CHAP. XVI.

Of bearing with other Men's Defects.

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'Hose things that a man is not able to amend in himself or others, he ought to bear patiently, till God fee fit to order matters otherwife. Confider that perhaps it is better fo for thy trial, and the exercife of thy patience; without which our good works are of little weight. Thou oughteft notwithstanding to pray against fuch lets and impediments, that God would vouchfafe to affift thee, and that thou mayft have ftrength to bear them with decency and conftancy of mind.

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II. If any one after once or twice admonifhing will not give over, contend no longer with him, but commit the whole affair to GOD, that his will may be done, and his honour accomplish'd in all his fervants, who knows perfectly well how to turn evil into good. Labour to be patient in bearing the defects and infirmities of others, of what fort foever they be; because thou thy felf alfo haft many failings of thine own, which must be born

In the original Latin: Merits.

by

by others. If thou art not able to make thy felf what thou wouldst be, how fhouldst thou be able to have another to thy liking in all things? We would willingly have others perfect; and yet we amend not our own defects.

III. We would have others feverely corrected, but are not for being corrected our felves. We are offended with the great liberties of others; and yet we will not be refus'd in any thing we defire our felves. We would have others reftrained by rigorous laws; and yet are unwilling that any the least check fhould be put upon our own freedoms. And thus it appears, how rarely we weigh our felves and our neighbour in the fame fcale. If we were all perfect, what could we then have to fuffer from others for the love of God?

IV. But now God hath fo order'd it, that we may learn to bear one another's burthens: For there is no man without his failings, no man without his burden: No man felf-fufficient, no man wife enough of himfelf: But we ought to bear with one another, to comfort one another, to help, inftruct, and admonish one another. Besides, the virtue of a man is best discover'd by the occafion of fome fuffering: For occafions

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do not make a man frail, but only fhew what he is.

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CHAP. XVII.

Of a Monaftick Life.

HOU muft learn to fubdue and break thy own will in many things, if thou would't maintain peace and a good understanding with others. It is a glorious thing to live in a Monaftery, or in any Society, and there to converfe without quarrel or complaint, and to perfevere therein faithfully even unto death. Bleffed furely is the man, that hath there liv'd well, and dy'd happily. If thou wouldst maintain thy ground as thou oughteft, and make a due advancement in virtue, account thy felf as a banish'd man and a pilgrim upon earth. Thou must become a fool for the fake of Chrift, if thou wouldft lead a life of religion.

II. The peculiar Habit and Shave fignify little; it is a change of manners, and a perfect mortification of the paffions that make a true Religious. He that feeks any thing

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elfe, than purely GoD, and the falvation of his foul, will find nothing but tribulation and forrow. Furthermore, no body can continue long in peace of mind, who does. not labour to become the least of all, and subject to all.

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III. Thou cameft to ferve, not to rule. Know that thou wert called to fuffer, and to labour; not to a life of leisure and ease, or converfation. Here therefore men are proved, as gold in the furnace. Here none can make good his Poft, unless he be conetent to humble himself with his whole heart for the love of GOD.

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CHAP. XVIII.

Of the Examples of the holy Fathers.

NOnfider and keep in view the lively patterns fet us by the holy Fathers, in whom true perfection and religion fhone bright; and thou wilt foon difcern, how little it is, and almost nothing, that we do. Alas! What is our life, if compar'd with theirs? Those Saints and friends of Chrift ferv'd the Lord in hunger and thirst; in cold

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and nakedness, in labour and wearinefs, in watchings and faftings, in prayers and holy meditations, in perfecutions and fundry reproaches.

II. Bleffed GOD! How many and grievous tribulations did the Apoftles, the Martyrs, the Confeffors, the Virgins, and all the reft that endeavour'd to tread in Chrift's fteps, endure! For they hated their own lives in this world, that they might preferve them unto life eternal. O how ftrict and mortify'd, and felf-denying a life did the holy Fathers lead in the wilderness! How long and fharp temptations did they undergo! How many conflicts had they with the enemy! How frequent and ardent were their prayers to GOD! What rigorous courses of abstinence did they go through! With what zeal and fervency did they af pire after higher degrees ftill of fpiritual perfection! With what gallantry and refolution did they wage perpetual war against their vices! What purity and diffinterestednefs of intention did they constantly carry to God-ward! By day they labour'd, and the nights they spent in prayer to GOD; although even whilft they labour'd, they ceas'd not from mental prayer.

III. They employ'd their whole time profi

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