Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/100

 age? I make  bold  to  say  that  neither  the poverty of  the  lower  orders,  nor  the  heartlessness  of  the  wealthy  classes,  but  the  want  of faith  and  confidence  in  God,  is  the  principal cause of  the  evils  of  the  present  day;  nay,  more, amid the  evils  which  surround  us,  it  is  itself  the most terrible  evil  of  all.

Yet Providence  ceases  not  to  watch  over  us; a thousand  examples  both  in  daily  life  and  in history  prove  this  in  an  incontrovertible  manner. But one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  forcible  examples to  be  found  in  all  time  is  related  in the  Book  of  books,  in  the  pages  of  Holy  Scripture.

5. Let  us  call  to  mind  the  fate  of  Joseph, when he  was  in  Egypt. Who could  appear  more unfortunate than  he  was,  when,  though  perfectly innocent, he  was  sold  by  his  own  brothers, dragged away  from  home,  falsely  accused  of  a most  disgraceful  crime,  and  on  this  account  cast into prison! But Providence  watched  over him! He left  the  dungeon  in  order  to  ascend a throne,  than  which  only  a  regal  throne  could rank higher. Thus his  misfortune  brought about his  good  fortune,  and  not  his  alone,  but that of  his  country,  his  beloved  father,  and  his brethren. Certainly the  providence  of  God manifested itself  in  this  instance  in  no  ordinary manner, and  caused  all  things  to  work  together for good. In order  that  he  might  be  governor of Egypt,  it  was  necessary  that  Joseph  should be a  slave,  be  loaded  with  fetters,  and  thrown into the  prison  where  criminals  condemned  to death  were  confined.

6. Wherefore  St.  Jerome  says:  "What  we consider  to  be  misfortune,  is  in  reality  a  blessing." And St.  Chrysostom  is  right  when  he