much peace; for that he resteth on God, and not on the world.

Do not think that thou hast made any progress, unless thou esteem thyself inferior to all.

CHAPTER III.

OF A GOOD PEACEABLE MAN.

IRST, keep thyself in peace and then thou shalt be able to keep peace among others.

A peaceable man doth more good than he that is well learned.

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

A good peaceable man turneth all things to good.

He that is in peace, is not suspicious. But he that is discontented and troubled, is tossed with divers suspicions: he is neither quiet himself, nor suffereth others to be quiet..

He often speaketh that which he ought not to speak; and omitteth what it were more expedient for him to do.

He considereth what others are bound to do, and neglecteth that which he is bound to do himself.

First, therefore, have a careful zeal over thyself, and then thou mayest justly shew thyself zealous also of thy neighbour's good.

2. Thou knowest well how to excuse and colour thine own deeds, but thou art not willing to receive the excuses of others.

It were more just that thou shouldst accuse thyself, and excuse thy brother.

If thou wilt thyself be borne with, bear also with another. Behold, how far off thou art yet from true charity and humility; for that knows not how to be angry with any, or to be moved with indignation, but only against one's self.

It is no great matter to associate with the good and gentle; for this is naturally pleasing to all, and every one willingly enjoyeth peace, and loveth those best that agree with him.

But to be able to live peaceably with hard and perverse persons, or with the disorderly, or with such as go contrary to us, is a great grace, and a most commendable and manly thing.

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: They are troublesome to others, but always more troublesome to themselves.

And others there are that keep themselves in peace, and study to bring others unto peace.

Nevertheless, our whole peace in this miserable life consisteth rather in humble endurance.

He that knows best how to suffer, will best keep himself

in peace.

That man is conqueror of himself, and lord of the world, the friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.

CHAPTER IV.

OF PURITY OF MIND AND SIMPLE INTENTION.

Y two wings a man is lifted up from things earthly, namely, by Purity and Simplicity.

Simplicity ought to be in our affections; purity in our intention. Purity doth apprehend and taste God: simplicity doth tend

No good action will hinder thee, if thy heart be free from inordinate affection.

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

If thy heart were sincere and upright, then every creature would be unto thee a mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine.

There is no creature so small and abject, that it representeth not the goodness of God.

2. If thou wert inwardly good and pure, then wouldst thou be able to see and understand all things well.

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 best knoweth it.

As iron put into the fire loseth its rust, and becometh red hot, so he that wholly turneth himself unto God, puts off all slothfulness, and is transformed into a new man.

3. When a man begins to grow lukewarm, then he is

afraid of a little labour, and willingly receives comfort from external things.

But when he once begins to overcome himself perfectly, and to walk manfully in the way of God; then he esteemeth those things to be light, which before seemed grievous.

CHAPTER V.

OF THE CONSIDERATION OF SELF.

E cannot trust much to ourselves, because grace oftentimes is wanting to us, and understanding also.

There is but little light in us, and that

which we have we quickly lose by our

Oftentimes too we do not perceive how great is our own inward blindness.

We often do a bad act, and make a bad excuse.

We are sometimes moved with passion, and we think it to be zeal.

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

We quickly enough feel and weigh what we suffer at the hands of others; but we mind not what others suffer from us.

He that well and rightly considereth his own works, will find little cause to judge hardly another's.

2. A Christian at heart preferreth the care of himself before all other cares. And he that diligently attendeth unto himself, can easily keep silence concerning others.

Thou wilt never be thus inwardly religious, unless thou

E

pass over other men's matters with silence, and look especially to thyself.

If thou attend wholly unto God and thyself, thou wilt be but 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 then profited, if thou hast neglected thyself?

If thou desirest peace of mind and true unity of purpose, thou must still put all other things behind thee, and look only upon thyself.

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

Thou shalt suffer loss if thou take thought for any temporal thing.

Let nothing be great unto thee, nothing high, nothing pleasing, nothing acceptable, but only God Himself, or that which is of God.

Esteem all comforts vain, which thou receivest from any

creature.

A soul that loveth God, despiseth all things that are inferior unto God.

God alone is everlasting, and of infinite greatness, filling all creatures: the solace of the soul, and the true joy of the heart.