Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

3. Fly all tempting occasions of sin. Joseph would not be alone with his Mistress. There is no virtue so confirmed, and in that degree of eminence, but if one be frequently engaged in vicious Society, 'tis in danger of being eclipst and controlled by the opposite vice. If the Ermines will associate with the Swine, they must lie in the mire: if the Sheep with Wolves, they must learn to bite and devour: if Doves with Vultures, they must learn to live on the prey. Our surest guard is to keep at a distance from all engaging snares. He that from carelessness or confidence ventures into temptations, makes himself an easy prey to the tempter.

3. Fly all tempting occasions of sin. Joseph would not be alone with his Mistriss. There is no vertue so confirmed, and in that degree of eminence, but if one be frequently ingaged in vicious Society, 'tis in danger of being eclipst and controul'd by the opposite vice. If the Ermins will associate with the Swine, they must lie in the mire: if the Sheep with Wolves, they must learn to bite and devour: if Doves with Vultures, they must learn to live on the prey. Our surest guard is to keep at a distance from all engaging snares. He that from carelessness or confidence ventures into temptations, makes himself an easie prey to the tempter.

And let us daily pray for the Divine Assistance to keep us from the evil of the World; without which all our resolutions will be as ineffectual as ropes of sand, to bind us to our duty.

And let us dayly pray for the Divine Assistance to keep us from the evil of the World; without which all our resolutions will be as ineffectual as ropes of sand, to bind us to our duty.

5. The consideration of the evil of sin is a powerful motive to our solemn and speedy Repentance. The remembrance of our original and actual sins, will convince us, that we are born for repentance. There are innumerable silent sins, that are unobserved and do not Alarm the Conscience, and although a true Saint will neither hide any sin, nor suffer sin to hide it self in his breast, yet the most holy Men in the World, have great reason with the Psalmist to say with melting affections, who can understand his errors, O cleanse me from my secret sins, discover them to me by the light of the Word, and cover them in the blood of the Redeemer: There are sins of infirmity and daily incursion, from which none can be perfectly freed in this mortal state: these should