§ 6. Variety of exercises.

We should not persist too long in any one exercise, lest it should cause weariness, and engender sloth; but we should meetly vary our exercises. If exterior tears are wanting to thee in thy prayers or meditations and holy exercises, let it not disturb thee; for one who desires to plea.-e God is not destitute of interior tears; and though, his eyes may not weep, yet his heart weeps. For the tears which thou Last not, offer to God the Father the tears of Christ. There are some who would do well generally to avoid great sensible compunction, lest it should derange the health of the body and disturb the serenity of the mind.

Give thyself to God and to divine and spiritual things, with a cheerful, free and simple heart, and without inordinate anxiety and too great stretch and application of the intellect. Seek the honour of God in thy pious exercises, rather than thy own good or thy own pleasure. Abandon utterly all faulty self-will; and be ever ready to interrupt or to leave thy private exercises, when thou art aware that God so 179wills it, or that any just reason requires it. Some are to be found who have taken upon themselves to read certain prayers every day; and if they are obliged to relinquish them by business and pressing necessity, or by holy obedience, they entirely lose their peace and tranquillity; but this sort of self-will is to be avoided. The Fathers also say that in prayer we ought not to make use of singular and remarkable gestures in the presence of others, such as striking the breast hard and frequently, sighing aloud, lifting up the hands, &c. Some are apt to pray more fervently sitting than kneeling; others say their prayers better standing or walking; do them follow the practice that thou findest to suit thee best, but so as in all things to observe discretion, and to be careful lest thou scandalise any one. Vocal as well as mental prayer rightly offered is very pleasing to God.