Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 305-

Conceive a juit hatred and Indignation againft all thy Sins in general ; and for thofe^ which are either too gro^s to be overlooked, or too habitual to be forgot- ten, exprefs a particular and proportionable Refent- ment of Sorrow and Shame. And, if thou have time and leifure, look well into the Irre.eularities of all thy Paflions, and in thy private Retirerfients make a full Confeffion of them, between God and thy own Soul.
RecoUecfl and bewail the unhappy Prevalence of worldly and carnal Aifedions ; every exorbitant De- fire, every ungoverned Pallion. Obferve, how the Motions of evil Concupifcence abound and domineer ; how unguarded thou art in thy oucward Behaviour, and the general Courfe of thy Converfation • how eafily thou art feduced by Vanity ,• how vehemently difpofed to the Gratifications of Appetite and Senfe • how carelefs and ftupid in the weightier Concerns of thy Soul ; how apt to let thy felt loofe to Laughter and extravagant Mirth , and how exceeding loch to mourn for thy Sins with a true, faving^ and neceflary Contrition ; how eagerly thou purfueft the Pleafures and Advantages of the Body , and how heavy and flothful thou art in the Exercifes of Mortification and godly Zeal ; how mighty curious and inquilitive after News and Trifles, and greedy to be entertained with every Pomp and Beauty that canpleafe thy iight • but how negligent and backward', how full of Difregard and Difdain, to things of lefs gay Appearance, but of true inward Worth, and mighty Confequence to thy better State ; how greedy of Gain ,• how fparing in thy Alms • how tenacious of this World's Goods ; How inconllderate in thy Difcourfe, howchildifli and trifling, how wicked or obfcene ; howlavifh and pro- fufe ; and what a Torment it is to fef a pfaim cxli. Guard before thy Mouthy and keep the door of thy Lips; how aflfedcd or extravagant in thy Beha- viour, how eager in thy Actions, how inordinate in
thy
3o^ £>f tfjt imitation Book I v^
thy Appetites , but how flow and deaf to the Word of God ; how negligent in hearing, and how inflexible to be perfuaded by what thou haft heard ; how prone to Reft and Eafe, and how averfe to Labour and necef- fary Care ; how wakeful and attentive at Plays, or Balls, and how drowfic and lifelefs in Prayer and holy Duties • how impatient till they are done ; and how full of wandring and impertinent Thoughts , while they are in doing ; how ealily diverted from thy ftated hours of Devotion ; how lukewarm in receiving the bleffed Sacrament, how unfixed in thy Mind at the very time of Communicating, and how barren and un- profitable afterwards ; how foon provoked to Anger upon every flight Mifcarriage , and yet how apt to give Offence to others ; How prone to judge, and fe- verely cenfure thy Brethren : How ftiff and pofitive in thofe Judgments and hard Conft ructions : How in- folent and immoderately exalted with good Fortune, and how feeble and dejeded under every Crofs or Difappointment : How full of good Intentions, and how fevv^ of thole Intentions have any good effect.
Thefe, and many other Defeds, of which each Man s own Confcience can beft inform him, it is thy Duty to enquire into very nicely ,• to bewail feri- oufly, to confefs with the profoundeft humility, and with firm purpofe of amendment for the time to come. V/hen this is done, then, without any fecret referve to thy own Inclinations, reilgn thy felf up entirely to God, to be governed by him, and oifer to the glory of his Name, thy Soul aijd Body^ a holj ^ Uvi?ig and rea- fonable Sacrifice. Thus fbalc thou come to me worthi- ly, and receive my myftical Body to thy infinite ad- vantage.
For there is no other Satisf^dion in Man's Power to make for his great Affronts, and manifold Provoca- tions againft the Majefty on High ^ no Oblation ^mors acceptable thaa that of a kmkm md contritey a