CHAP. VI.]

ST. JOHN OS’ JERUSALEM.

183

of these things, who can impute degeneracy to menso courageous and so generous ? Even fallen as theyare said to be now, and shorn of many of their mem-bers, there was something of cosmopolitan in all theiractions; and wherever there was distress in Christen-dom, thither they hurried, calling countrymen notmerely those of their birthplace, but all Christians;quite as eager to assist Protestants or Greeks, asCatholics; asking your wants, not your creed; youmight make sure of their life and purse, most cordiallyoffered in any calamity. Is it entirely certain anyother people would have done the same ? But thesehad been formed of a choice from the whole ofEurope, and had thousands of illustrious examplesin their annals, whom they had been always urgedto follow; it was the common discourse of theKnights of Malta; so these remnants of a fine bodyhad in them still what challenges admiration. Norcan we suppose that in a few years no high-mindedmen remained amongst them—though broken up andflung adrift, and themselves exposed to the pitiableemergencies they were now relieving, and as long asthey have the means, shall continue to relieve. Along sequence of misfortunes, it is said, wear out toofrequently the very best; but if so, there are excep-tions, and to be chiefly looked for in who still existof that famous order. Certainly it appears that its