hearts of others to divine love; he must himself be first inflamed with it. “Lampades ejus lampades ignis, atque flammarum.” (Cant. 8:6.) He must be first a fire to burn, and afterwards a flame to set others on fire. St. Bernard explained this in other terms, when he said, that he must be first a cistern, and then a canal; first a cistern—that is, full of the fervour and zeal which are collected in mental prayer; and then a canal, to communicate it to others. 3. With regard to the subject matter