ich you think convenient to admonish them, make
them a visit, and speak to them in private, or, when they come of
themselves to confession, tell them at the sacred tribunal of penance,
what you have to say to them: but never advertise them in public of it;
for that sort of people, who are commonly proud and nice of hearing,
instead of amendment by public admonitions, become furious, like bulls
who are pricked forward by a goad: moreover, before you take upon you to
give them private admonition, be careful to enter first into their
acquaintance and familiarity.

"Make your admonition either more gentle or more strong, according as you
have more or less access to them: but always moderate the roughest part
of your reproof, with the gaiety of your air, and a smiling countenance;
by the civility of well-mannered words, and a sincere protestation that
all you do is but an effect of the kindness you have for them. It is good
also to add respectful submissions to the pleasingness of your discourse,
with tender embraces, and all the marks of that consideration and
goodwill you have for the person of him whom you thus correct. For, if a
rigid countenance, and harsh language, should accompany reproof, which of
itself is hard of digestion, and bitter to the taste, it is not to be
doubted but men, accustomed to flatteries, will not endure it; and there
is reason to apprehend, that a burst of rage against the censor, will be
all the fruit of the reprimand.

"For what concerns confession, behold the method which I judge the
fittest for these quarters of the East, where the licence of sin is very
great, and the use of penance very rare. When a person, hardened in a
long habit of vice, shall come to confession, exhort him to take three or
four days time of preparation, to examine his conscience thoroughly; and
for the assistance of his memory, cause him to write down the sins which
he has observed in all the, course of his life, from his childhood to
that present time. Being thus disposed, after he has made his confession,
it will not be convenient that you should be too hasty in giving him
absolution. But it will be profitable to him to retire two or three days,
and abstain from his ordinary conversation and dealings with men, and to
excite himself to sorrow for his sins, in consideration of the love of
God, which will render his sacramental absolution of more efficacy to
him. During that little interval of retirement, you shall instr