In the life of Margaret, the Saxon queen of Malcolm III., of Scotland, we have a curious but interesting example of the evil effects of a false ecclesiastical system on a truly pious mind. She was fortunate in having obtained a good education, and had a good. knowledge of the scriptures, but blinded by the teaching of her church so-called. Her own good works she believed to be necessary as a ground of pardon and acceptance. The finished work of Christ, as the alone ground of salvation, and our union, with Him through the power of the Holy Spirit, as the alone ground of a holy life, have been obscured in all ages by false systems, and ever must be. They invariably prove to every soul, a house of bondage. Hence the fruitful origin of doings, feelings, doubts and fears, in every degree. The true peace and joy of christian liberty is never known. Galled by the yoke of bondage, they are more ready to cry out, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” The following is a specimen of the purest piety of the eleventh century.
“This royal lady, who has been honored with canonization, though very superstitious, and somewhat ostentatious in her acts of beneficence, nevertheless possessed many eminent virtues, and must be ranked among the best of our queens. Every morning she prepared food for nine orphan children; and on her beaded knees she fed them. With her own hands she ministered at table to crowds of indigent persons who assembled to share in her bounty; and nightly, before retiring to rest, she gave a still more striking proof of her humility by washing the feet of six of them. She was frequently in church, prostrated before the altar, and there with sighs and tears, and protracted prayers, she offered herself a sacrifice to the Lord. When the season of Lent came round, besides reciting particular offices, she went over the whole Psalter twice or thrice within twenty-four hours. Before repairing to public mass, she prepared herself for the solemnity, by hearing five or six private masses; and when the whole service was over, she fed twenty-four hungry on-hangers, and thus illustrated her faith by her works. It was not till these were satisfied that she retired to her own scanty meal. But with all this parade of humility there was an equal display of pride. Her dress was gorgeous, her retinue large, and her coarse fare must needs be served in dishes of silver and gold, a thing unheard of in Scotland till her time.”—Cunningham.