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.

II POINT.

The death of Saints is precious in Gods sight, says the Psalmist, in the 118. Psalm. If we will dye the death of Saints, we must live their lives: (1.) by keeping our affections always as much weaned from the things of this world, as if we were to dye every moment; because there is no moment, in which death may not surprise us, & in which, we ought not to be pre∣pared to receive it, if we will not hazard our salvation: (2.) by over∣coming the naturall fear which we have of death, by faith, & by the confidence which we ought to have that Jesus Christ, in whose hands are the keys of life & death, & who loves us infinitely more then we love our selves, will send it us at such a time, & in such a manner, as in the order

of his divine providence, he foresees best for us. Has he not created us for life everlasting? do not we believe that life better then this mortall life we lead? if we are not of this beliefe, we want faith; & by consequence, have no hope; because we cannot obtain that happiness he has promised in the other life, but by death. But what charity also can an interessed soul have, which loves its own life more then the will of God? & has a greater fear to dye, then to see, & unite it self to him? Perfect charity, says the holy Scripture, in S. John•• Gospell, chap: 24. excludes fear: And as we ought to shew our love which we have for God, by our hatred to sin, what hatred do we express to it, when, for all we know, we can∣not live without committing every day some, yet we are so much affraid of death? O, if we had a true love, with what joy should we embrace death, that we might be in a state in which we could no more offend his infinite goodness! Since the least sin (as the Doctours of the Church affirm) is so

more to be feared then death.