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for God willeth us to be perfectly subject unto Himself,
and all our reason to be exalted by abundant love towards Him.
Without charity no work profiteth, but whatsoever is done in charity, however small and of no reputation it be, bringeth forth good fruit; for God verily considereth what a man is able to do, more than the greatness of what he doth.
He doth much who loveth much. He doth much who doth well. He doth well who ministereth to the public good rather than to his own.
He who hath true and perfect charity, in no wise seeketh his own good, but desireth that God alone be altogether glorified. He envieth none, because he longeth for no selfish joy; nor doth he desire to rejoice in himself, but longeth to be blessed in God as the highest good. He ascribeth good to none save to God only, the Fountain whence all good proceedeth, and the End, the Peace, the joy of all Saints.
commit all to God, that His will may be done and His honour be shown in His servants, for He knoweth well how to convert the evil unto good. Endeavour to be patient in bearing with other men's faults and infirmities whatsoever they be, for thou thyself also hast many things which have need to be borne with by others.
But now hath God thus ordained, that we may learn to bear one another's burdens, because none is without defect, none without a burden, none sufficient of himself, none wise enough of himself; but it behoveth us to bear with one another, to comfort one another, to help, instruct, admonish one another. How much strength each man hath is best proved by occasions of adversity: for such occasions do not make a man frail, but show of what temper he is.
Blessed is he who hath lived a good life in such a body, and brought it to a happy end. If thou wilt stand fast and wilt profit as thou oughtest, hold thyself as an exile and a pilgrim upon the earth. Thou wilt have to be counted as a fool for Christ, if thou wilt lead a religious life.
it is change of character and entire mortification of the affections which make a truly religious man.
Thou art called to endure and to labour, not to a life of ease and trifling talk. Here therefore are men tried as gold in the furnace. No man can stand, unless with all his heart he will humble himself for God's sake.
served the Lord in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in labour and weariness, in watchings and fastings, in prayer and holy meditations, in persecutions and much rebuke.
Christ. For they hated their souls in this world that they might keep them unto life eternal.
renounced all riches, dignities, honours, friends, kinsmen; they desired nothing from the world;
Thus were they poor in earthly things, but rich above measure in grace and virtue. Though poor to the outer eye, within they were filled with grace and heavenly benedictions.
the sight of God they were precious and beloved. They stood fast in true humility, they lived in simple obedience, they walked in love and patience; and thus they waxed strong in spirit, and obtained great favour before God.
We ought daily to renew our vows, and to kindle our hearts to zeal, as if each day were the first day of our conversion, and to say, "Help me, O God, in my good resolutions, and in Thy holy service, and grant that this day I may make a good beginning, for hitherto I have done nothing!"
The resolution of the righteous dependeth more upon the grace of God than upon their own wisdom; for in Him they always put their trust,
the way of a man is not in himself.[8]
and at least twice in the day, at evening and at morning. In the morning make thy resolves, and in the evening inquire into thy life, how thou hast sped to-day in word, deed, and thought;
Be thou never without something to do; be reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or doing something that is useful to the community.
if each were the period of our departure from this world, and of entering into the eternal feast.
So ought we to prepare ourselves earnestly at solemn seasons, and the more solemnly to live, and to keep straightest watch upon each holy observance, as though we were soon to receive the reward of our labours at the hand of God.
Blessed is that servant, as the Evangelist Luke hath it, whom, when the Lord cometh He shall find watching.
Seek a suitable time for thy meditation, and think frequently of the mercies of God to thee.
The greatest saints used to avoid as far as they could the company of men, and chose to live in secret with God.
He, therefore, that seeketh to reach that which is hidden and spiritual, must go with Jesus
"apart from the multitude."
world! O how great peace and quiet should he possess, who would cast off all vain care, and think only of healthful and divine things, and build his whole hope upon God!
Commune with your own heart in your own chamber and be still.[10]
In silence and quiet the devout soul goeth forward and learneth the hidden things of the Scriptures. Therein findeth she a fountain of tears, wherein to wash and cleanse herself each night, that she may grow the more dear to her Maker as she dwelleth the further from all worldly distraction.
What canst thou see abroad which thou seest not at home? Behold the heaven and the earth and the elements, for out of these are all things made.
Lift up thine eyes to God on high, and pray that thy sins and negligences may be forgiven.
Shut thy door upon thee, and call unto thyself Jesus thy beloved. Remain with Him in thy chamber, for thou shalt not elsewhere find so great peace.
Give thyself to compunction of heart and thou shalt find devotion.
Happy is he who can cast away every cause of distraction and bring himself to the one purpose of holy compunction.
Know thyself to be unworthy of divine consolation, and worthy rather of much tribulation. When a man hath perfect compunction, then all the world is burdensome and bitter to him.
Pray therefore humbly unto the Lord that He will give thee the spirit of compunction and say in the language of the prophet, Feed me, O Lord, with bread of tears, and give me plenteousness of tears to drink.[11]
Thou art miserable wheresoever thou art, and whithersoever thou turnest, unless thou turn thee to God.
There is no man in the world free from trouble or anguish, though he were King or Pope.
But lift up thine eyes to the good things of heaven, and thou shalt see that all these worldly things are nothing, they are utterly
uncertain, yea, they are wearisome, because they are never possessed without care and fear.
Our life upon the earth is verily wretchedness. The more a man desireth to be spiritual, the more bitter doth the present life become to him;
Deliver me from my
necessities, O Lord.[12]
greater woe to those who love this miserable and corruptible life.
they will too sadly find out at the last, how vile and worthless was that which they loved. The saints of God and all loyal friends of Christ held as nothing the things which pleased the flesh, or those which flourished in this life, but their whole hope and affection aspired to the things which are above.
Lose not, brother, thy loyal desire of progress to things spiritual.
"Now is the time to do:
When thou art ill at ease and troubled, then is the time when thou art nearest unto blessing. Thou must go through fire and water that God may bring thee into a wealthy place. Unless thou put force upon thyself, thou wilt not conquer thy faults.
Therefore must we be patient, and wait for the mercy of God, until this tyranny be overpast, and this mortality be swallowed up of life.
