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.

VIII. READING.

AFter dinner & the recreation fol¦lowing it, you must read in som•• spirituall booK for half, or a quarter of an hour, as shall be appointed you, and that you may do this with fruit, first, in the beginning humbly crave grace of our Saviour to profit by it, saying either, veni sancte Spiritus, or a Pater & Ave. Secondly read not out of curiosity & in haste, but lei∣surely and with attention, & when you meet with any thing either mo∣ving or instructiue, rest there a little while, endeavouring, as it were to relish it, consider how you may be able that day to practice it, & beg of the holy ghost to imprint it in your heart. Thirdly be not in pain to read

••any pages in your book, read a ••••ttle, but with great recollection & ••ttention, always apply what y••u ••ead in order to practice, & consider ••ow & then that those very truths, which you read will condemn you one day before gods tribunal if you do not follow them. Fourthly let not this spirituall reading be ordinarily but in solid and moving books, & such as your directour shall approve. Fifthly be not troubled if you re∣member nothing of what you have read, but commit all that you have read to him who is able to touch & move your heart independently of those truths which you read. Sixthly after your reading thanK God for ha∣ving thereby instructed you, & make a firm resolution by the assistance of his grace to practice the Instru∣ctions he has given you.