Pagina 768 de 1118

"And when you presented yourself to the church," said Frederick,

with increased severity of manner, "to be admitted to the holy

ministry, were there any such reservations made? Were you told

that the duties imposed by the ministry were free from every

obstacle, exempt from every peril? Were you told that personal

safety was to be the guide and limit of your duty? Were you not

told expressly the reverse of all this? Were you not warned that

you were sent as a lamb among wolves? Did you not even then know

that there were violent men in the world, who would oppose you in

the performance of your duty? He, whose example should be our

guide, in imitation of whom we call ourselves shepherds, when he

came on earth to accomplish the designs of his benevolence, did

he pay regard to his own safety? And if your object be to

preserve your miserable existence, at the expense of charity and

duty, there was no necessity for your receiving holy unction, and

entering into the priesthood.