Of a religious life
1. It behooves you to learn to mortify yourself in many things, if you will live in amity and concord with other men. It is no
small thing to dwell in a religious community or congregation,
and to live there without complaint, and therein to remain
faithful even unto death. Blessed is he who has lived a good
life in such a body, and brought it to a happy end. If you will
stand fast and will profit as you ought, hold yourself as an
exile and a pilgrim upon the earth. You will have to be counted
as a fool for Christ, if you will lead a religious life.
2. The clothing and outward appearance are of small account; it
is change of character and entire mortification of the affections
which make a truly religious man. He who seeks anything save God
and the health of his soul, shall find only tribulation and
sorrow. Nor can he stand long in peace, who strives not to be
least of all and a servant of all.
3. You are called to endure and to labor, not to a life of ease
and trifling talk. Here therefore are men tried as gold in the
furnace. No man can stand, unless with all his heart he will
humble himself for God's sake.
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