me opposite to Thee, and I am become burdensome to myself?" [1] Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [2] Let Thy grace, O Lord, favour me, to deliver me from so great a misery!
3. From this consideration I should draw a very resolute determination, together with my own will, to mortify these passions; for this gives life to my passions, and my passions give life to it; and therefore they must die together, in order to be vanquished, according to the counsel of Ecclesiasticus, who says, " Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will." For " if thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy to thy enemies." [3]
(To put this in execution, we shall be assisted with the examinations that shall be set down in the meditations ensuing.)
MEDITATION XXVIII.
ON THE FORM OF PRAYER BY MAKING EVERY NIGHT AM EXAMINATION OF THE CONSCIENCE.
One of the most effectual means to purify the soul is, the continual use of examining the conscience every day, before we go to bed, which the holy fathers and spiritual masters very earnestly recommend to us.[4] That form of making this examination which was taught us in five points by our glorious father St Ignatius is the most profitable of all I have seen, since it contains a most excellent form of prayer for all sorts of persons.
1. For the understanding of which, I briefly premise
