Of the love of solitude and silence
1. Seek a suitable time for your meditation, and think frequently of
the mercies of God to you. Leave curious questions. Study such
matters as bring you sorrow for sin rather than amusement. If you withdraw yourself from trifling conversation and idle goings
about, as well as from novelties and gossip, you shall find your
time sufficient and apt for good meditation. The greatest saints
used to avoid as far as they could the company of men, and chose
to live in secret with God.
2. One has said, "As often as I have gone among men, so often have I
returned less a man." This is what we often experience when we
have been a long time in conversation. For it is easier to be
altogether silent than it is not to exceed in word. It is easier
to remain hidden at home than to keep sufficient guard upon yourself out of doors. He, therefore, that seeks to reach that
which is hidden and spiritual, must go with Jesus "apart from the
multitude." No man safely goes abroad who loves not to rest at
home. No man safely talks but he who loves to hold his peace.
No man safely rules but he who loves to be subject. No man
safely commands but he who loves to obey.
3. No man safely rejoices but he who has the testimony of a
good conscience within himself. The boldness of the Saints was
always full of the fear of God. Nor were they the less earnest
and humble in themselves, because they shone forth with great
virtues and grace. But the boldness of wicked men springs from
pride and presumption, and at the last turns to their own
confusion. Never promise yourself security in this life,
howsoever good a monk or devout a solitary you seem.
4. Often those who stand highest in the esteem of men, fall the
more grievously because of their over great confidence.
Wherefore it is very profitable unto many that they should not be
without inward temptation, but should be frequently assaulted,
lest they be over confident, lest they be indeed lifted up into
pride, or else lean too freely upon the consolations of the
world. O how good a conscience should that man keep, who never
sought a joy that passes away, who never became entangled with
the world! O how great peace and quiet should he possess, who
would cast off all vain care, and thinks only of healthful and
divine things, and build his whole hope upon God!
5. No man is worthy of heavenly consolation but he who has
diligently exercised himself in holy compunction. If you will
feel compunction within your heart, enter into your chamber and
shut out the tumults of the world. As it is written, commune with
your own heart in your own chamber and be still. In
retirement you shall find what often you will lose abroad.
Retirement, if you continue therein, grows sweet, but if you
keep not in it, begets weariness. If in the beginning of your
conversation you dwell in it and keep it well, it shall
afterwards be to you a dear friend, and a most pleasant solace.
6. In silence and quiet the devout soul goes forward and
learns the hidden things of the Scriptures. Therein finds
she a fountain of tears, wherein to wash and cleanse herself each
night, that she may grow the more dear to her Maker as she
dwells the further from all worldly distraction. To him who
withdraws himself from his acquaintance and friends God with
his holy angels will draw nigh. It is better to be unknown and
take heed to oneself than to neglect oneself and work wonders.
It is praiseworthy for a religious man to go seldom abroad, to
fly from being seen, to have no desire to see men.
7. Why would you see what you may not have? The world
passes away, and the lust thereof. The desires of sensuality
draw you abroad, but when an hour is past, what do you bring
home, but a weight upon your conscience and distraction of heart?
A merry going forth brings often a sorrowful return, and a
merry evening makes a sad morning. So does all carnal joy
begin pleasantly, but in the end it gnaws away and destroys.
What can you see abroad that you see not at home? Behold
the heaven and the earth and the elements, for out of these are
all things made.
8. What can you see anywhere which can continue long under the
sun? You believe perchance that you shalt be satisfied, but you will never be able to attain unto this. If you should see all things before you at once, what would it be but a vain
vision? Lift up your eyes to God on high, and pray that your
sins and negligence may be forgiven. Leave vain things to vain
men, and mind you the things that God has commanded you.
Shut your door upon you, and call unto yourself Jesus your beloved.
Remain with Him in your chamber, for you shall not elsewhere find
so great peace. If you had not gone forth nor listened to
vain talk, you had better kept yourself in good peace. But
because it sometimes delights you to hear new things, you
must therefore suffer trouble of heart.
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