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.

FOR EXAMEN AND CONFESSION.

1. AFTER having examin'd for some time the voluntary imperfections that you have fallen into, contrary to the light which God gave you, as also all the un∣profitable thoughts and reflections, the eagernesses and promtitudes of your hart, the impatiences of your tongue, and the negligences of your actions, employ your self in some of the insuing thoughts.

2. Is it possible ô my God that I should have displeased you? That I should have the confusion to have prefered a bauble before you? How sorry am I to have provoked your anger against me. O my IESVS punish me as you please; but pardon me: I desire to satisfy your justice, but I cannot suffer the sight of your

anger against me.

3. Ah my JESUS what blood and teares have my infidelitys cost you? And how litle have they cost me? You dyed in pain to blot out my sinns, and I will not use the least violence to my self to overcome them. No my IESUS I will not afflict or torment you any more by my sinns, what pain soever I vn∣dergo.

4. O Goodnesse of my God, how long have you sought me? O pa∣tience of my God how long have you waited for me? How long shall I continually contemn your calls, your allurements, and your love? O sins, ô infidelity, ô basenesse I detest you because you injure my God.

5. Shall I allways be vnfaithfull to so many graces which you bestow vpon me? What? allways receive a thousand benefits from you, and all∣ways render you a thousand ingra∣titudes? Oh my IESVS pardon me. I dye with griefe to have given you so great and so just a displeasure.

6. Is it possible that for a nothing I have so offended you, ô my dear IESVS. How have I preferred a small satisfaction of my own to that of your hart. Yes so long as I con∣tent my self in this effusion of hart, in this promptitude, in this humour∣some word, in this detraction, this resentment this liberty and remiss∣nesse; you behold me my IESVS, & say to me in my hart, is it because you have a mind to displease me, to offend me, and to draw me from you, is it that I am not better then this pleasure which moves you to sinn? And I make answere by my actions my IESVS, yes I love to content my self rather then to please you. O love, ô goodnesse contemned ô hart of my IESVS, I deserve not that you should receive me. But I hope all things of your mercy, and I protest that you shall be all to me, and all things else shall be no∣thing.

7. Mortall sinn mak's us loose gods favour, veniall sinn cools it, and di••ves

us from him, imperfection and the life of nature, stops and hinders vs from going to him; it renders his graces, his blood, his love, uselesse to our salvation. O sinn either grie∣vous, or light, I have a greater hor∣rour of you then of death, because you offend my God, I will hence forth live a life altogether superna∣turall, and quite contrary to my owne inclinations.

8. Remember that you reflect not to much vpon your sinns, and take care not to disquiet your self for them. A simple and amourous return towards God within you is suffi∣cient; is it possible my God that I should have displeased you? Behold this is what I can only do of my self, but it is that which I will en∣deavour by the assistance of your grace to do no more. This suffices, then forget all, and loose your self in God.

9. Make your confession after the clearest and shortest manner you are able, and receive absolution with

an interiour sense of confusion, griefe and love, without designing to tast any sensibility.

10. Go from confession throuly penetrated with the goodnesse of a God who presently pardons, and of your ingratitude, who continually offend him; and remaining in his presence and in him, with a respect∣full silence, let him take possession of you, abandoning your self in∣tirely to him. O bounty of my God, possesse my hart, ô Justice of my God satisfy and content your self upon me.