If evil _speaking_, _scandal_, or _backbiting_, be the conversation where you happen to be, be as much grieved as if you was amongst cursing and swearing, and retire as soon as you can. Tho’ you intend to marry, yet let the time never come, till you find a man that has those perfections which you have been labouring after yourselves; who is likely to be a friend to all your virtues, and with whom it is better to live, than to want the benefit of his example. 18. Love _poverty_, and reverence _poor people_; as for many reasons, so particularly for this, because our blessed Saviour was one of the number. Visit and converse with them frequently; you will often find _simplicity_, _innocence_, _patience_, _fortitude_, and great piety amongst them. Rejoice at every opportunity of doing an humble action; whether it be, as the scripture expresses it, in _washing the saints feet_, that is, in waiting upon, and serving those that are below you, or in bearing with the haughtiness and ill manners of those that are your equals, or above you. For there is nothing better than humility; it is the fruitful soil of all virtues, and every thing that is kind and good, naturally grows from it. Therefore, my children, pray for, and practise, humility; and reject every thing in _dress_, or _carriage_, or _conversation_, that has any appearance of pride. Strive to do every thing that is praise-worthy, but do nothing in order to be praised; nor think of any reward for your labours of love, till Christ cometh with all his holy angels. 19. And above all, my children, have a care of vain thoughts of your own virtues. For as soon as ever people live different from the common way of the world, the devil represents to their minds the height of their perfections; and is content they should excel in good works, provided he can make them proud of them. Therefore watch over your virtues with a jealous eye, and reject every vain thought, as you would reject the most wicked imaginations; and think what a loss it would be to you, to have the fruit of all your good works devoured by the vanity of your minds. Never therefore allow yourselves to despise those who do not follow your rules, but love them, and pray to God for them; and let humility be always _whispering_ in your ears, that you yourselves would fall from those rules to-morrow, if God should leave you to your own strength and wisdom. When therefore you have spent days and weeks well, do not suffer your hearts to contemplate any thing as your own, but give all the glory to God, who has carried you thro’ such rules of holy living, as you were not able to observe by your own strength; and take care to begin the next day, not as proficients in virtue, that can do great matters, but as _poor beginners_, that want the daily assistance of God to save you from the _grossest sins_.