CHAPTER XXX.

THE DEVOUT MAN MUST CAREFULLY STRIVE TO HAVE A RIGHT INTENTION, AND CULTIVATE PURITY IN ALL THINGS.

LET this thought precede all thy actions, (even when thou hast to eat, to drink, to sleep, or to afford any other solace to thy flesh) that thou desirest to perform them purely for the honour of God. For, as any work, however great and important it may seem in itself, is utterly displeasing to God, if it is done with 79an impure intention; so a work that in itself is judged to be of no moment, is most pleasing to God when done with a pure intention. Even if, through piety, thou dost but bow thy head before the image of Jesus Crucified, or make a little offering of flowers to the altar of Mary the Mother of God, or take a single step out of charity, thou wilt not be defrauded of thy hope of a just reward.

According to the teaching of St. Paul, make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences (Rom. xiii. 14). Detest gluttony; take thy food and drink composedly and slowly, avoiding all sensual avidity. Burden not thy stomach overmuch; lest thou shouldst be weighed down, and less ready for interior exercises. But be chiefly on thy guard against a free use of wine. In vain wilt thou aspire to a spiritual life, if thou, like a vile slave to impure pleasures, loadest thyself with food, never restraining the desires of greediness. Avoid with equal care too great indulgence and too great abstinence. For thou mayest be sometimes averse even to the little portion of food that is necessary to support nature. If it should happen that thou hast been inattentive, and gone a little beyond the bounds of holy temperance, the sin is not grievous, but yet it must not be neglected. Acknowledge thy fault, sigh, renew thy resolution; and, putting aside, all pusillanimity, confide in the Lord. Seek not after refined banquets, and when such are before thee, partake of them as if they were the most simple. Let not the scantiness of thy food ever provoke thee to anger, or to childish complaints; but be patient. 80Christ our Lord for theft was given gall and vinegar to drink (St. John xix. 29). Thou must so admit the satisfaction that is naturally derived from eating and drinking, as not to rest in it; it should occupy thee no more than if thou didst not feel it. Be sedulous in giving thanks for the benefits which are daily bestowed upon thee by God.

Avoid with prudence the occasions of evil. If thou art of necessity present where there are evident occasions of sin, fortify thy weakness with prayers, and call upon God, saying, Let my heart, Lord, and my body be undefiled before thee (Ps. cxviii. 80). Accustom thyself to turn everything that thou hearest and seest to thy spiritual progress and to the honour of God.

Love quiet and silence, dwell in the secret of thy heart, and converse interiorly with thy God. Be not eager to seek out, to hear, to know, or to look into anything that does not concern thee, or that is of no use to thee. Have no curiosity about what is without, nor about the deeds of others; but let thy occupation be within, and about thy own vices. Thou shalt not, I say, attempt to discuss the manners and the lives of others: thou shalt not engage thyself in observing them, unless the duties of thy position require it. And even if duty demands it. this sort of watchfulness must be guarded, so that thy care of others may go only as far as necessity or the good of souls may require, not as far as curiosity or levity of mind might urge thee. In thy affairs, avoid precipitation and a 81disturbed and impetuous temper, lest thou shouldst lose thy liberty of spirit.

Abhor idleness, the parent of all evils, and the certain ruin of the soul; sedulously expel indolence from thy mind. Though thy body may some times languish, yet thy reason must never yield to sloth; but thou must be prompt in spirit and in will. Thou shouldst not always give way to unseasonable sleepiness; but when it is very urgent, thou mayest yield to it a little, according to the opportunity of the time and place; so that, refreshed by a light and short sleep, thou mayest return with more alacrity to thy necessary labours.