and
makes men angels, even in their mortal body. He was therefore
particularly earnest in inculcating this duty, and in instructing others
in the manner of performing it. He warmly exhorted the laity to rise to
the midnight office of matins together with the clergy: "Many artisans,"
said he, "watch to labor, and soldiers watch as sentries; and cannot you
do as much to praise God?"[21] He observes, that the silence of the
night is peculiarly adapted to devout prayer, and the sighs of
compunction: which exercise we ought never to interrupt too long; and by
watching, prayer becomes more earnest and powerful. Women he will not
have to go easily abroad to church in the night-time; but advises that
even children rise in the night to say a short prayer, and as they
cannot watch long be put to bed again: for thus they will contract from
their infancy a habit of watching, and a Christian's whole house will be
converted into a church. The advantages and necessity of assiduous
prayer he often recommends with singular energy; but he expresses
himself on no subject with greater tenderness and force than on the
excess of the divine love, which is displayed in the holy Eucharist, and
in exhorting the faithful to the frequent use of that heavenly
sacrament. St. Proclus says,[22] that he abridged the liturgy of his
church. St. Nilus[23] assures us that he was often favored with visions
of angels in the church during the canonical hours, surrounding the
altars in troops during the celebration of the divine mysteries, and at
the communion of the people. The saint himself confidently avers {244}
that this happens at those times,[24] which he confirms by the visions
of several hermits.

The public concerns of the state often called on the saint to afford the
spiritual succors of his zeal and charity. Eutropius was then at the
head of affairs. He was a eunuch, and originally a slave, but had worked
himself into favor with the emperor Arcadius. In 395 he was instrumental
in cutting off Rufinus, the chief minister, who had broke out into an
open rebellion, and he succeeded the traitor in all his honors: golden
statues were erected to him in several parts of the city, and what
Claudian, Marcellinus in his chronicle, Suidas, and others, represent as
the most monstrous event that occurs in the Roman Fasti, was declared
consul, though a eunuch. Being placed on so high a pinnacle, a situation
but too apt to turn the strongest head, forgetful of hi