and in planting virtues as they do in starting matters of dispute, there would not be so many evils and crimes amongst the laity, nor so much laxity of principle amongst the clergy.1

At the surely approaching day of judgment we shall be asked, not what we have read, but what we have done; not how wittily we have spoken, but how righteously we have lived.

Tell me, where are now all those masters of schools and philosophers whom thou knewest well while they were living in honour, sought after in their schools?

Already others possess their chairs, never thinking of them. In their lifetime they seemed somebody, now no mention is made of them.2

6. O how quickly does the glory of this world pass

away y! Would that their lives had agreed with their knowledge, then would they have read and studied to some purpose! 3

1 "Tanta dissolutio in coenobiis;" dissoluteness in monasteries or religious houses. L'Abbé Valart (1766) translates this, "ni tant de relâchement dans les cloîtres." The German version has also "in den Klöstern;" the Italian, "ne tanta rilassatezza ne' monasteri;" the Spanish, "tanta disolucion en los monasterios."

2 The first English translator, Atkinson, 1502, "has been paraphrastic if not eloquent," remarks Dr. Dibdin, "in his version of the above passage." In good truth he has burst into poetry, as the occasion almost demanded::-"Where be now all the royal poets with their craftily conveyed poems; and elegant orators, with their orations garnished with elegancy; the philosophers, too, with their pregnant reasons and sentences!"-Wynkyn de Worde, 4to. edit. sign. A iii. Quoted by Dibdin.

3 1 S. John ii. 17. "And the world passeth away and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

How many in this our age perish through empty science, thinking little of the service of God! Preferring to be great rather than humble, they vanish in their own speculations.1

Truly great is the man who thinks little of himself and holds his highest dignity as naught.

2

Truly wise is he who "counts all things but dung that he may win Christ."3

Truly learned is he who does the will of God, subduing also his own desires.

CHAPTER IV.

ON PRUDENCE IN OUR DEEDS.

W

E are not to believe every word that we hear, nor are we to trust every impulse without caution and consideration; a matter must be weighed in its relation to the Almighty.

say

evil

So frail are we, that, alas for us! we believe and of another rather than good. But perfect men do not readily believe every babbler, because they know human na

Rom. i. 21.

2 S. Matth. xxiii. 12.

3 Philip. iii. 8. "And I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." 4 Ecclesiasticus xix. 16; 1 S. John iv. 1. 66 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God."

ture how frail it is, how readily it slips and falls in its expressions.1

2. Great wisdom is it not to be hasty in action, and not to stand too obstinately by our own opinions.

It will help towards this wisdom not to believe every word we hear, and not to pour into another's ear everything we have listened to, nor even everything we think.

2

3. With a wise and thoughtful man hold counsel, and rather seek to be instructed by one wiser and better than yourself than to follow your own opinion. A good life makes a man wise towards God and learned in many things.3

Just in proportion as a man has an humble opinion of himself and is guided by God, will he in everything be wiser, calmer, and more at peace.*

66

Et in verbis satis labilem." The French rendering is "si légères en paroles." Dibdin has "proneness to evil and falsehood in the use of speech." What the author means is probably that man readily uses hyperbole and exaggeration, and becomes a slave to untruth.

2 Tobit iv. 19. “Bless the Lord thy God alway, and desire of Him that thy ways may be directed, and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper."

3 Ecclesiasticus xxxiv. 9. "A man that hath travelled knoweth many things; and he that hath much experience will declare wisdom."

"Ever the more meek and obedient a man be to God, the more wise and quiet shall he be."--Translation published by Wynkyn de Worde, sign. A. v.

CHAPTER V.

ON READING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

RUTH, and not fine language, is to be sought in the Sacred Writings. All Holy Scripture should be read with that spirit in which it was written.1

We should rather seek what will profit us in the Scriptures than what is subtle of discourse.

We ought to read those books which are simple and devout as willingly as we do those that are deep and profound.

Be not influenced by the authority of the writer, his reputation for small or great skill in writing, but let the love of the pure truth lead thee to read.

Inquire not who speaks, but attend to what is spoken. "but the truth of the Lord en

2. Men pass away,

dureth for ever.' 993

God speaks to us in divers ways, without respect of person.*

"Fellow Christian,"

1 Ep. ad Fratr. de Monte Dei, cap. 10. says Coleridge, in the address to his 'Aids to Reflection,' "the wish to be admired as a fine writer held a very subordinate place in my thoughts during the composition of this volume. Has it led you to reflect? Has it supplied or suggested fresh subjects for reflection?"

2 J. Saresb. Policr. 6. 8.

3 Ps. c. 5; Ps. cxvii. 2.

✦ Rom. ii. 11; Heb. i. 1. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son."

Our curiosity often hinders us in reading the Scriptures; we wish to understand and discuss what we ought simply to pass over trustingly and in faith.

If you wish really to gain profit, read with humility, simplicity of mind, and trust. Strive not for the fame of being learned.

Ask freely, and hear with silent respect the words of the sacred writers; neither despise the parables of the ancients, for they were not given unto us without reason, nor without cause.1

CHAPTER VI.

OF INORDINATE DESIRES.

HENEVER a man desires anything inordinately, he is presently disquieted within himself. The proud and the covetous can never be at ease.

The poor

peace.2

and humble in spirit abide in the riches of

The man who has not yet thoroughly conquered himself is easily tempted and overcome in little and trivial

matters.

1 Ecclesiasticus xxxii. 9, viii. 9. "Miss not the discourse of the elders; for they also learned of their fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer as need requireth."

2 Ps. xxxvi. 10. "Oh continue thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.”