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.

XV.

ALl the world speaks of dying to themselves, but few know what it is, & scarce any one does it with such fidelity as is necessary; & yet none can have an intire con∣version to God, & live intirely to

him, without ceasing to live to them selves. The first step that leads to this death, is to deny all such satis¦faction to our senses as is either inor¦dinate, or unprofitable, and to pu¦rifie them, by mortifying & displea¦sing objects. Wherefore, 'tis no•• enough not to forbear the looking on any object with any tie of satis∣faction or curiosity, or the giving ear to any thing which is spoken against our neighbour, or to what we have too eager a desire of knowing, or the speaking with passion, impa∣tience, or vanity, or the eating bet∣ween meals, or at meals, with too much desire of pleasing our appetites; I say, it is not enough, to refuse these & a thousand other little commodi∣ties & unprofitable pleasures to our bodies, but we ought to oblige our selves sometimes to see, to speak, and to hear such things as we have a repugnance to, & which mortify & displease us. The second step to die to ones self, is to suppress & stifle such reflections & thoughts of mind, as are unprofitable or curious,

or may give our soul any inclina∣tion towards creatures. The third step is to moderate the desires of our heart, when they are too violent, & to retrench or cutt off all adhesion & tie to creatures, all search after them, & all rest & confidence in them, that we may keep fast to God alone.