Mirror of the Honesty of Life

First, that you confess your sins purely and completely, often, with great sorrow and the intention of not doing them again.

Second, that you are not broken by adversity or by temptation. Rather, stand firm in justice and fear, and prepare your soul for temptation. For there is no place nor religion that permits a man to serve as a soldier and to live without a struggle. For the whole life of man is a warfare upon the earth; even all who wish to live piously in Christ will suffer persecution. For, as the blessed Gregory testifies, the Lord permits his elect to be torn by detractions so that they may be preserved in humility.

Third, that you do not involve yourself with people, neither with those inside nor those outside, as much as you are able in a good way. But hold on strictly to your spouse, Christ, and flee the rumors of the world and vain and secular conversations, which distract the mind, render it restless, and do not permit it to be in peace.

Fourth, that at all times you ought to strive for purity of heart, so that, as if your carnal senses were closed, you turn into yourself, and keep the door of your heart diligently barred, as much as possible, against the forms of sensory things and the images of earthly matters.

For purity of heart among all spiritual exercises...