If thou canst hold thy peace and suffer, without doubt thou shalt see the salvation of the Lord.

He knoweth the time and manner how to deliver thee; and therefore thou oughtest to resign thyself unto him.

It belongs to God to help and deliver us from all shame. It is often profitable for the keeping us humble, that others know and apprehend our faults. 2. When a man humbleth himself for his faults, he easily pacifieth those that are offended with him.

God protecteth and delivereth the humble; unto the humble man he inclineth himself; unto the humble he giveth great grace; and after his humiliation he raiseth him up unto glory.

Unto the humble he revealeth his secrets ; and sweetly draweth him unto himself.

The humble person, though he suffer shame, is yet in peace; for that he resteth in God and not in the world.

Do not think that thou hast profited any thing, unless thou esteem thyself inferior to all.

CHAPTER III.

Of a Good and Peaceable Man.

FIRST, keep thyself in peace, and then mayest thou pacify others.

A peaceable man doeth more good than a learned

one.

A passionate man turneth good into evil, and easily believeth the worst.

A peaceable man turneth all things into good. He that is in peace is not suspicious of any; but he that is discontented, is neither quiet himself, nor suffereth others to be quiet.

He often speaketh that which he ought not to speak, and omitteth that which he ought to do. He considereth what others are bound to do; and neglects that which he is bound to do himself.

First, therefore, have a careful zeal over thyself, and then show thyself zealous for thy neighbour's good.

2. Thou knowest well how to excuse thine own deeds, and thou wilt not receive the excuses of others. It were more just to accuse thyself, and excuse thy brother. If thou wilt be borne with, bear also with others.

Behold, how far thou art yet from true charity and humility, which knoweth not to be angry with any, but one's self. It is no great matter to live peaceably with the good and gentle; for every one willingly enjoyeth peace, and loveth those that are of his own mind:

But to be able to live peaceably with unquiet and perverse men, or such as cross us, is a great grace. 3. Some there are, that keep themselves in peace, and are in peace also with others.

And there are some, that neither are in peace themselves, nor suffer others to be in peace; who are troublesome to others, but always more troublesome to themselves.

And others there are, that keep themselves in peace, and labour to bring others into peace.

Our whole peace in this life consisting rather in humble suffering, than in not feeling adversities.

He that knows best how to suffer, will best keep himself in peace. He is a conqueror of himself, a lord of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.

CHAPTER IV.

Of a pure Mind, and simple Intention.

SIMPLICITY and purity are the two wings by which a man is lifted above all earthly things.

Simplicity is in the intention; purity in the affection: simplicity tends to God; purity apprehends and tastes him.

No good action will hinder thee, if thou be inwardly free from inordinate affection.

If thou intend and seek nothing but the will of God, and the good of thy neighbour, thou shalt enjoy internal liberty.

If thy heart were right, then every creature would be a looking-glass of life, and a book of holy doctrine.

There is no creature so little and abject, that represents not the goodness of God.

2. If thou wert inwardly pure, thou wouldest see and understand all things without an impediment. A pure heart penetrateth heaven and hell. Such as every one is inwardly, so he judgeth outwardly.

If there be joy in the world, surely a man of a pure heart possesseth it. And if there be any where tribulation and affliction, an evil conscience feels it.

As iron put into the fire loseth its rust, and becometh all bright like fire; so he that wholly turneth himself unto God is purified from all sin, and changed into the likeness of God.

3. When a man beginneth to grow lukewarm, then he is afraid of a little labour; but when he once beginneth to overcome himself, then he esteemeth those things light, which before seemed grievous unto him.

CHAPTER V.

Of the Consideration of One's-self.

WE should not trust too much in ourselves, because we have often neither grace nor understanding.

There is but little light in us, and that we quickly lose by negligence.

We reprehend small things in others, and pass over greater in ourselves.

We quickly feel and weigh what we suffer from others; but we mind not what others suffer from us. He that doeth well, and rightly considers his own work, will find little cause to judge hardly of another.

2. The inward Christian preferreth the care of himself before all other cares.

He that diligently attendeth unto himself, easily holds his peace concerning others.

Thou wilt never be inwardly religious, unless thou pass over other men's matters, and look especially to thyself.

If thou attend wholly unto God and thyself, thou wilt be little moved with whatsoever thou seest abroad.

Where art thou, when thou art not with thyself? and when thou hast run over all, what hast thou profited, if thou hast neglected thyself.

If thou desirest peace of mind, thou must reject all other cares, and look only to thyself.

3. Thou shalt profit much if thou keep thyself free from all temporal cares.

Thou shalt greatly fail if thou esteem any thing of this world.

Let nothing be great, nothing high, nothing pleasing to thee, but only God himself, or that which is of God.

Esteem all comfort vain which proceedeth from any creature. A soul that loveth God, despiseth all

things but God.

God alone, who is everlasting, immense, filling all things, is the comfort of the soul, and the true joy of the heart.

CHAPTER VI.

Of the Joy of a good Conscience.

THE glory of a good man is the testimony of a good conscience.

Have a good conscience, and thou shalt ever have joy.

Thou shalt rest sweetly, if thy heart condemn thee Never rejoice, but when thou hast done well.

not.