STUDY viir. 187 



If our diftrefles are immoveable, and fuch as break 

 our reft, they may be mitigated by having re- 

 courfe to GOD. Here is the central point toward 

 which all the paths of human life converge. Prof- 

 perity, at all feafons, invites us to his prefence, 

 but adverfity leaves us no choice. It is the means 

 which GOD employs to force us to take refuge in 

 Himfelf alone. But for this voice, which addreffes 

 itfelf to every one of us, we fliould foon forget 

 Him, efpecially in the tumult of great cities, 

 where fo many fleeting interefts clafli with thofe 

 which are eternal, and where fo many fécond 

 caufes fwallow up all attention to the First. 



As to the evils of Society, they are no part of 

 the plan of Nature ; but thofe very evils demon- 

 ftrate the exiftence of another order of things : 

 for is it natural to imagine, that the Being good 

 and juft, who has difpofed every thing on the 

 Earth to promote the happinefs of Man, will per- 

 mit him to be deprived of it, without punilhing 

 the wretch who dared to counteraft his gracious 

 defigns ? Will He do nothing in behalf of the 

 virtuous, but unfortunate, man, whofe conftant 

 ftudy was to pleafe Him, when He has loaded with 

 bleffings fo many mifcreants who abufc them ? 

 After having difplayed a bounty which has met 

 with no return, will He faij in executing neceflary 

 juft ice ? 



But 



