who threw his Wealth into the Sea, faying, That be chofe rather to part with it, than to hazard his own Ruin by fuch vile and defpicable Poffeffions. Though Riches and Gifts of Fortune often prove an Impediment to us, on our Journey towards Heaven, yet their Load is not fo heavy, but we may fteer our Course and reach the defired Port. If the Ofridge can't live in the Air, as the Bird of Paradife, and tho' her Wings are not able to raise her bulky Body from the Earth, yet by fpreading them, like Sails before the Wind, fhe thereby quickens her Pace. The rich and mighty Men of this World have the fame Advantage from their Wealth; which, by putting the Practice of Charity in their Power,may facilitate their Voyage toward the Seat of Happinefs, and Glory.

Charles the Great, and St. Lewis of France, after having been long engaged with their Neighbours about earthly Poffeffions, ftudious at length of their own Good, and liftening to the Dictates of Reafon and Reflection, abandon'd the World, and cloifter'd themselves up, the better to make their Peace with the Almighty; to lead a more regular Life, to make Provifion for their Souls, and let them tafte the Sweet of religious Retirement.

The Emperor Charles the V. had not Refolution enough to follow their Examples, but after having plung'd himself into the Vanities of this World, he left them on a sudden, and liv'd retir'd in the Efcurial, his Palace, where he dedicated the Rest of his Days to Contemplation, and ended his Life better than could be probably expected.

William Duke of Aquitain was for fome Years a Libertine to the highest Degree, and one who minded nothing in the World, but the Gratification of his Luft and Senfual Appetites: yet, by a Kind of Regeneration, he gave the World and the

Vanities of it, the Slip, and his Change of Mind and Manners, was fo fudden and fo great, that it is fcarcely credible, that the fame Perfon could have liv'd up to fuch a Pitch of Lewdness, and Chastity, and deferv'd the Character of the most Pious, and the most Ungodly, the moft Cruel, and the most Merciful, the moft Covetous, and the most Generous, the most Criminal, and the moft Innocent of Men. He was, properly fpeaking, a heavy Oftridge, metamorphos'd into the Bird of Paradife, who fed upon Extafies, Meditations, and celestial Entertainment.

Was ever any One more enflav'd to Avarice, and Voluptuousness than St. Alexis, the Son of a great Roman Senator, who afterwards became a voluntary Mendicant, left that too great a Profperity, and Abundance, fhould prove the Cause of his Ruin?

We have alfo as furprizing an Example of a Prince of the Houfe of Burgundy, who after having made a Journey to the Holy-Land, defpifing all the Grandeur and Vain-Glory of this World, chofe to Live and Die in an Hofpital, before any other Condition; to the end, that being freed from the World, and having made a Conqueft of his own Will and Paffions, he might fet apart the Refidue of his Life to the working out the Salvation of his Soul, and often meditate on Heaven, the only Fountain of true Blifs and Happiness.

Since we have Inftances of Sovereigns, and Perfons in publick Employments, who have ap. ply'd themselves wholly to the Exercife of Religion, whilft their worldly Affairs feem'd to require all their Attention, there is no room left to doubt, but Perfons poffefs'd of the highest Honours are often excited by divine Infligations, to elevate their Thoughts towards Heaven; and frequently

con

conceal, under an Appearance of Pomp, and Grandeur, religious Impuifes, which remind them of the Vanities of this World.

A Cordelier, envious of Cardinal Ximenes's Fortune, reprimanded him feverely one Day in a Sermon, because he wore a Gown lin'd with a Sable-Skin: The Cardinal feem'd not much affected with his Reproach, but after Sermon he follow'd the Cordelier into the Veftry, where he undrefs'd himself before him, to let him fee, that instead of a Shirt he wore next to his Skin a Hair-Cloth; and that he wore the Sable for no other Ufe, than to render more glorious and honourable, his Quality of Regent, and Minister of State. But let this be faid, by the Way, of those who profefs a fuperftitious Religion.

It may not be amifs to mention another Instance, viz. Of Jane Princefs of Portugal, who wore Sackcloth instead of a Shift, thofe very Days She was to appear moft fumptuoufly Dreis'd. And, How many do we fee, who deny themselves their ordinary Pleasures, to vifit and affift the poor Prifoners, and wait upon the Sick which is much more commendable?

But fince it plainly appears from the preceding Difcourfe, that there have been Perfons of both Sexes to be found, even in the Courts of Princes, who have liv'd in the conftant Practice of Virtue ; What Condition can be exempted from it? Let us then justly conclude, that the Rich and Poor, Healthy and Sick, Young and Old, Men and Women, Masters and Servants, have an entire Liberty; nay, are indifpenfably oblig'd to lift up their Hearts towards Heaven, to live in the World as if they were out of it, and to hearken to the Oracles of divine Revelation, and the Motions of reas fonable Nature.

CHAP.

That we cannot employ too much Time, or too many Tutors, in the Education of a Young

Prince.

TH

HE News being brought, That a Lioneß was deliver'd of an Iffue Male, the Beasts of the Forefl came all thronging to Court, to pay their formal Complements, and congratulate her at the Arrival of her Son-and-Heir: A Mule, that had not been very forward to make his Visit, came fome Days after to pay his Complement; but the Lioneß was fo buify in a Lecture to her Son upon the Gracefulness of his Mein, March, and Fashion, that she was not to be spoken with at that Time. The Mule came a Second Time a-while after, and she was then so taken up in a Leffon to him upon the Dignity of his Blood, Family, and Function, that no Mortal was to come at her till that was over. He came a Third Time, but she was then fo Intent upon the Topick of the Duty, and the Mystery of Government, and the Royal Arts of keeping the People in Obedience, by a Political Temperament of Love, and Fear, in the Adminiftration of Juftice, that there was then likewise no coming at her. Thefe Repulfes put the Mule out of all Patience, and going away, he faid, Here is a pretty Bufineß indeed, to make fuch a Clutter for one Beaft to get the Sight of another! The Lioneß over hearing his Murmuring, call'd out to him and said, That One could not be too Careful, or employ too much Time in the Education of the King of Animals, and that the Inftitution of a Prince

was

was never the leẞ a Matter of Importance, becaufe a Mule did not understand it.

The MORAL.

This Fable does naturally enough fet forth the Duty of Allegiance, and Homage, every Subject owes to his Sovereign; together with the Chearfulness he ought to fhew in Congratulating him upon all joyful Occafions. But it lies very hard upon the Stomach of the Dif-affected, and if they pay their Complement at all, it is like the Mule, as late as they can. The Lioneß teaching her Young in the Foreft, is a lively Image of the Neceffity a Prince, and every difcreet Man lies under of Knowing Himself firft; and fhews us, at the fame Time, how Careful we ought to be in the Inftitution of Youth under our Care.

We may further fay, that there are so many Secrets neceffary to be taught aSovereignMonarch, that they well deferve his utmost Attention, and a great deal of Art in the teaching of him; and the greater his natural Parts are, that which is Artificial in him is more likely to fucceed. 'Tis requifite he fhould know how to receive his Nobles in a complaifant and obliging Manner. 'Tis his Intereft to be of a mild Difpofition,and easy of Accefs. An outward Affability is of fo great an Advantage, and the bonne Grace, or the Je ne fcap quoy is fo defirable, that one cannot employ too much Time, or too many good Tutors to take Care of his Education.

Though Princes, in hereditary Kingdoms, are Heirs like Chiefs of Families, of all the refpective Eftates, and Authority of their Predeceffors, and tho' they have as great Power in their Minority as in a more advanced Age, yet common Experience

may