To Live According To The Spirit Is

Be Neat, Philothea; Let Nothing Be Negligent About You. It Is A Kind Of Contempt Of Those With Whom We Converse, To Frequent Their Company In Uncomely Apparel; But, At The Same Time, Avoid All Affectation, Vanity, Curiosity, Or Levity In Your Dress. Keep Yourself Always, As Much As Possible, On The Side Of Plainness And Modesty, Which, Without Doubt, Is The Greatest Ornament Of Beauty, And The Best Excuse For The Want Of It.

Strive To See God In All Things Without Exception. Do Not Smother Yourself...if You Start Smothering Yourself With A Host Of Cares And Longings And Wishes ... You Will Be Disabling Yourself From Serving God With All Your Heart.

Do Not Look Forward To The Changes And Chances Of This Life In Fear; Rather Look To Them With Full Hope That, As They Arise, God, Whose You Are, Will Deliver You Out Of Them. He Is Your Keeper. He Has Kept You Hitherto. Do You But Hold Fast To His Dear Hand, And He Will Lead You Safely Through All Things; And, When You Cannot Stand, He Will Bear You In His Arms. Do Not Look Forward To What May Happen Tomorrow. Our Father Will Either Shield You From Suffering, Or He Will Give You Strength To Bear It.

Frequent Not The Company Of Immodest Persons, Especially If They Be Also Impudent, As Is Generally The Case; ...these Corrupted Souls And Infected Hearts Scarcely Speak To Any, Either Of The Same Or A Different Sex, Without Causing Them To Fall In Some Degree From Purity; They Have Poison In Their Eyes And In Their Breath, Like Basilisks. On The Contrary, Keep Company With The Chaste And Virtuous; Often Meditate Upon And Read Holy Things; For The Word Of God Is Chaste, And Makes Those Also Chaste That Delight In It.

One Single Act Done With Aridity Of Spirit Is Worth More Than Many Done With Feelings Of Devotion.