2.  The  continual  cares  which  exercised  the
mind  of  Barzillai,  were  a  second  spring  of  his
action.     We  consider  riches  as  protectors  from


*  Mr.  de  Moutausier.    See  the  close  of  his  fuueral  ora
tion,  by  Flechier.
care;  but  in  general  they  are  the  direct  con
trary.  A  rich  man  is  obliged,  as  it  were,  to
give  himself  wholly  up  to  discover  and  defeat
a  general  plot  laid  to  engross  his  fortune.  He
must  resist  such  as  would  violently  force  it
from  him.  He  must  unmask  others,  who,  un
der  colour  of  justice,  and  supported  by  law,
involve  him  in  law  suits  to  establish  illegitimate
claims.  He  must  penetrate  through  a  thou
sand  pretences  of  generosity,  disinterestedness,
and  friendship,  into  the  soul  of  a  false  friend
who  aims  at  nothing  but  gratifying  his  own
avarice  or  ambition.  He  must  watch  night
and  day  to  fix  his  riches,  which,  having  wings,
are  always  ready  to  fly  away.  How  difficult
is  it  for  a  soul,  distracted  with  so  many  cares,
to  devote  as  much  time  to  work  out  salvation,
as  a  labour  so  important  requires!  How  neces
sary  is  it  to  make  up,  by  retirement  and  recol
lection  m  the  last  stages  of  life,  what  has  been
wanting  in  days  of  former  hurry,  and  which
are  now  no  more!  I  recollect,  and  I  apply  to
Barzillai,  a  saying  of  a  captain,  of  whom  his
torians  have  taken  more  care  to  record  the  wis
dom  than  the  name.  It  is  said,  that  the  saying
struck  the  emperor  Charles  V.,  and  confirmed
him  in  his  design  of  abdicating  his  crown,  and
retiring  to  a  convent.  The  captain  required
the  emperor  to  discharge  him  from  service.
