Page:HalfHoursWithTheSaints.djvu/72

 us that  the  gate  of  heaven  is  small,  that  the  road  which leads to  it  is  narrow,  and  that  few  can  find  it.

It is  evident,  therefore,  that  no  one  need  go  astray  if  he but  follow  the  right  path.

St. Chrysostom.

[Flechier, Esprit,  Bishop  of  Nimes,  and  Sacred  Orator,  was  born on the  10th  of  June  1632,  at  Perues. He enjoyed  a  considerable  share in the  patronage  which  Louis  XIV. extended to  all  men  of  letters. He died  at  Montpellier,  on  February  16,  17 10,  aged  78,  regretted  by all  who  resided  in  his  diocese. His funeral  orations  are  models  of eloquence.]

To cure  the  blindness  which  almost  always  accompanies prosperity, the  surest  remedy  is  to  be  found  as  in  the  case of Tobias*  gall  of  the  fish,  that  is  to  say,  in  afflictions  and chastisements.

When a  violent  fever  will,  as  it  were,  liquefy  your  bones; when you  lie  on  your  bed  prostrate  and  full  of  grievous pain, you  will  then  see  that  body  for  which  you  have  so often  risked  your  soul,  which  you  have  clothed  with  so much  luxury,  that  you  have  pampered  with  so  many  delicacies, is  but  a  fragile  vessel  which  the  slightest  accident might shatter,  and  which,  of  itself,  may  be  broken.

When a  preconcerted  calumny  or  any  underhand  conspiracy will  cause  you  to  fall  from  a  position  to  which  you ambitiously aspired,  and  which  position  you  may  have  kept up by  intrigue,  you  will  at  last  be  convinced  of  the  nothingness and  instability  of  human  greatness.

When age  or  some  unforeseen  calamity  will  efface  that beauty which  attracted  many  admirers,  and  which  in  your heart you  wished  to  preserve,  you  would  be  forced  to  confess that  all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit.

When sent  adrift  by  a  capricious  master,  or  betrayed  by a  cowardly  false  friend,  you  will  naturally  feel  contempt