notwithstanding, seemed short unto Jacob himself, for the love he bare to Rachel. Much shorter should the time seem to thee, wherein thou servest this Lord: all labours may be accounted light for His love, who is more to be beloved than any earthly creature, by infinite degrees. Thou shouldest be happy, O my soul, if thou knewest what dignity it is to serve so high a Lord. Call to mind how thou hast served in times past this vain world, whereby thou hast been subject to many perturbations. How many bitter crosses hast thou sustained in this service? Now by the help of thy heavenly Lord, whom thou hast this day received, thou art able to tread under foot all the allurements of thy ghostly enemies, and become mistress of thine own passions. Remember that holiness becometh the house of God, whose house thou now art. Consider, that to serve God is to bear rule. Think thou art no longer thine own, but God's, to whom thou hast consecrated thyself. His will, not thine, ought ever to be fulfilled, that in all things thou yield humble obedience, and reply with the Apostle, Quid vis me facere? "Lord, what wilt Thou that I do?"

Acts ix. 6.

CHAPTER XLII.

CAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED OF THE DEVOUT CHRIS

TIAN AFTER HIS RECEIVING THE HOLY SACRAMENT.

I. THAT he be no less careful now, after this heavenly repast, in the exercises of devotion, than he was before in preparing himself.

2. That he use much silence, and some solitariness, the same day, that he may be private thereunto, Deo et sibi, "to God and himself."

3. That he retire himself from worldly affairs. 4. That he often determine of his future conversation to be religious, and fearing God.

5. That he resolve with the prophet, Dixi custodiam vias meas; "I said, I will take heed unto my ways"."

6. That he resign himself wholly to God's pleasure.

7. That he use all the means which be helpful in this resigning himself wholly unto God's pleaof these means some are general, and some are particular.

sure;

1. Amongst the general, the first is a steadfast purpose not to offend God in this or that sin

Psalm xxxix. x.

from henceforth, whereunto he hath been formerly subject.

2. It doth much help to fly occasions which are wont to draw men to sin, as the place of ill company; for it is written, "Death entereth in by the windows"."

3. It doth much help to resist temptations in the beginning, to extinguish the first spark of evil desire, before it inflame the heart; which is done. if we fly to prayer and meditation of Christ's Passion.

4. It also much helpeth to keep the purpose of not offending God, to hear the word of God, to read good books; by this means the heart of man is recollected.

5. It availeth not a little to be ever conversant in the sight of God; to have this inscription in the house or place of our most frequent abode, Noli peccare, quia Deus videt; Sin not, because God sees thee.

6. A good mean of holy life, is to fly idleness, the nourishment of vice.

7. O, consider that having now cast out Jonah, that is, some sin of disobedience to God, we should be careful for the time to come. Why did the holy man Job make a covenant with his eyes, but

Jeremiah ix. 21.
L

that he knew that sight did cause cogitation, cogitation delight, delight consent, and consent will bring forth sin?

8. Last of all, an effectual mean against all vice, is the often receiving the Holy Sacrament, which is wont for to strengthen the soul against temptations.

CHAPTER XLIII.

CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING NEWNESS OF LIFE;

TO BE USED AFTER THE RECEIVING OF THE HOLY COMMUNION.

1. LET the faithful Christian call to mind, that as often as he receiveth the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, so often he cleanseth himself in the Blood of Christ, which is thereunto very powerful. Now having been cleansed and washed, let him say with the wise man, Lavi pedes meos, quomodo inquinabo eos? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them" ?

Let him call to mind that it is to small purpose with the sick man to go to the physician, and by and by either wilfully to run into a relapse, or not to observe remedies given him for his health.

u Canticles v. 3.

Now of the remedies or spiritual antidotes against sin, some are general and some are particular. Amongst the general, the first is, to be as it were always conversant in the sight of God, who is the witness of all our actions. I mean, to be ever conversant in the sight of God, is to call to mind that of the wise man, In omni loco oculi Domini contemplantur bonos et malos; In every place the eyes of the Lord do behold the good and the evil. That of the prophet David, Providebam Dominum in conspectu meo semper; I always had the Lord in my sight. That of Tobias to his son, Omnibus diebus vitæ tuæ in mente habeto Deum; Have God in thy mind all the days of thy life. Let this also be written in thy mind, Virtue shall see God.

In the old law Almighty God commanded the Israelites to wear fringes upon the borders of their garments, that when they did look upon them, they should remember God's commandments, and do them. Surely, in like manner, it shall be much pleasing to God, if with any sign we are stirred up to remember the presence of God.

The second is, to meditate at all hours, of the hour of our departure out of this life, according to that of the wise man, Memorare novissima tua, et

x Numbers xv. 38.