"Ay, they do say so, the hirelings that foul with their feet the water whence the flock should drink: `we are the people, and wisdom shall die with us!' `The Temple of the Lord are we!' But the Temple of the Lord is larger, and wider, and higher, than their poor narrow souls. Maiden, listen to me, for I speak to thee words from God. The Church of God consists of the elect of God from the beginning to the end of the world, by the grace of God, through the merits of Christ, gathered together by the Holy Ghost, and fore-ordained to eternal life. They that hear and understand the Word of God, receiving it to their souls' health, and being justified by Christ--these are the Church; these go into life eternal. Hast thou understood me, Maiden?" "I don't--exactly--know," she said slowly. "I should like to understand. But how can I know whether I am one of them or not?" "Of the elect of God? If thou hast chosen God rather than the world, that is the strongest evidence thou canst have that He has chosen thee out of the world." "But I sha'n't be in the world--just exactly. You see I'm going to live in the anchorhold. That isn't the world." It was not easy to teach one who spoke a different dialect from the teacher. To Gerhardt, the world was the opposite of God; to Leuesa, it was merely the opposite of the cloister. "Put `sin' for `the world,' Maiden," said Gerhardt, "and thou wilt understand me better." "But what must I do to keep out of sin?" "`If thou wilt love Christ and follow His teaching,'" said Gerhardt, quoting from his confession of faith, "`thou must watch, and read the Scriptures. Spiritual poverty of heart must thou have, and love purity, and serve God in humility.'" "I can't read!" exclaimed Leuesa, in a tone which showed that she would have deemed it a very extraordinary thing if she could. "Thou canst hear. Ermine will repeat them to thee, if thou ask her--so long as we are here." "Osbert says you won't be for long. He thinks you are bad people; I don't know why." "Nor do I, seeing we serve God--save that the enemy of God and men spreads abroad falsehoods against us." They had reached the little postern of the Castle. Gerhardt rapped at the door, and after two or three repetitions, it was opened. "Oh, it's you, is it?" said Stephen's voice behind it. "Get you in quickly, Leuesa, for Hagena's in a terrible tantrum. She declares you've run away." "I'm late, I know," answered Leuesa humbly; "but I could not help it, Stephen." "Well, you'll catch it, I can tell you; and the longer you stay, the more you'll catch: so best get it over.--Gerard, will you come in? I want a word with you." Gerhardt stepped inside the postern, and Stephen beckoned him into an outhouse, at the moment untenanted. "What are you going to do?" "About what?" "What! Don't you know you are to be haled before the Bishops? Every body else does." "Yes, I have been told so."