in the village of Alphonfo d'Avalos, and with Sabaftian Mexia, living every where with the fame aufterity. His habit was then fo worn, that it was abfolutely neceffary for him to have a new one. He might easily have had it, for a word speaking, from any of the perfons above-mentioned. But he chofe rather to gain by the sweat of his brow, as much coarse cloth as he had need of; not so much to keep him from the cold, as to cover his nakednefs. He went therefore to a rich Innkeeper, who gladly intrufted him with the management of his family. He acquitted himself with so much care, tenderness, and humility, that they were ftruck with admiration. After having earned in two months as much as he wanted, he took his leave of them; nor could all the prayers or tears, or the money they offered, prevail upon him to stay longer. How poor foever he was at that time, he never asked alms of any one; but entirely abandoned himself to the providence of God, having nothing to live on, but what was given him without asking. And if nothing of this was left, he laboured with his hands till he had gained more. 7. For a long time (as we obferved) he lived wholly on parched corn, and during Lent, upon herbs. But hence he contracted fuch a weakness of stomach, as continued all the reft of his life. He often worked in his little garden; but what grew there he gave in charity to thofe that paffed by. Sometime every day he spent in reading the holy Scriptures,. and particularly the epiftles of St. Paul. During all the years he spent in folitude, the afore-mentioned affaults and temptations of the devil continued. But these in a great measure ceafed when he quitted his retirement, yet others arofe in their place. Many highly condemned his manner of living: others raifed numberlefs calumnies against him fo that he did not want enemies in the world, any more than in folitude; but in all these things he was more than conqueror. What wonder, while he was out of God's way? CHAP. CHAP. V. He goes to Mexico; thence to Guafteca, and falls fick. Oming to Mexico, he was informed, that Father Dominic de Com Salazar, was not yet returned: after waiting for him fome time, he believed the Providence of God called him to refume his folitary life; for which purpose he went into the country of Guafteca, which he judged to be moft proper for his defign, as being wide and thinly inhabited, and abounding with wild fruits. Here he fixed his abode, refolving not to remove, till the Providence of God fhould plainly call him to it. He fed on fruits, roots, and herbs, which the earth brought forth of itself, and valiantly fought the battles of the Lord, continuing his exercises of the love of God and his neighbour. 2. He had from his early youth an ardent defire of reading the holy Scriptures: and he now more frequently than ever, befought God, to enlighten his underflanding, and to nourish his foul with the important truths which are contained therein. That he might neglect nothing in his power in order thereto, he refolved to learn the bible by heart: and he had fo happy a memory, that he never forgot any thing which he once knew. In this he spent four hours a day for four years. And during this time, God gave him the understanding thereof. 3. At the fame time, and all his life after, he read several books, both of ecclefiaftical and profane hiftory. Many were glad to lend them to him, and he read entire volumes in three or four days. His manner of reading was fo extraordinary, that it might be thought even fupernatural: for he frequently read over in ten hours, a book which another would scarce read over in a month. In twenty hours he read the works of Terefa, and that fo effectually, that hardly could any one give a better account of all that is contained in them. But But he did not give himself the trouble to read over any but fpiritual books. With regard to others, his manner was, to read the contents of the chapters. And fuch as contained any thing which he did not know, he read through; the reft he entirely paffed over. 4. He would have spent all the rest of his life at Guafteca, had he believed it to be the will of God. But God fhewed him, that this was not his will, by sending him a violent bloody flux. He bore it for feveral days, in the midst of all inconveniences imaginable, through the want of all things necessary for a fick man, and even of food. While he was in this condition, the providence of God, which is never wanting to them that fear him, sent to his relief a Prieft, named Juan de Mesa, Minifter of a Town in Guafteca, a man of an exemplary life, who merely out of charity inftructed the people of that country, and affifted them with his fubftance. He no fooner learned the extremety to which Lopez was reduced, than he fent to feek him, and entertained him at his house with all poffible care. As he had past several days without any fuftenance, after the diforder ceafed he was extremely weak. But he recovered his appetite in a fhort time, and then by degrees, his strength. As foon as he found this, he would have returned to his folitude, if his hoft had not hindered him: but he kept him in his house for near four years, to the unspeakable comfort and edification of all round about him. 5. Mefa provided him a chamber, where he fpent all his time, except when he was at church. He was commonly in an upright posture, or leaning against the wall, with his eyes fixt. In this retreat he continued day and night, never going out, but when he took his fober repast with his hoft, whom he abundantly paid for his hofpitality, by the ineftimable bleffing of his converfation. All the furniture of his chamber was a bible, a terreftrial globe and a pair of compaffes. 6. During |