g. But it very
often happens, that those which appear evils in our own eyes, appear
also as such to him who has human nature under his care, in which case
they are certainly averted from the person who has made himself, by this
virtue, an object of divine favour.

9. Histories are full of instances of this nature, where men of virtue
have had extraordinary escapes out of such dangers as have enclosed
them, and which have seemed inevitable.

10. There is no example of this kind in Pagan history which more pleases
me than that which is recorded in the life of _Timoleon_. This
extraordinary man was famous for referring all his successes to
Providence. _Cornelius Nepos_ acquaints us that he had in his house a
private chapel in which he used to pay his devotions to the goddess who
represented Providence among the heathens. I think no man was ever more
distinguished by the Deity, whom he blindly worshipped, than the great
person I am speaking of, in several occurrences of his life, but
particularly in the following one, which I shall relate out of
_Plutarch_.

11. Three persons had entered into a conspiracy to assassinate
_Timoleon_ as he was offering up his devotions in a certain temple. In
order to it they took their several stands in the most convenient places
for their purpose. As they were waiting for an opportunity to put their
design in execution, a stranger having observed one of the conspirators,
fell upon him and slew him. Upon which the other two, thinking their
plot had been discovered, threw themselves at _Timoleon's_ feet, and
confessed the whole matter.

12. This stranger, upon examination, was found to have understood
nothing of the intended assassination, but having several years before
had a brother killed by the conspirator, whom he here put to death, and
having till now sought in vain for an opportunity of revenge, he chanced
to meet the murderer in the temple, who had planted himself there for
the above-mentioned purpose.

13. _Plutarch_ cannot forbear on this occasion, speaking with a kind of
rapture on the schemes of Providence, which, in this particular, had so
contrived it that the stranger should, for so great a space of time, be
debarred the means of doing justice to his brother, till by the same
blow that revenged the death of one innocent man, he preserved the life
of another.

14. For my own part, I cannot wonder that a man of _Timoleon's_ religion
should have this intrepidity and firmnes