CHAPTER IV.

On Battling with Vices.

"THE Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence." Many begin, few advance, and very few attain unto perfection. For we either yield too much to the flesh, or are uplifted with pride, or bowed down by adversity. Alas, seldom is one found, who purely seeks GOD, and perfectly conquers, and altogether relinquishes self. A devoted one hath said- A rare bird is perfection: too hard a task is it to conquer oneself. He who toils not for virtue will not be satiated with its sweetness. All virtue hath good annexed to it, and refresheth him that laboureth well. He who committeth sin, begetteth for himself an evil end, loseth honour, breaketh rest, findeth grief, increaseth sadness, destroyeth the taste of good. But whoso abstains from things lawful, is more secure from the unlawful.

2. He that muzzles the mouth of a dog will not fear its bite, and he that keepeth strict silence will not offend with his lips. Whoso is willingly in retirement and keepeth silence, is far from lying, strife, detraction, evil speaking, anger, and murmurings. Whoso heareth not evil, nor

1 S. Matt. xi. 12.

seeth vain things, more easily avoids them, and cares not to ponder on the like. For a watchful guard of the senses is the cause of purity, the discipline of peace, the arch of devotion. When anger enters the mind wisdom departeth from the prudent. He that speaketh in anger is like to a barking dog. But he who answers kindly breaks the feeling of anger, and gives to the afflicted roses for thorns. Blessed is the tongue of the prudent, because it healeth the wounds of the angry. He who resisteth vices when they first arise and seem small, expels them more easily before they become inveterate.

3. Whoso is instant in exercises of devotion, prayer, and meditation on heavenly things, is like to a wise husbandman who planteth roses and lilies in his field. He will joy greatly in the future with holy angels in the heavenly paradise. He that keepeth pure in mind and body is like the angels. He that followeth viees, and is delighted with wicked thoughts is like to devils. A keen struggle is it to resist pleasure, but far more bitter a punishment will it be to be tormented in everlasting fires. Heat is conquered by heat. Nail pulled out by nail. Laughter banished by sadness. When the love of GOD enters, all fleeting things withdraw from the heart. He is wise who despiseth thousands upon thousands of

them. All is vanity, King or Pope is nothing, and miserable bubbles. The end of all is death, foul flesh, ashes. For however much one may exalt himself, it is nothing, death takes all away. Happy pilgrim, who hath a home in Heaven.

CHAPTER V.

On acquiring the Grace of Devotion.

"WOE to you that laugh now, for shall weep.”

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As virtue cannot stand with vice, so devotion cannot be acquired with laughter and in feasts, but with grief and in silence. Perfect virtue, however, is not acquired suddenly, but gradually with much groaning and sorrow, with a firm resolve to advance more and more, with constant violence upon self, i.e., with fasting, watching, praying, meditating, studying, writing, labouring, abstaining from idle conversation, and voluntary retirement.

2. All joy, which is not of GOD, soon perishes, pollutes, and harms. Good discourse is sweet to hear, harsh words trouble a friend, and idle ones destroy the fruit of time. Be diligent in working

1 S. Luke vi. 25.

teousness, pacient in enduring evil, and thou hit Le happy any vav, praising GOD every tour. Seulom vi or sorrow be absent from Happy te vo neth uil to good, and vinneta zain a cimself from adversity. Whoovern GOD. receives itter and sweet alike from In, ang sangrai Weil and irmly doth te cand vco cuts is hope not in umseif, or in

discourse injures the little ones, a flattering one oft deceives. A false relator is a disturber of peace; he that hears him escapes not a stumblingblock. A discreet judge deserveth all praise, a harsh and pitiless one is not worthy of compassion. An angry soul severely torments itself, often harasses the innocent, secretly maligns the powerful, and openly derides those that do well.

2. One crafty in speech deceives those that trust him, and so he will have few friends. It is good to be silent of evil, holy to speak the truth, reasonable to act modestly. It is just to injure none, pious to profit all, a religious act to build up your neighbour in word and practice. It is the part of a prudent man to think beforehand what is to be done, and to seek nothing new without cause, not readily to explain things unknown, nor in a moment to confirm what is doubtful. A great good for peace of heart is silence of mouth, for the mouth of a fool is as it were always open, and nigh to strifes. Let him that longs to please GOD keep a watch over his heart and mouth, that so he lose not the grace of devotion, and offend the lovers of peace. Many beautiful words fill not a sack, and eloquence sanctifies neither the idle nor ambitious. He who does well, will be well.