[212]SeeTrollope，HistoryofFlorence，vol。i，p。64。
InthethirteenthcenturytheCistercianmonk，CaesariusofHeisterbach，popularizedthedoctrineincentralEurope。Hisrichcollectionofanecdotesfortheillustrationofreligioustruthswasthefavouriterecreativereadingintheconventsforthreecenturies，andexercisedgreatinfluenceoverthethoughtofthelaterMiddleAges。InthisworkherelatesseveralinstancesoftheDivineuseoflightning，bothforrescueandforpunishment。Thushetellsushowthestewardcellerariusofhisownmonasterywassavedfromtheclutchofarobberbyaclapofthunderwhich，inanswertohisprayer，burstsuddenlyfromtheskyandfrightenedthebanditfromhispurpose：how，inaSaxontheatre，twentymenwerestruckdown，whileapriestescaped，notbecausehewasnotagreatersinnerthantherest，butbecausethethunderbolthadrespectforhisprofession！ItisCesarius，too，whotellsusthestoryofthepriestofTreves，struckbylightninginhisownchurch，whitherhehadgonetoringthebellagainstthestorm，andwhosesinswererevealedbythecourseofthelightning，forittorehisclothesfromhimandconsumedcertainpartsofhisbody，showingthatthesinsforwhichhewaspunishedwerevanityandunchastity。[213]
[213]SeeCaesariusHeisterbacensis，Dialogusmiraculorum，lib。
x，c。28-30。
ThismodeofexplainingtheDivineinterferencemoreminutelyisdevelopedcenturyaftercentury，andwefindbothCatholicsandProtestantsassigningascausesofunpleasantmeteorologicalphenomenawhateverappearstothemwickedorevenunorthodox。