Eleventh Letter

To Madame

Madame, — I have had a good deal of difficulty to bring myself to write to M. de;

and I do it now purely because you and Mme.

de desire me. Pray write the directions and send it to him. I am very well pleased with the trust you have in God: it is my wish that He may increase it in you more and more. We cannot have too much confidence in so good and faithful a Friend, Who will never fail us ki this world or the next

If M. de knows how to profit by the loss he has sustained, and puts all his confidence in God, He will soon give him another friend more powerful and more inclined to serve him. He disposes of hearts as He pleases.

Perhaps M. de was too much attached to him he has lost We ought to love our 5 ° friends, but without encroaching upon the love of God, which must be the chief.

Remember, I pray you, what I have often recommended to you, which is, often to think on God, by day, by night, in your business, and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you: leave Him not alone. You would think it rude to leave a friend alone, who had come to visit you: why then must God be neglected? Do not then forget Him, think often of Him, adore him unceasingly, live and die with Him: this is the glorious employment of a Christian, in a word, this is our profession; if we do not know it, we must learn it I will endeavour to help you with my prayers, and am, in Our Lord, — Yours, etc.

October 2 gtk } 1689.