the womb, that is, in the prifon at Perufia, where he 

 foretold that he thould be great. John was a friend 

 of the bridegroom ; Francis was equal to the Lord 

 Jefus Chrifh John (hewed himfelf fuperior to all men 

 in the world through his fanclity ; Francis through his 

 conformity with Chrifb, by the prints of the nails. 

 John was elevated to the Seraphic order ; Francis, not 

 only to that, but to the throne of Lucifer. — If this 

 be not fufficient, I will add what is found at the .39th 

 page : Francis is better than the apoftles ; becaufe thefe 

 only left their (hips, but Francis renounced not only all 

 temporal goods, but even threw away his cloaths and his 

 fhirt ; and, purified in body and foul, locked himfelf 

 in the arms of the crucified faviour, which we read of 

 none other of the faints. He could therefore with 

 juftice fay to Chrift : I have left all, and followed thee. 



IV. I muft not here pafs by the Dominicans ; as I 

 find alio them on a quite feparate bench in heaven. 

 St. Antoninus, archbifhop of Florence, who is worthy 

 of all belief, relates in the third part of his hiflory, 

 that St. Dominic was conveyed one night into heaven, 

 where he law Jefus, and at his right hand his mother 

 Maria, who was drefTed in a< fapphyr-coloured mantle. 

 He looked about him, and perceived an innumerable 

 multitude of monks of all orders and nations, but found 

 not one of his own. He was fo much troubled at this, 

 that he fell proftrate on the ground, and wept bitterly. 



Chrift, 



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