“Thus you shall not expose yourself to be deceived by those wicked men, who affect an air of innocence and poverty, and who cannot so easily surprise the Brotherhood, whose principal application is to distinguish betwixt counterfeits and those who are truly indigent.

“And, besides, you will gain the more leisure for those functions, which are yours in a more especial manner, which are devoted to the conversion of souls, and shall employ your whole time therein, some of which must otherwise be taken up in the distribution of alms, which cannot be performed without much trouble and distraction.  In fine, by this means, you shall prevent the complaints and suspicions of a sort of people who interpret all things in the worst meaning, and who might perhaps persuade themselves, that, under the pretence of paying other men’s debts, you divert the intention of the money given, and employ in your own uses some part of what was entrusted with you.

“Transact in such manner, with secular persons, with whom you have familiarity or friendship, as if you thought they might one day become your enemies:  by this management of yourself, you will neither do nor say any thing of which you may have reason to repent you, and with which they may upbraid you in their passion.  We are obliged to these precautions, by the sons of a corrupt generation, who are continually looking on the children of light with mistrustful and malignant eyes.

“You ought not to have less circumspection in what relates to your spiritual advancement; and assure yourself you shall make a great progress in contemning of yourself, and in union with God, if you regulate all your words and actions by prudence.  The Examen, which we call particular, will assist you much in it.  Fail not of doing it twice a day, or once at least, according to our common method, whatsoever business you have upon your hands.

“Preach to the people the most frequently that you can, for preaching is an universal good; and amongst all evangelical employments, there is none more profitable:  but beware of advancing any doubtful propositions, on which the doctors are divided:  take for the subject of your sermons clear and unquestionable truths, which tend of themselves to the regulation of manners:  set forth the enormity of sin, by setting up that infinite Majesty which is offended by the sinner:  imprint in souls a lively horror of that sentence, which shall be thundered out against reprobates at the last judgment:  represent, with all the colours of your eloquence, those pains which the damned are eternally to suffer.  In fine, threaten with death, and that with sudden death, those who neglect their salvation; and who, having their conscience loaded with many sins, yet sleep in security, as if they had no cause of fear.

“You are to mingle with all these considerations that of the cross, and the death of the Saviour of mankind; but you are to do it in a moving pathetical manner; by those figures which are proper to excite such emotions, as cause in our hearts a deep sorrow for our sins, in the presence of an offended God, even to draw tears from the eyes of your audience.  This is the idea which I wish you would propose to yourself, for preaching profitably.