belief; grant us a truly Christian spirit, a Christian heart, and guide us in the paths of a Christian life. Grant that I may become detached from all things, and in all things seek Thee alone. Grant that I may direct all my knowledge, my whole capacity, all my happiness, and all my exertions, to please Thee, to love Thee, and to obtain Thy love for time and eternity. Amen.

CHAPTER IV.

OF PRUDENCE IN WHAT WE DO.

WE must not trust every word or impulse, but cautiously and patiently weigh the matter according to God.

Alas! oftentimes is evil more readily believed and spoken of another than good; so weak are we.

But perfect men do not easily believe every tale-teller, for they know human weakness is prone to evil, and very apt to slip in speech.

2. It is great wisdom not to be rash in what is to be done, and not to persist obstinately in our own opinions.

It is a part of this wisdom also, not to believe every thing men say, nor straightway to pour into the ears of others what we have heard or believed.

Take counsel of a wise and conscientious man, and seek rather to be instructed by one that is better, than to follow thy own inventions.

A good life maketh a man wise according to God, and giveth great experience. The more humble any one is in heart, and the more in subjection to God, so much the wiser will he be in all things, and the more at peace.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

NOTHING is more opposite to charity, or more fatal to salvation, than the evil reports we make of one another, whether they be true or false; because they irritate the mind, disorder the heart, foment divisions, and imbitter hatreds, and because we cannot obtain God's pardon for them, unless we resolve, in our confessions, to repair the evil we have done, and to reconcile those we may have set at variance. We should therefore neither spread evil reports of others, nor listen

to them; and if we do hear any thing against our neighbour, we should be careful not to repeat it.

PRAYER.

GRANT, O my Saviour, that I may observe, with the greatest care, Thy precept of charity towards my neighbour, to love him as Thou hast loved us, since this is absolutely necessary for salvation. Give me also that tenderness of charity which may prevent me from wounding it in any way; for Thou hast said that to offend our neighbour is to wound the apple of Thine eye. Grant, therefore, that I may avoid Thy displeasure by not incurring the displeasure of my neighbour Amen.

CHAPTER V.

OF READING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

TRUTH is to be sought in the holy Scriptures, not eloquence.

All holy Scripture should be read in the spirit in which it was written.

We should seek profit in the Scriptures rather than subtlety of speech.

We ought to read devout and simple

books as willingly as those that are high and profound.

Let not the authority of the author be in thy way, whether he be of little or great learning; but let love of simple truth lead thee to read.

Inquire not who may have said a thing, but consider what is said.

2. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord abideth for ever.

God speaketh to us in divers ways,' without respect of persons.

Our curiosity is often a hinderance to us in reading the Scriptures, when we wish to understand and to discuss where we ought to pass on in simplicity.

If thou wilt derive profit, read with humility, with simplicity, and with faith; and never wish to have the name of learning.

Be fond of inquiring, and listen in silence to the words of the Saints; and let not the parables of the ancients be displeasing to thee, for they are not uttered without a cause.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

READ the sacred Scriptures and books of piety with the same spirit in which they were written, that is, read them in quest of truth, for instruction, for edification, and to bring thee to a truly Christian way of life. Read the holy Scriptures with faith, humility, respect, and docility, praying the Holy Ghost who dictated it, to enable thee to understand it, to relish it, and to practise it.

PRAYER.

SPEAK, my God, speak to my heart and change it, while the truths which I read strike and convince my mind. Grant that, being instructed in Thy law and in Thy holy will, by the reading of good books, I may follow them in all things, so that what Thou teachest may ever be the rule of my conduct. Amen.

CHAPTER VI.

OF INORDINATE AFFECTIONS.

WHENEVER a man desireth any thing inordinately, straightway he is disquieted. within himself.

The proud and the covetous are never