Of the exercises of a religious man
1. The life of a Christian ought to be adorned with all virtues,
that he may be inwardly what he outwardly appears unto men.
And verily it should be yet better within than without, for God
is a discerner of our heart, whom we must reverence with all our
hearts wheresoever we are, and walk pure in His presence, as do
the angels. We ought daily to renew our vows, and to kindle our
hearts to zeal, as if each day were the first day of our
conversion, and to say, "Help me, O God, in my good resolutions,
and in Your holy service, and grant that this day I may make a
good beginning, for hitherto I have done nothing!"
2. According to our resolution, so is the rate of our progress,
and much diligence is needful for him who would make good
progress. For if he who resolves bravely oftentimes falls short, how shall it be with him who resolves rarely or feebly?
But manifold causes bring about abandonment of our resolution,
yet a trivial omission of holy exercises can hardly be made
without some loss to us. The resolution of the righteous
depends more upon the grace of God than upon their own wisdom;
for in Him they always put their trust, whatsoever they take in
hand. For man proposes, but God disposes; and the way of a
man is not in himself.
3. If a holy exercise be sometimes omitted for the sake of some
act of piety, or of some brotherly kindness, it can easily be
taken up afterwards; but if it be neglected through distaste or
slothfulness, then is it sinful, and the mischief will be felt.
Strive as earnestly as we may, we shall still fall short in many
things. Always should some distinct resolution be made by us;
and, most of all, we must strive against those sins which most
easily beset us. Both our outer and inner life should be narrowly examined and ruled by us, because both have to do with
our progress.
4. If you cannot be always examining yourself, you can at
certain seasons, and at least twice in the day, at evening and at
morning. In the morning make your resolves, and in the evening
inquire into your life, how you have sped today in word, deed,
and thought; for in these ways you have often perchance offended
God and your neighbor. Gird up your loins like a man against the
assaults of the devil; bridle your appetite, and you will soon
be able to bridle every inclination of the flesh. Be you never
without something to do; be reading, or writing, or praying, or
meditating, or doing something that is useful to the community.
Bodily exercises, however, must be undertaken with discretion,
nor are they to be used by all alike.
5. The duties that are not common to all must not be done
openly, but are safest carried on in secret. But take heed that you be not careless in the common duties, and more devout in the
secret; but faithfully and honestly discharge the duties and
commands which lie upon you, then afterwards, if you have still
leisure, give yourself to yourself as your devotion leads you.
All cannot have one exercise, but one suits better to this man
and another to that. Even for the diversity of season different
exercises are needed, some suit better for feasts, some for
fasts. We need one kind in time of temptations and others in
time of peace and quietness. Some are suitable to our times of
sadness, and others when we are joyful in the Lord.
6. When we draw near the time of the great feasts, good exercises
should be renewed, and the prayers of holy men more fervently
besought. We ought to make our resolutions from one Feast to
another, as if each were the period of our departure from this
world, and of entering into the eternal feast. So ought we to
prepare ourselves earnestly at solemn seasons, and the more
solemnly to live, and to keep straightest watch upon each holy
observance, as though we were soon to receive the reward of our
labors at the hand of God.
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