RIGHELIEU TO FATHER 6UFFREN. 501 



fore it is impoffible you mould be able to pafs a found 

 judgment upon them. 



Never go to the king, except when he lends for you ; 

 that you may not make yourfelf too common and cheap, 

 and that what you have once infilled on for his good, 

 may make fo much the deeper impreffion. 



Never talk of the affairs of a third or a fourth perfon, 

 which are merely of temporal concernment. For not 

 only, that is not your bufinefs ; but as you cannot 

 make applications in behalf of all who follicit your good 

 word, you will be fatigued with the importunity of 

 petitioners, and diverted from the duties of your fixa- 

 tion. 



Strive not ambitioufly to have the difpofal of bifhop- 

 rics and abbacies or other tokens of favour, as they 

 ought always to come immediately and fpontaneoully 

 from the king ; if you have reafon to fpeak it will be 

 when your confcience tells you that you can do fome- 

 what thereby to prevent the important offices in the 

 church from being filled by unworthy perfons. 



Let your fermons never exceed at molt three quar- 

 ters of an hour ; for the lefs devout ufually bellow but 

 a fhort attention to them, and fb perhaps, with good 

 hearts, the excellent doctrine you intended to give 

 them may fail of its effect. 



As to what concerns your order, have but little to 

 do with its affairs ; and when there is a neceflity for ap- 

 plication to be made in its behalf, let it be made by 

 fome other of your fociety, that men may fee that your 

 order does not feek to obtain any thing from the king 

 through the influence of Iiis confeffor, but as a matter 

 of right and juftice. 



K K 3 Take 



