Letter XVIII. To a Lady

Piety must he solid. We must be faithful to it everywhere and in everything without failing \

Madam, — I praise God with all my heart, seeing in jour letter the great courage you have to conquer your difficulties in order to be truly and holily devout in your vocation. Do so, and expect from God great blessings j more, without doubt, in one hour of such a devotion, well and justly regulated, than in a hundred days of a devotion, odd, eccentric, melancholy, and springing from your own brain. Keep firm in this course, and let nothing shake you in this resolution.

You have, you tell me, a little relaxed from your exercise in the country. Well! we must stretch the bow again, and recommence with proportionately more care: but another time the country must not cause you this loss; no, for God is there as well as in the town.

You have now my little writing about meditation, practise it in peace and repose. Pardon me, my dear lady, if I cut my letter a little shorter than you would wish; for this good man Rose holds me so by the collar to make me despatch him, that he does not give me leisure to be able to write.

I pray our Lord to give you a singular assistance in his Holy Spirit, that you may serve him with heart and mind according to his good pleasure. Pray to him for me, for I need it, and never do I forget you in my weak prayers.

If your husband does not hold me for his servant he is very wrong; for I am such very assuredly, and of all who belong to you, God be ever with you and in vour heart. Amen.