XVIII.

A MANDATE

(Jan. 28, 1734.)

TO SING THE TE DEUM IN THANKSGIVING FOR THE CAPTURE OF THE CASTLE OF MILAN.

THE

HE new successes with which the Lord continues to crown the arms of the King, and to approve the justice of his cause, demands of us my dearest brethren, new and solemn thanks. It is just that the public expression of our gratitude should closely follow on the favors of heaven: but less dazzled by the splendor of victory, than moved by the calamities of war, let us mingle with our thanksgiving, christian desires for concord and peace. Let us enter into the sentiments of the church-that common parent, who now beholds with grief, the

nations which the same faith and the same hope unites in her tender bosom, armed for mutual destruction. She is always a tender Rachel, bewailing the loss of her children :* let us unite our vows to hers, and implore Him, who holds in his hands the hearts of kings, and who inspires wise counsels into their ministers, to abbreviate those days of anger and bloodshed, which are always equally fatal to all the contending powers; since

the one side has to mourn their losses and reverses, and the other to lament the expenses and efforts by which they purchase victory. By thus conforming to the views of the church, our thanksgiving and prayers, animated by her spirit, shall ascend with confidence, to the throne of the God of peace and love: He will deign to regard the disinterested and pacific intentions of the King, with looks of mercy and protection; and if He will not accord to our desires and to his, that peace which he has always loved, and which was born with him, and began to reign with him in Europe,

Matt. c. ii. v. 18.

He will at least continue to accord to him, victories and conquests, that will render it desirable to those hostile powers by whom it has been disturbed.

For these reasons, &c.

!

XIX.

1

A MANDATE

(July 28, 1734.)

TO SING THE TE DEUM IN THANKSGIVING FOR THE VICTORY GAINED OVER THE IMPERIALISTS IN ITALY, BY THE TROOPS OF THE KING AND THOSE OF HIS SARDINIAN MAJESTY.

LET us leave those who always judge of events by the false and narrow views of human wisdom, to glory in our victories and put forth songs of triumph and joy for us, my dear brethren, guided by the light of faith, let us consider with a holy terror, that the wrath of God, must indeed be exasperated against men, since notwithstanding the universal desire of peace with which the calamities of the last wars had filled all the nations of Europe, and the sovereigns who rule them, discord has again

incited them to resume the sword with greater fury than before, and still inundates the earth with the blood of its inhabitants. It is true that God visibly favors the just hostilities of the King; all victorious as he is, he is still intent on peace; he wishes it for the sake of his people, and his wishes are rewarded with victories; but victory is ever the favor of a God irritated against the vices of men.

What a shocking spectacle, my brethren, is presented to us, even in that, which we have lately obtained! a carnage so horrible and so unexampled, as to be without parallel, save in the encounters of barbarous nations. The rivals alone of their fierce and cruel spirit could triumph in the achievements of this bloody and murderous day; for us, the splendor of victory is covered with a veil of mourning; the public testimonies of our gratitude to the God of armies, are clouded by the regrets of religion and humanity, and we cannot refuse to mingle with our solemn thanksgiving, tears of sorrow for the death of our relatives and friends, and for the many brave subjects who have generously sacrificed their lives, for the glory of the prince and the interests of the state.