natural affection: because our own natural inclination, self-will, hope of retribution, desire of our own interest, will seldom be wanting.

He that has true and perfect charity seeks himself in no one thing: but desires only the glory of God in all things.

He envies no man, because he loves no private joy; nor does he desire to rejoice in himself: but above all good things he wishes to be made happy in God.

He attributes nothing of good in any man, but refers it totally to God, from whom all things proceed as from their fountain, in the enjoyment of whom all the saints repose as in their last end.

Ah! if a man had but one spark of perfect charity, he would doubtless perceive that all earthly things are full of vanity.

CHAP. xi.

Of bearing the Defects of others.

WHAT a man cannot amend in himself or others, he must bear with patience, till God ordains otherwise.

Think, that perhaps it is better so for thy trial and patience; without which, our merits are little worth.

Thou must, nevertheless, under such impressions, earnestly pray that God may vouchsafe to help thee, and that thou mayest bear them well.

If any one, being once or twice admonished, does not comply, contend not with him but commit all to God, that his will may be done, and he may be honoured in all his servants, who knows how to convert evil into good.

Endeavour to be patient in supporting others' defects and infirmities of what kind soever: because thou also hast many things which others must bear withal,

If thou canst not make thyself such a one as thou wouldst; how canst thou expect to have another according to thy liking?

:

We would willingly have others perfect and yet we mend not our own defects.

We would have others strictly corrected: but are not willing to be corrected ourselves.

The large liberty of others displeases us and yet we would not be denied any thing we ask for. We are willing that others should be bound up by laws and we suffer not ourselves by any means to be restrained.

Thus it is evident how seldom we weigh our 'neighbour in the same balance with ourselves. If all were perfect; what then should we have to suffer from others for God's sake?

But now God has so disposed things, that we may learn to bear one another's burden: for there is no man without defect, no man without his burden; no man sufficient for himself: no man wise enough for himself: but we must support one another, comfort one another, assist, instruct, and admonish one another.

But how great one's virtue is, best appears by 'occasion of adversity: for occasions do not make a man frail, but shew what he is.

СНАР. хіі.

Of the Example of the holy Fathers.

Look upon the lively examples of the holy fathers, in whom true perfection and religion were most shining, and thou wilt see how little, and almost nothing, that is which we do.

Alas! what is our life if compared to theirs? The saints and friends of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst; in cold and nakedness; in labour and weariness; in watchings and fastings; in prayers and holy meditations; in persecutions and many reproaches.

Ah! how many and how grievous tribulations have the apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and all the rest, gone through, who have been willing to follow Christ's footsteps: for they hated. their lives in this world, that they might possess them for eternity.

O! how strict and mortified a life did the holy fathers lead in the desart! How long and grievous temptations did they endure! how often were they molested by the enemy? What frequent and fervent prayers did they offer to God! What rigorous abstinence did they go through! What great zeal and fervour had they for their spiritual progress! How strong a war did they wage for overcoming vice! How pure and upright was their intention to God!

They laboured all the day, and in the nights, they gave themselves to long prayers: though even whilst they were at work, they ceased not from mental prayer.

They spent all their time profitably every hour seemed short which they spent with God: and through the great sweetness of divine contemplation, they forgot even the necessity of their bodily refreshment.

They renounced all riches, dignities, honours, friends, and kindred: they desired to have nothing of this world; they scarce allowed themselves the necessaries of life; the serving the body even in necessity, was irksome to them.

They were poor therefore as to earthly things: but very rich in grace and virtues.

Outwardly they wanted, but inwardly they were refreshed with divine graces and consolations.

They were strangers to the world, but near and familiar friends to God.

They seemed to themselves as nothing, and

с с

were despised by this world: but in the eyes of God they were very valuable and beloved.

They stood in true humility; they lived in simple obedience; they walked in charity and patience and therefore they daily advanced in spirit, and obtained great favour with God.

They were given as an example for all religious and ought more to excite us to make good progress, than the number of the luke-warm to grow slack.

O! how great was the fervour of all religious in the beginning of their holy institution!

O! how great was their devotion in prayer! how great their zeal for virtue !

How great discipline was in force amongst them! How great reverence and obedience in all, flourished under the rule of a superior!

The footsteps remaining still bear witness that they were truly perfect and holy men; who waging war so stoutly, trod the world under their feet.

Now he is thought great who is not a transgressor; and who can with patience endure what he hath undertaken.

Ah! the luke-warmness and negligence of our state, that we so quickly fall away from our former fervour, and are now even weary of living through sloth and tepidity!

Would to God that advancement in virtues were not wholly asleep in thee, who hast so often seen many examples of the devout!

CHAP. xiii.

TOf the Exercises of a good religious Man.

THE life of a good religious man ought to be eminent in all virtues: that he may be such interiorly, as he appears to man in his exterior.

And with good reason ought he to be much

more in his interior than he exteriorly appears; because he who beholds us is God, of whom we ought exceedingly to stand in awe, wherever we are, and like angels walk pure in his sight.

We ought every day to renew our resolution, and excite ourselves to fervour, as if it were the first day of our conversion, and to say:

Help me, O Lord God, in my good resolution, and in thy holy service, and give me grace this day perfectly to begin; for what I have hitherto done, is nothing.

According as our resolution is, will the progress of our advancement be: and he had need of much diligence who would advance much.

Now if he that makes a strong resolution often fails; what will he do who seldom or but weakly resolves?

The falling off from our resolution happens divers ways: and a small omission in our exercises seldom passeth without some loss.

The resolutions of the just depend on the grace of God, rather than on their own wisdom: and in whom they always put their trust, whatever they take in hand.

For man proposes, but God disposes: nor is the way of man in his own hands.

If for piety's sake, or with a design to the profit of our brother, we sometimes omit our accustomed exercises, it may afterwards be easily recovered.

But if through a loathing of mind, or negli gence, it be lightly let alone, it is no small fault, and will prove hurtful.

Let us endeavour what we can, we shall still be apt to fail in many things.

But yet ye must always resolve on something certain, and in particular against those things which hinder us most.

We must examine and order well both our ex