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The Garden of the Soul: a manual of spiritual exercises and instructions [...] / revised and corrected by Edward Price
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28

MEDITATIONS OF

then seem to you sweet and delightful. Oh, why did I not follow this lovely and pleasant path! The sins which before seemed very little, will appear as big as mountains, and your devotion very small.

3. Consider the long and languishing farewells your soul will then give this world: she will then take her leave of riches, vanities, and all idle company; of plea­sures, pastimes, friends, and neighbours; of kindred, children, husband, and wife: in short, of every creature; and finally, of her own body, which she will leave pale, hideous, and loathsome.

4. Consider with what hurrying they will carry away this body, to cover it under the earth; which done, the world will think no more of you, than you have thought of others. God's peace be with him! they will say, and that is all. O death, how void art thou of regard or pity!

5. Consider how the soul, being departed from the body, taketh her way to the right hand, or to the left. Alas! whither shall yours go? take? No other than that which it began here in this What way shall it world.

Affections and Resolutions.- 1. Pray to God, and cast yourself into his arms. Alas! O my Lord, receive me into thy protection at that dreadful day! make that hour happy and favourable to me; and rather let all the other days of my life be sad and sorrowful!

2. Despise the world. Since then I know not the hour, in which I must leave thee, O wretched world! I will no more set my heart upon thee. O my dear friends and relations! pardon me if I love you no more, but with a holy friendship, which may last eternally; for, why should I unite myself to you, so as to be forced to break and dissolve that knot?

3. I will then prepare myself against that hour, and take all possible care to end this journey happily. I will secure the state of my conscience to the utmost of my