ST. FRANCIS DE SALES.

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3. Confound yourself. But, alas! my Creator, in­#ead of uniting myself to thee by love and service, I have been a rebel to thee by my inordinate affections, wandering and straying away from thee, to unite myself to sin; valuing thy goodness no more than if thou hadst not been my Creator.

4. Prostrate yourself before God. O my soul, know that the Lord is thy God, it is he that has made thee, and not thou thyself. O God, I am the work of thy hands.

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5. I will then no more henceforth take pleasure in myself, since of myself I am nothing. Why dost thou magnify thyself, O dust and ashes? yea, rather, O mere nothing, why dost thou exalt thyself? To humble there­fore myself, I resolve to do such and such things; to suffer such and such disgraces, I will change my life, and henceforth follow my Creator, and esteem myself honoured with that condition and being which he has given me, employing it entirely in obedience to his will, by such means as shall be taught me, and as I shall learn from my ghostly father.

Conclusion. Give thanks to God, Bless thy God, O my soul, and let all that is within me bless his holy name; for his goodness has drawn me, and his mercy has created me, out of nothing. 2. Offer. O my God, I offer to thee the being which thou hast given me: from my heart I dedicate and consecrate it to thee. 3. Prayer, O God, strengthen me in these affections and resolutions. O Blessed Virgin, recommend them to the mercy of thy Son, with all for whom I ought to pray. Our Father, Hail Mary. I believe in God,& c.

After your prayer, out of these considerations which you have made, gather a little nosegay of devotion, to smell at all the rest of the day.