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 of its  difficulties. Among a  certain  people,  he  says, the law  is  that  each  year  they  shall  kidnap  some  foreigner, totally  ignorant  of  their  customs,  and  that they shall  invest  him  with  all  the  powers  of  royalty, but that,  the  year  being  ended,  they  shall  banish  him to a  desert  island. But occasionally  it  happens  that the king  chooses  his  advisers  so  wisely  and  wins them so  thoroughly  that  they  inform  him  of  his  coming fate,  whereupon  he  quietly  sets  about  converting the barren  island  into  such  an  earthly  paradise  that the sweetness  of  his  exile  exceeds  the  delights  of kingship. Brethren, God  has  placed  us  in  this  world for a  year,  for  a  day,  and  He  has  made  us  stewards, aye kings,  of  His  creation,  and  by  the  added  gift  of the  true  faith  He  has  made  us  to  be  the  children  of light. Let us  beware  how  we  conduct  our  affairs;  let us be  careful  to  which  counsellors,  the  world  or  God, we give  ear;  let  us  remember  our  term  of  office  is brief  and  ever  drawing  to  a  close;  let  us  make  to  ourselves friends  of  the  Mammon  of  iniquity,  that  when we fail  they  may  receive  us  into  everlasting dwellings.