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A Litle before dinner maKe a short reflection upon the ver∣tue of the month, or the vice that is given you to overcome, see how you have behaved your self, & ask grace of God by the intercession of your Patron, to taKe more care and be∣come more vigilant the rest of the
day: one may add hereunto the rea¦ding of a chapter out of Thomas •• Kempis, if you have leisure, (which assure your self will not be lost) se¦condly say grace, or the Benedicite not in hast & barely out of custome but with attention & respect, remem¦bring that you speaK to God, & that he beholds you. Thirdly, never pas•• a meal without offering to our Lord some little bit which is most pleasing to you, depriving your self thereof to give it him, but in such a manner as that no notice may be taken of it. Fourthly, from time to time offer to God this action, which of it self being low, mean, & indifferent, ought to be animated with an holy intention to maKe it meritorious of heaven. Fifthly, sit at table with modesty & gravity, without being taken up with, or searching after the pleasing of your appetite: think sometimes how Iesus & Mary performed this action (& this ought to be the model you propose to your self in all other actions.) In fine remember that the Saints gave with regret & onely out
of necessity this satisfaction to their ••odies, which they lookt upon as their ••reatest enemies. Sixthly I would ••ounsell you not to eat between meals ••ithout great necessity, but you may ••reakfast, because perhaps you may ••uffer prejudice by fasting all the mor∣ning, & consequently be less able to perform your business.