An introduction to a deuoute life composed in Frenche by the R. Father in God Francis Sales, Bishop of Geneua. And translated into Englisg [sic], by I.Y.

An examination of our estate tou∣ching our selues. CHAP. 5.

1. HOW doest thou loue thy self, louest thou thy self ouermuch for the vanities of this world? For yf it be so, thou wilt desire to dwell always in the world, with an extraor∣dinarie care to establishe thy self heer vpon earth. But yf thou loue thy self for heauens sake then wilt thou desire, at least wise thou wilt easilie consent, to depart from hence at the time and hower, that it shall please our Lord to call thee.

2. Doest thou keepe due order in the loue of thy self? for there is no∣thing that marreth vs, but onely the inordinate loue of our selues. As for well ordered loue, it requires that

we loue the soule bitter then the bodie; that we take more paines to get virtues then any thing els; that we make more account of heauenly glorie, then of base and transitorie honour? A well or∣dered hart, will more often say in it self: What will the angels say yf I thinck, or doe such a thing? thē, what will men say?

3. What loue bearest thou to thy soule? art thou vnwilling and loath to help it when it is spirituallie distempe∣red and diseased? alas thou owest this care and attendance vnto it, to helpe it thy self, and procure it to be hol∣pen by other, when passions doe tor∣ment it: and to set a side all other cares, when thy soule stands in need of thy care.

4. How doest thou esteeme of thy self before the eyes of God almightie? to be nothing at all, doubtlesse. But it is noe great humilitie in a flie, to thinck her self nothing in regard of a moun∣taine; or for a droppe of water, to esteeme it self nothing in compari∣son of the maine sea: nor for a spar∣kle of fire, to hold it self nothing in res∣pecte of the sunne: It is humilitie in∣deed,

not to preferre our selues before others, nor to affect, or desire to be esteemed of, and well liked by others: How doest thou feele thy self, affected in this point?

5. Touching thy tongue: doest thou not bragge and vaunt of thy self one way or other? doest thou not flatter thy self, when thou speakest of thine owne self?

6. For works & actions. Doest thou vse to take any pleasure or passetime, contrarie to thy bodily or spirituall health? I meane vaine pleasure, vnprofi∣table recreations, ouer-watching, too much disordely labour, and such like.