came a

Mortifi

Lives, that an ancient † Authorson becould not forbear to complain of it. wonderBut the Acquaintance of Persons of ful ExPiety ought not to be fought for ample of the gratifying of our Curiofity or cation our Vanity, but to profit by their and SanConversation in order to the Con-ity. † Rufiduct of our Life, as the Prince im- nus in prov'd it for that End.

vita S.

Joan: Thus the Prince of Conti being Egypadvanc'd in Virtue by Inftructions tii. and by Examples, enter'd into a maturer Age of the Spiritual Life, of which one refts no more in the Bofom, and, as it were, in the Arms of Humane Authority (as St. * Austin says) but advances by the* De veSteps of purified Reason towards a Relig. the Sovereign and Immutable Law. Cap. 26. 'Twas now the Prince began himfelf to draw from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Councils and Fathers, Maxims and Rules to acquit himself piously of his Obliga

tions to God, to the Church, to his King, to his Neighbour and to himself.

In what respects his Duty towards God, he look'd upon the Love of God as the great Obligation of a Man and of a Chriftian; and therefore endeavour'd to nourish that Heavenly Flame which the Holy Spirit kindles in the Hearts of true Believers, by the Exercise of frequent Acts of Love towards God. The First and the Great Commandment, fays our Saviour, is to love God with all the Heart, and all the Soul, and all the Strength, and all the Mind. And the End of the Com mandment is Love, fays St. Paul, 1 Tim. 1: 5.

In what regards the Church, he confider'd, that Princes being more expos'd than others to Temptation and to Sin, have likewise more need than others to implore the Affiftance

fistance and the Mercy of God; and that therefore they ought to love and honour his Church, to which he has given the Power of abfolving them from their Sins.

He affifted at the Divine Offices of the Church with great Devotion, and took care that all who belong'd to him should behave themselves with a respectful Gravity and Attention there. He express'd a juft Displeasure against that Irreverence and Indevotion, which is fo common in Churches, and which St. Chryfoftome complained of even in his time, as a thing so criminal and injurious to God, that it could not be too severely punished. It would In Homil. be no wonder, says he, if the Thunder A&ta. Should fall on fuch Perfons, and even on us too, who fuffer these things without reproving them.

He wifhed alfo that every one could joyn in the Publick Worship

of

24. in

of God with their Understanding. For tho', with that Church in which he was brought up, he believ'd that those who do not understand what is faid in the Divine Offices, did however an Act of Piety before God, whilft they joyn their Intention with that of the Church; yet he was fenfible that it was most Ufeful and moft Advantagious to understand what is faid in them, according to that of St. Austin (in whom he was much converfant) In Expol. We ought to underftand what we say, 2. in Pf. that we may fing as Rational Creatures, and not like thofe Birds who often learn of Men to pronounce and to fing what they do not understand, for it belongs to Man only to fing with the Understanding.

19:

'Twas for this Reason the Prince made Offices of the Church be tranflated into French, that the People might understand what is faid in them, and profit by the Inftructi

ons

End the

ons they contain: And for the fame* For this Reason, he would have all who be- Archbilong'd to him be prefent on Sun-fhop of days at the Parish-Church, to hear Cambray in the Explication which is made to bis Eduthe People of what is done there, cation of and receive from their Paftor the DaughSpiritual Nourishment of their vises the Souls.

ter, ad

Ladies to

learn La

Church

This great Servant of God had tin, that fo fenfible a Displeasure to fee the they Canons of the Church violated, derftand mightun that during the whole Courfe of the Offi his Life he performed Acts of Peni-ces of the tence, for having held feveral Benefices contrary to what they exprefly forbid. He has been often heard to deplore the State of those who have a Plurality of Benefices, tho Sine Cures, when one of them is fufficient to maintain them within the Bounds of Ecclefiaftical Temperance.

And as to the Dispensations

d

which