Of the Ordinary Actions of the Day

In all thy works aim at perfection, Ecels XXX sy Seka Whether ye eat or drink, or whatever else you do, do all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. x. 31.

Of your work, or ordinary Employment FTEN call to mind that sentence lai upon all mankind, Cez. iii. 19, In th sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat thy bread, unt thou returnest to the earth, from which thou wer taken: for dust thou art, and into dust tho shalt return. In consequence of this sentence submit yourself to the labours of your calling, as toa penance laid upon you by the almighty, and go thro’ them with a penitential spirit, offering them up daily to God for your sins. Fly idleness as the mother of all mischief; and if your condition of life does not oblige you to any work or employment, by way of seeking your bread, yet chuse always something of this nature for your soul’s sake, that the devil may never find you idle. . In the beginning of your work direct your intention to God: consider what you are taking in hand as a business allotted you by him, and let your design in doing of it be to please him. God almighty most certainly appoints to every one in his family his respective employment; embrace then yours in consequence of the will of God; and offer up both yourself and your work from time to time to him, in union with the works which your Saviour was employ’d in, in his mortal life.

In the midst of your work, let your interior, as much as possible, be taken up with God by recollection: make a closet in your heart for Jesus Christ, invite him in thither, and there entertain him as well as you can: seat yourself with Magdalene at his feet, and make frequent aspirations of love to him.

If in your work you would amuse yourself with singing; instead of profane and lewd songs, sing hymns and praises to God; and if you work in company of worldlings, set a particular guard over your heart, that it draw not in the infection of their vain and wicked discourse. erform all your works with due care to do hem well, not as pleasing the eyes of men, ut the eyes of God; in whose presence, and or whom you ought to do all that you do. ind when by his will you are call’d away ‘om your work, as you are to be willing to o it for him, so you must be willing to leave - for him.

Take care to mortify that over-great eagerness with which you sometimes find yourself set upon your work, and do all with calmness and peace, if you would have God be with you.

Of your Meals Go to your meals with a pure intention to take that support of nature, because it is the will of God, that you may thereby maintain your strength for his divine service. Look upon your meat and drink as medicines, necessary for your health, and take them as such, and not merely for your pleasure, or to satisfy your appetite.

Always say grace, both before and after your meals, with a serious attention to God, and a grateful sense of your receiving all from him. During your meals, keep yourself, as much as possible, in God’s presence; often aspire after the true bread, which is Jesus Christ, and long for that happy hour, when you shall come to drink at his fountain of life eternal, and shall have no need of any other eating or drinking. l Offer up your meals to God, in union with those of Jesus Christ: observe a due modesty at them, and be watchful against all intemperance and sensuality. Study rather to mortify than to gratify your appetite; and let not a meal pass without offering up to God some bit, which you have most inclination to, depriving yourself of it to give it him: but take care to do this so as not to be taken notice of. Endeavour to shun eating and drinking between meals, when there is no necessity for it; and remember that the saints of God allowed not without regret even the most necessary satisfaction to their bodies, which they looked upon as their greatest enemies.

Grace before Meals Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are to receive of thy bountiful hands, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grace after Meals We give thee thanks, almighty God, for all thy benefits, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Of your Recreations Let your intentions be pure in your recreations: as far as they are necessary for the health of your body, or the relaxation of your mind, they are agreeable to the will of God, and no farther; and this will of God ought to be your rule, both in the choice of them, and in the measure of time you allow for them. fi Fly then all such recreations as are sinful, or dangerous; all such as tend to soften the soul, and fill it with the spirit and love of this world; all such as savour of the pomps of Satan which you have renounced; all such, in fine, as, instead of being really serviceable for the relaxation of the mind, or the health of the body, are prejudicial either to the one, or to the other, or to both.

Allow no more time for your recreations, than is necessary for those ends for which recreations are allowable. It is an intolerable abuse to make them, as some do, the chief business of life. Alas, what an account will such Christians be able to give one day of the use of their precious time!

As in the beginning of your recreations, you ought to offer them up for the honour and glory of God, so you ought also frequently in the midst of them to recollect yourself in God, inviting Jesus Christ into your heart, and making aspirations of love to him.

Of your Conversation If any one offend not in words, he is a perfect man, St. James iii. 2. There is no time in which a Christian is obliged to be more upon his guard, than in his conversation; by reason of the many ways we are liable to offend by the tongue, and the great prejudices we are apt to do others, or receive from others in conversation:: upon which account also we ought to call God to our assistance as often as we go into company. Be as careful as you can in the choice of the company with whom you converse and much more in the choice of the persons whom you intend to make your more familiar friends; and let virtue and Christian prudence be the first and chiefest qualification that you seek for in them.

Let your discourse be edifying, and chuse as much as you can to speak of God, and good things; but this without ostentation, or seeming to take too much upon yourself. Speak not of what passes in your own interior, only to your director; and don’t affect either to praise or dispraise yourself; there is danger of vanity and self-love in both one and the other. Banish as much as you can from your conversation unprofitable curiosity, and all such subjects as are vain and worldly; and when these things are treated of in your company, turn a deaf ear to them, as to things that regard you not.

In all your conversations remember the presence of God, and make frequent aspirations to him; and let his presence be a powerful restraint upon you to keep you from detraction, immodest jests, and other sins so common in conversation.

When you come into any company, salute in secret the guardian angels of the company; and beg that they would drive away the enemy, that he may have no share in your conversation.

Never contradict any one in the company, except the importance of the matter, and the danger of persons receiving prejudice from the malice or ignorance of others, require it of you. Be as civil as you can, but without flattery, or condescending to anything that is evil; and be modestly chearful, in the fear of God.

In all your conversation have a charitable regard to the company you are in; taking particular care, that no word or action of yours may give occasion to any other’s sin. Often meditate in what manner Christ and his saints conversed here upon earth, that you may imitate them; often aspire to their happy conversation in heaven.

Endeavour not to make more visits than are of necessity or charity:: and remember that solitude and silence are the best means to obtain recollection in God, and the spirit of prayer.

Of reading good Books, or hearing the Word of God l Let not a day pass without employing at least one quarter of an hour in reading some spiritual book; and a more considerable time on Sundays and holidays:: advise with your director what books may be most proper, and endeavour to procure them for yourself and family.

Begin your reading by an humble invocation of the Holy Ghost, that you may profit by it: read leisurely and attentively, so as to let the lessons you read have time to make proper impressions upon you, and to sink deep into your heart. Pause a while upon such places as touch you most; and from time to time excite affections and resolutions in your soul suitable to the subject you are reading of. Look upon it, that as when you are praying, you are speaking to God, so when you are reading or hearing his word, he is speaking to you. As then you desire he should hear you, when you speak to him; so take you care to hearken faithfully to him, when he speaks to you; and to lay up carefully in your heart the seed of his divine word, that it may not be picked up by the fowls of the air, your infernal foes; or carelessly trodden under your feet. i Hear the word of God as often as you have the opportunity. Call upon God in the beginning, and purify your soul as much as you can from all vain curiosity; mind not the eloquence or action of the preacher, but attend to the truths he delivers: don’t say within yourself, how well does this or that suit with this or that person;; but consider what suits with yourself, and lay it up in your mind, for the rule of your comportment for the time to come.

After reading or hearing the word of God, give thanks to his divine majesty for the instructions he has given you therein: single out some one or more particular points for your practice that very day; and beg of God that he would imprint them in your soul, that you may remember them, and put them in execution. Remember that the word of God heard or read, and not put in practice, will one day rise in judgment against you.

If you are the master or mistress of a family, see that those under your charge want not the advantage of frequent reading or hearing what is good. It is a care your great master expects from you.

Take care to banish from yourself and family all lewd and irreligious books, and such as may be of dangerous consequence either to faith or morals; as romances, play-books, novels, fortune-books, &%c. ’Tis not to be imagined what harm young people, especially, receive from such books.