was made Governour of the Province of Languedoc, and some time after his Marriage, was sent into Catalonia to command the King's Army in Quality of Vice-roy, where he gave Proofs of the Greatness of his Courage, and the Prudence of his Conduct in the taking of feveral Towns and the Conquest of several Provinces.

At his Return from his last Campaign, being at Pezenas, where he conven'd the Eitates of Languedoc,

he had fome Conferences with the * See a Bishop of * Alet; to which God ShortCha-gave so effectual a Blessing, that the racter of Prince took a firm Resolution from this great Man in that time of applying hims himself entireBp. Burely to the Service of God. And having long consulted with himthe Life self during leveral Retirements, in of Bishop which he repass'd in the Bitterness

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of his Soul, all his former Life; and having carefully examin'd, whether the Resolution he had taken ken was strong and firm enough to produce an entire Change; he made a general Confession of his Sins, with such exceeding Sorrow, and profound Humility, that the Fruits which followed his Repentance, were visible Marks of a true Conversion.

'Tis from this Time the begin ning of our Prince's Life ought properly to be dated, since he then began to live to God. And because there is great Danger of miscarrying in the way to Heaven, a way which Sinners are altogether unacquainted with, and great need at first of the Spiritual Advice and Conduct of a faithful and experienc'd Guide, the Prince fubmitted himself fully to the Direction of that Holy Prelate, and to the Abbot Ciron, whom the Bishop gave him for a Director in his Absence. And the Fear of the Judgments of God, which is the beginning beginning of Wisdom, having excited in his Heart an ardent Defire and a good Will to live according to the Rules of the Gospel, he found no Difficulty to submit to the Con duct of those Persons whom Providence had chosen for him, but on the contrary express'd great Eagernels to obey their Directions.

He punctually perform'd all that was prescrib'd him for the Conduct of his Life, and for the Regulation of his House. He moderated his Expences and retrench'd all kind of Superfluity. Balls, Plays and Gaming were prohibited to all his Domesticks. He took care to have them instructed in the Chriftian Doctrine and Piety; but nothing made so much Impression on their Minds, as the Example of their Master, who required nothing of them, which himself did not first put in Practice. They saw him always employ'd employ'd in Medication, in Prayer, in reading the Scriptures or the Lives of Saints, and in pious and charitable Works.

Prayer being the Means whereby the Spiritual Life receives its Food and Nourishment, it may not be improper to take Notice of the manner of his Prayer and Meditation, which was this. He prepar'd himself for it by a great Attention to the Presence of God, and fought in it more the Affection of the Heart than the Acts of the Understanding. He recited the Office of the Church, and retaining in his Church, Memory the most moving Paffages of Scripture, He would often in the Day meditate on them; and before Meals he took some time for Prayer and for the Examination of his Conscience. When he would take any Resolution, he first care

fully examin'd the Reasons on both fides, and never determin'd himself, but according to the Lights which he receiv'd in the Prayers he put up to God for that end.

The good Examples of others being a great Help to our Advancement in the Spiritual Life, the Prince proposed to himself that of St. Lewis IX. of whom he was descended, whose Sanctity he endeavour'd to imitate. There was no * One of Person recommendable for their thofe Vertue, whose Friendship he did whose Conver- not seek, and by frequently confation be verfing with them, he received improv'd by, was great Light for his Advancement in Perfection, so that he might say Queri- with the Royal Prophet, Lord, I Gentle- am a Companion of all them that fear man of thee and keep thy Precepts. Pfal. 119. Britany, who of a 63. Some People delight much in most pro- visiting vertuous Persons, but there fligate and im are so few who make those Visits

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pious Per- useful to the Amendment of their