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any evil thought or filthy imagination, in such a manner that my eye must he chaste and my ear chaste, preserving these senses chaste that they may he the guardians of chastity.

ii. The second act is parity in things delectable to the senses of smelling, tasting, and touching, [1] separating myself with great rigour from all those sweet and pleasant things that are any impediment to chastity — labouring to be chaste in my meat and drink, in my apparel and bed — and chaste in all my touchings, flying, as from fire, all things that are otherwise.

iii. The third act is purity in words, speech, and " conversation" [2] — in looks, laughter, and gestures of the body, and in exterior grace and manner, observing in all this such chastity that Christian modesty and decency may be resplendent in all — cutting off whatever may be contrary toil

iv. The fourth act is purity in friendship, and in bring and familiar commerce or conversation with creatures — carefully avoiding any over-great familiarity with any one that may be any occasion of blemishing chastity — neither giving nor receiving any presents or gifts that may be snares or stumbling-blocks to this virtue.

v. The fifth act is purity in separating ourselves from all occasions, as well exterior as interior, which excite to anything that may tarnish or overthrow chastity. And therefore he that is perfectly chaste shuns secret pride, by which Almighty God permits man to fall into manifest luxury [3] — he shuns anger, for it inflames the blood and perturbs the flesh — he shuns idleness, because it opens the gate to fleshly lust — and finally, he shuns all places and persons by whose company he may endanger his chastity; for " he that loveth danger shall perish in it." [4]

  1. S. Basil, lib. de tctb rirg.
  2. 1 Pet. iii. 2.
  3. S. Greg. lib. xi. mor. c. 8.
  4. Eccles. iii. 27.