toward the consolation of his brethren, and the happiness of the people of God, a prosperity which he acknowledged to be held only from his Almighty hand. That officer of the Queen of Ethiopia, who is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, had the sole government of her immense riches: every particular with regard to tribute and subsidies, and the administration of all the public revenues, were intrusted to his fidelity. Now, this abyss of cares and embarrassments did not deprive him of leisure to seek, in the prophecies of Isaiah, the salvation he expected, and the words of eternal life. Place yourselves in the most agitated stations, you will find examples of upright souls, who in them have wrought their sanctification. The court may become the asylum of virtue, as well as the cloister; places and employments may be the aids, as well as the rocks of piety; and when, in order to return to God, we delay till a change of station shall take place, it is a convincing proof that we do not as yet wish to change our heart. Besides, when we say that salvation ought to be your sole employment, we do not pretend that you should renounce all other pursuits; for you would then depart from the order of God: we only wish you to connect them with your salvation; that piety may sanctify your occupations; that faith may regulate them; that religion may animate them; that the fear of the Lord may moderate them: in a word, that salvation may be as the centre to which they all tend. For, to wait till you shall be in a more tranquil situation, and less involved in worldly perplexities, is not only an illusion which Satan employs to delay your repentance, but it is also an outrage upon the religion of Jesus Christ. You thereby justify the reproaches formerly made against it by the enemies of the Christians; it would seem that you look upon it as incompatible with the duties of prince, courtier, public character, and father of a family: like them, you seem to believe, that the gospel proposes only maxims unfortunate and inimical to society; and that, were it believed and strictly observed, it would be necessary to quit all; to exclude ourselves from the world; to renounce all public concerns; to break all the ties of duty, of humanity, of authority, which unite us to the rest of mankind; and to live as if we were alone upon the earth: in place of which, it is the gospel alone which makes us fulfil all these duties as they ought to be fulfilled: it is the religion of Jesus Christ which can alone form pious princes, incorruptible magistrates, mild and gentle masters, and faithful subjects, and maintain, in a just harmony, that variety of stations and conditions, upon which depend the peace and tranquillity of the people, and the safety of empires.
But, in order to impress more sensibly upon you the illusion of this pretext, when you shall be free from embarrassment, and disengaged from those external cares which at present detach your thoughts from salvation, will your heart be free from passions? Will those iniquitous and invisible bonds which now stop you, be broken asunder? Will you be restored to yourselves? Will you be more humble, more patient, more moderate, more vir-
