The daily exercises of a Christian life or the interiour spirit with which we ought to animate our actions throughout the whole day: With an easy instruction for mentall prayer, translated out of French by I.W. of the Soc. of Jesus.

VII. CONVERSATION.

OF all the actions of the day this is that in which you ought most to stand upon your guard, because there is more danger of offending God in this then in all others. In effect the holy Scripture says, that he who offends not with his tongue is perfect: wherefore to render your conversa∣tion truly Christian, & in it to bridle your tongue, observe the following advice. First, never speak of the faults of others, if you be not obli∣ged in conscience to reprehend them, or to give others account of them.

Secondly before you enter into con¦versation, recommend your heart & tongue to your good Angell, that yo•• may say nothing, nor consent to any thing that is said against your neigh¦bour. Thirdly avoid as much as you can the conversation of worldings who speak of nothing in these times but vanity, fashions, & ornaments a la mode; But when necessity or de∣cency obliges you to such company, stay as litle amongst them as may be, because one ordinarily comes from them with wandring thoughts, & a heart very insensible of what belongs to God. Fourthly take care also not to talk too much of devotion, of prayer & direction, because ordina∣rily there is much of self-loue & vani∣ty in speaking too much of these mat∣ters, & it is more secure to hear others then to speak much on this sub∣ject. Fifthly, Notwithstanding you ought to let no conversation pass in which you do not handsomly bring in some good discourse (& you will do well to seek the company of such as love to speak of God) nevertheless

you ought to entertain none but your directour with any discourse of your own interiour. Sixthly, never say any thing either to your own advantage, or against your self, for oftentimes it is a counterfeit humility to undervalue ones self before others; whereas we should be very sorry that they should believe us to be such as we represent our selves; but the true mark of sin∣cere humility is not to excuse our selves when we are reprehended or blamed for any thing. That a wife may Keep the respect due to her husband, & a child to its father & mother, let them remember never to loose it in speaking, saying nothing that may offend them, nor contradicting them with obstinacy, or answering them with coldness, indifference, disrespect, or contempt. Eightly, if you desire the spirit of recollection & prayer, fly the world & company as much as you can, never maKing visits but for meer necessity, nor entertaining any familiar acquaintance but with one or two persons of devotion like your self. Nin••ly, banish from your conversa∣tion

all unprofitable curiosity con••¦ning the life & conduct of others, vanity, sowrness and immoderate a¦fection, carry your self cheerfully•…•… ciuilly, but so as to avoid distractio•• or dissipation of mind.