A treatise of the loue of God. Written in french by B. Francis de Sales Bishope and Prince of Geneua, translated into English by Miles Car priest of the English Colledge of Doway

That we must haue a care to doe our actions very perfectly. CHAPTER. VII.

1. OVr Sauiour, as the auncients report, was wount to saie to his, be skil••ull exchangers. If the pistoll be nor good gold, if it want weight, if it be not bet to lawfull coyne, it is cast backe as not currant: if a worke be not of a good SPE∣CIES, if it be not adorned with Charitie, if the in∣tention be not pious, it shall not be admitted a∣mongst the good workes. If I Fast, but yet out of sparingnesse, my fast is not of a good SPECIES; if it be out of temperance, and yet I haue some mor∣tall sinne in my soule the worke wants weight; for it is Charitie that giues poise to all that we doe: if it were onely through conuersation, and to ac∣commodate my selfe to my companions, the worke is not stamped with an approoued intentiō; but if I fast out of Temperance, and be in God's

grace, and that I haue an intention to please his Diuine Maiestie, by this Temperance, tha shall be currant money, fit to augment in me the treasure of Charitie.

2. To doe little actions with a great puritie of intention, and with a will addicted to please God, is to doe them excellently, and then also they doe greatly sanctifie vs. There are some that eate much and yet are still leane, thinne, and languishing, be∣cause their power of disgestion is not good; others there are who eate little, and yet are alwayes in good plight, and vigorous, because their stomake is good. Euen so there are some soules, that doe many work••s, and yet encrease but little in Charitie, because they doe them either coldly and negligently; or by an naturall instinct and inclina∣tion, more then by Diuine inspiration, or hea∣uenly heate; and contrariwise others there are who doe but few good workes, marry they doe them with so holy a will and intention, that they make a wonderfull aduancement in charitie, they haue but a few Talents, yet they husband them so faithfully, that their Maister doth largely re∣reward them for it.