hearts of men, and that if matters do not progress to their satisfaction, they should begin by taking the blame to themselves. ... Your efforts will be appreciated by many. ... You will be blessed by all. {115} Such are the French people; such, it appears to us, is the way to do them good. It is well to study books: it is indispensable; but it is not enough. We must also study the hearts, the minds, the manners of those with whom we have to deal, otherwise our knowledge will be like gold buried in the mountains of America. "The good shepherd knows his sheep, and is known of them." Is that saying always realized amongst ourselves? There is one particular point, however, on which we must be thoroughly convinced, namely, that what sufficed in former times will not suffice now. A great revolution has taken place among the masses. A century ago, Christianity bore all away in its strong current. Passions broke loose, no doubt; but sooner or later all bowed before the Gospel. Nowadays, attempts are made to justify human weaknesses. Formerly, scarcely any other guidance was permitted but that of the Christian pulpit. Now, there are platforms everywhere, and within a century we have between fifteen and eighteen millions more who can read--from fifteen to eighteen millions of men who may easily be led astray. {116} It is a common saying that "France is very sick." Then, I beseech you not to treat it as if it were in perfect health. Would you make an end of it? "Christianity alone can save us," is another common remark. Very true; but it must be brought in contact with the masses, and if they do not come to us, we must go to them. ... We have been unsuccessful in the ministry of the word; let us try the ministry of charity. Is it not the aim of Christian eloquence to win over the hearts of men, and to dispose them toward that which is good? Avail yourselves, then, of your position to carry out that object. ... Be persuaded that the world is tired of fine speeches; it wants actions: and of that demand, who can complain? ... To study and to argue is to act well; to act and to love is better still. But the most formidable argument against Christianity is this:--"We admit that Christianity has rendered great benefits to mankind by endowing the world with admirable institutions; but its sap is exhausted; its ascendency over the masses is lost." Let us prove that this is false, not by words merely, but by deeds: by self-denial and self sacrifice. Those arguments are unanswerable. {117} But in order to remedy the evils which beset us, we must not rely on the systems of the learned or on human laws. Good heavens! if reasonings and codes of law sufficed to secure the peace and happiness of a people, France ought to be the most prosperous country in the world.