(Audio Book) the Rule of St. Benedict — St. Benedict of Nursia

The Prologue: Obedience Under Christ the King

THE PROLOGUE OF OUR MOST HOLY FATHER SAINT BENEDICT TO HIS RULE. Hearken, my son, to the precepts of thy master, and incline the ear of thy heart willingly to hear, and effectually to accomplish, the admonition of thy living father, that by the labor of obedience thou mayest return to him from whom thou didst depart by the sloth of disobedience.

To thee, therefore, is my speech now directed, who, renouncing thy own will, dost take upon thee the strong and bright armor of obedience, to fight under the Lord Christ, our true King. First of all, whatever good work thou dost begin, beg of him, with most earnest prayer to perfect, that he who hath now vowed chaste to reckon us in the number of his children may not be saddened by our evil deeds.

For we must at all times so serve him with the goods he hath bestowed upon us, that he may not either, as an angry father, disinherit us, his children, or, as a dread lord, exasperated by our offenses, deliver us up to perpetual punishment as wicked servants, who would not follow him to glory.

Scripture’s Call to Rise, Hear, and Pursue Life

Let us, therefore, arise, the Scripture stirring us up, and saying, quote, It is now the hour for us to rise from sleep, close quote, Romans, chapter 8, verse 1, and our eyes being opened to the deifying light, let us with wondering ears attend to the admonition which the divine voice daily addresses to us, saying, quote, Today, if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, close quote, Psalm 98, verse 8, and again, quote, He that hath ears, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches, close quote, Apocalypse, chapter 2, verse 7, and what saith he, quote, Come, ye children, and hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord, close quote, Psalm 33, verse 12, quote, Run while ye have the light of life, that the darkness of death overtake ye not, close quote, John, chapter 7, verse 35, and our Lord seeketh his laborer among the multitude to whom he here speaketh, said again, quote, Who is the man that will have life, and desireth to see good days, close quote, Psalm 33, verse 13, if thou, hearing this, doth answer, I am he, God saith unto thee, quote, If thou wilt have true and everlasting life, refrain thy tongue from evil, and thy lips, that they speak no guile, decline from evil, and do good, seek after peace, and pursue it, close quote, Psalm 33, verse 14 and 15, and when you have done this, my eyes shall be upon you, and my ears shall be open to your prayers, and before you can call upon me, I will say, quote, Behold, I am present, close quote, Isaiah, chapter 64, verse 24.

What dearest brethren can be sweeter than this voice of the Lord inviting us, behold how in his loving kindness he showeth unto us the way of life, our loins therefore being girthed with faith, and the observance of good works, and our feet shod with the guidance of the gospel of peace, let us walk in his ways, that we may deserve to see in his kingdom, him who has called us, Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 14 and 15.

If we desire to dwell in the tabernacle of this kingdom, it can only be by running the way of good works, whereby alone it can be reached, but let us ask our Lord with the prophet, saying to him, quote, Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle, or who shall rest on thy holy hill, close quote, Psalm 14, verse 4.

The Way to the Lord’s Tabernacle

After this question, brethren, let us hear our Lord answering, and showing us the way to his tabernacle, saying, quote, He that walketh without spot, or worketh justice, he that speaketh truth in his heart, that hath not forged guile with his tongue, he that hath not done evil to his neighbor, and hath not received reproach against him, close quote, Psalm 14, verses 2 and 3.

He that rejecting out of his mind the malignant devil with his suggestions, hath brought them all to naught, and taking his thoughts while they are still young, hath dashed them against the rock Christ, Psalm 136, verse 9.

All they who fearing the Lord, take not pride in their good observance, but knowing that all the good they have, or can do, proceedeth not from themselves, but from the Lord, magnify him, thus working in them, and say with the prophet, quote, Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory, close quote, Psalm 113, verse 1.

Thus the apostle Paul imputed not anything of his preaching to himself, saying, quote, By the grace of God I am what I am, close quote, 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 10. And again he saith, quote, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, close quote, 2 Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 47.

Hence also our Lord saith in the gospel, quote, He that heareth these my word, and doth them, I will liken him to a wise man, that hath built his house upon a rock. The floods came, the winds blew, and beat against that house, and it fell not, because it was founded upon a rock, close quote, Matthew, chapter 7, verse 24, and following.

Our Lord fulfilling these things daily waiteth for us to answer by our deeds these his holy admonitions. Therefore the days of our life are prolonged for the amendment of our evil deeds. According to these words of the apostle, quote, Knoweth thou not that the patience of God leadeth thee to repentance, close quote, Romans, chapter 2, verse 4.

For our loving Lord saith, quote, I will not the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live, close quote, Ezekiel, chapter 18, verse 23. Having therefore, my brethren, inquired of our Lord who shall be the dweller in this tabernacle, we have heard the precept to the one dwelling, and if we fulfill the functions of this habitation, we shall become heirs of the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore our hearts and bodies must be prepared to fight under the holy obedience of his commands, and we must beg our Lord to supply that, by the assistance of his grace, which our nature is unable to perform.

And if, flying the panes of hell, we will to attain to everlasting life, we must, while yet time serves, and we live in this flesh, perform all these things by the light of faith, and haste to do that now, which will be expedient for us for ever hereafter.

We are therefore now about to institute a school of the service of God, in which we hope nothing will be ordained rigorous or burdensome, but if in some things we proceed with a little severity, sound reason so advising, for the amendment of vices or preserving of charity, do not straightway for fear thereof flee from the way of salvation, which is always straight and difficult in the beginning.

Matthew, chapter 7, verse 13. But in process of time and growth of faith, when the heart has once been enlarged, the way of God's commandments is run with unspeakable sweetness of love, so that, never departing from his teaching, but persevering in the monastery and his doctrine until death, we share now by patience in the sufferings of Christ, that we may deserve afterwards to be partakers of his kingdom.

Second Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 7. End of the Prologue. II. OF THE SEVERAL KINDS OF MONKS. It is well known that there are four kinds of monks. The first are Cenobites, that is, monastic, living under a rule or abbot.

The second are Agorites, or hermits, who, not in the first fervor of conversion, but after long probation in the monastic life, have learned to fight against the devil, and, taught by the encouragement of others, are now able by God's assistance to strive hand to hand against the flesh and evil thoughts, and so go forth well prepared from the army of the brotherhood to the single combat of the wilderness.

The third and worst kind of monks are the Cerebites, who have never been tried under any rule, nor by the experience of a master, as gold is tried in the furnace, but being soft as lead, and by their work still cleaving to the world, are known by their tonture to lie to God.

These in twos and threes, or perhaps singly and without a shepherd, are shut up not in our Lord's sheepfolds, but in their own. The pleasure of their desires is to them a law, and whatever they like or make choice of they will have to be holy, but what they like not that they consider unlawful.

The fourth kind of monks are called Garuvagi, or wanderers, who travel about all their lives through diverse provinces, and stay for two or three days as guests, first in one monastery, then in another.

They are always roving and never settled, giving themselves up altogether to their own pleasures and to the enticements of gluttony, and are in all things worse than the Cerebites. Of their miserable way of life it is better to be silent than to speak.

Therefore, leaving these, let us, by God's assistance, set down a rule for Cenobites, or conventuals, who are the most steadfast class of monks. CHAPTER II. WHAT KIND OF MAN THE ABBOT OUGHT TO BE. An abbot who is worthy to have charge of a monastery ought always to remember what he is called, and in his actions show forth the character of ancient.

The Abbot as Representative of Christ

For in the monastery he is considered to represent the person of Christ, seeing that he is called by his name as the apostle saith, Ye have received the spirit of the adoption of children, in which we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans chapter 8 verse 15. Therefore the abbot ought not, God forbid, to teach, ordain, or command but what is conformable to the commands of our Lord. But let his commands and doctrine be mingled in the minds of his disciples with the leaven of living justice.

Let the abbot always be mindful that, in the dreadful judgment of God, he must give an account both of his doctrine and of the obedience of his disciples. And let the abbot know that any lack of profit which the master of the family shall find in his sheep will be laid to the shepherd's fault.

But if he have bestowed all diligence on his unquiet and disobedient flock, and employed the utmost care to cure their corrupt manners, he shall then be acquitted in the judgment of the Lord, and may say with the prophet, I have not hidden thy justice in my heart, I have told thy truth and thy salvation.

But they condemned and despised me. Psalm 34 verse 2 and Isaiah chapter 1 verse 2. And then finally death shall be inflicted as a just punishment upon the disobedient sheep. When, therefore, anyone receives the name of abbot, he ought to govern his disciples with a twofold doctrine.

That is, he ought first to show them all virtue and sanctity, more by deeds than by words. Hence, to such as are intelligent, he may declare the commandments of God by words. But to the hard-hearted, and to those of the rudder's sort, he must make the divine precepts manifest by his actions.

In the next place, let him show by his own deeds that they ought not to do anything which he had taught them to be unfitting, lest, having preached well to others, he himself become a castaway. I Corinthians chapter 9 verse 27.

And God say unto him, thus saying, Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my testament in thy mouth? Thou hast hated discipline, and cast my speeches behind thee. And thou who didst see the mote in thy brother's eye, hast not seen the beam that is in thy own.

Psalm chapter 46 verse 16 and 17 and Matthew chapter 7 verse 3. Let him make no distinction of persons in the monastery. Let not one be loved more than another, except he be found to surpass the rest in good works and in obedience.

Let not one of noble parentage, on coming to religion, be put before him who is of servile extraction, except there be some other reasonable cause for it. If, upon just consideration, the abbot shall think there is such a just cause, let him put him in any rank he shall please, but otherwise let every one keep his own place.

Because, whether bondman or freeman, we are all one in Christ. I Corinthians chapter 7 verse 13. Romans chapter 2 verse 2. And bear an equal burden of servitude unto the Lord. For with God there is no accepting of persons.

Ephesians chapter 6 verse 9. On one condition only are we preferred by him, and that is, if in good works and in humility we are found better than others. Therefore let the abbot bear equal love to all, and let all be subject to the same discipline according to their deserts.

For the abbot ought always in his doctrine to observe that apostolic form wherein it is said, quote, Reprove, entreat, rebuke, close quote. II Timothy chapter 4 verse 2. That is to say, he ought, as occasions require, to temper fair speeches with wretches.

Let him show the severity of a master, and the loving affection of a father. Those who are undisciplined and restless he must reprove sternly. But with such as are obedient, mild, and patient, he should deal by entreaty, exhorting them to go forward in virtue.

But the stubborn and negligent we charge him to severely reprove and chastise. Let him not shut his eyes to the sins of offenders, but as soon as they show themselves use all possible endeavors utterly to root them out, remembering the fate of hell, the priest of Silo.

I Kings chapter 2 verse 12 and following. With the more virtuous and intelligent let him for the first or second time use words of admonition. But the stubborn, the hard-hearted, the proud, and the disobedient, even in the very beginning of their sin, let him chastise with stripes and bodily punishment, knowing that it is written, quote, The fool is not corrected with words, close quote.

Proverbs chapter 13 verse 13 and again, quote, Strike thy son with a rod, and thou shalt deliver his soul from death, close quote. Proverbs chapter 23 verse 14. The abbot ought always to remember what he is, and what he is called, and know that unto whom more is entrusted more from him is exacted.

And let him consider how difficult and hard a task he hath undertaken to govern souls, and to accommodate himself to the humors of many, some of whom must be led by fair speeches, others by sharp reprehensions, and others by persuasions.

Therefore let him so adapt himself to the character and intelligence of each one, that he may not only suffer no loss in the flock committed to him, but may even rejoice in the increase and profit of his virtuous flock.

Above all things let him take heed not to slight or make little account of the souls committed to his keeping, and have more care for fleeting worldly things than for them. But let him always consider that he hath undertaken the government of souls for which he shall also have to give an account, and that he may not complain for want of temporal means.

Let him remember that it is written, quote, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all things shall be given ye. Close quote. Matthew chapter 6 verse 33. And again, quote, Nothing is wanting to such as fear him.

Close quote. Psalm 33 verse 19. Let him know that the man who undertakes the government of souls must prepare himself to give an account of them. And how great soever the number of brethren may be, let him know certain that at the day of judgment he will have to give to the Lord an account for all their souls as well as for his own.

Thus by fearing the examination which the shepherd must undergo for the flock committed to his charge, he is made solicitous on other men's account, as well as careful on his own. And while reclaiming them by his admonitions, he is himself freed from all defects.

Communal Counsel and Submission to the Rule

Chapter III. Of Calling the Brethren to Council. As often as any weighty matters have to be debated in the monastery, let the abbot call together all the brethren, and himself declare what is the point under deliberation.

Having heard their counsel, let him prudently weigh it with himself, and then do what he shall judge most expedient. The reason why we ordain that all be called to council is because the Lord often revealeth to the younger what is best.

And let the brethren give their advice with all subjection and humility, and presume not stiffly to defend their own opinion, but rather leave it to the discretion of the abbot and what he shall think more expedient.

To that let them all submit, for as it becometh the disciples to obey their Master, so doth it behove the Master to dispose all things with forethought and justice. In all things, therefore, let all follow the rule as their Master, and from it let no man rashly swerve.

Let no one in the monastery follow his own will, neither let any one presume, within or without the monastery, to contend insolently with his abbot. If he do so, let him be subjected to regular discipline.

Let the abbot, however, do all things with the fear of God, and in observance of the rule, knowing that he shall undoubtedly give an account of all his judgments to God, the Most Just Judge. If any matters of less moment have to be done for the benefit of the monastery, let him take counsel with the seniors only, as it is written, Do all things with counsel, and thou shalt not afterwards repent thee of it.

The Instruments of Good Works

4. WHAT ARE THE INSTRUMENTS OF GOOD WORKS? 1. To love the Lord God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength. 2. Then our neighbour as ourself. 3. Then not to kill. 4. Not to commit adultery.

5. Not to steal. 6. Not to covet. 7. Not to bear false witness. 8. To honour all men. 9. Not to do to another what we would not have done to ourselves. 10. To deny ourselves, in order to follow Christ.

11. To chastise the body. 12. Not seek after delights. 13. To love fasting. 14. To relieve the poor. 15. To clothe the naked. 16. To visit the sick. 17. To bury the dead. 18. To help those that are in tribulation.

19. To comfort the sad. 20. To withdraw ourselves from worldly ways. 21. To prefer nothing to the love of Christ. 22. Not to give way to anger. 23. Not to harbour revenge in our mind. 24. Not to foster guile or deceit in our heart.

25. Not to make a feigned peace. 26. Not to forsake charity. 27. Not to swear at all, lest we forswear ourselves. 28. To speak the truth with heart and mouth. 29. Not to render evil for evil. 30. Not to do any injury, yea, and patiently to bear an injury done to us.

31. To love our enemies. 32. Not to speak ill of such as speak ill of us, but rather to speak well of them. 33. To suffer persecution for justice' sake. 34. Not to be proud. 35. Not given to wine. 36. Not a great eater.

37. Not drowsy. 38. Not slothful. 39. Not a murmurer. 40. Not a detractor. 41. To put our trust in God. 42. When we see any good in ourselves, let us attribute it to God and not to ourselves. 43. But let us always know that evil is done by ourselves, therefore let us attribute it to ourselves.

44. To fear the day of judgment. 45. To be afraid of hell. 46. To desire life everlasting with spiritual thirst. 47. To have death always before our eyes. 48. To observe at every hour the actions of our life.

49. To know for certain that God beholdeth us in every place. 50. To dash at once against Christ the evil thoughts that rise in the mind. 51. To reveal all such to our spiritual father. 52. To keep our mouth from evil and wicked words.

53. Not to love much talking. 54. Not to speak vain words, nor such as move to laughter. 55. Not to love much and boisterous laughter. 56. Willingly to hear holy readings. 57. To pray often devoutly. 58. With tears and sighs, daily to confess our past evils to God in prayer, and to amend them for the time to come.

59. Not to fulfill the desires of the flesh, and to hate self-will. 60. To obey in all things the commands of the abbot, though he himself, which God forbid, should do otherwise, being mindful of that precept of our Lord, What they say, do ye, but what they do, do ye not.

61. Not to desire to be called holy, before we be so, and first to be holy, that we may truly be called so. 62. Daily to fulfill in deeds the commandments of God. 63. To love chastity. 64. To hate no man.

65. To flee envy and emulation. 66. Not to love contention. 67. To flee haughtiness. 68. To reverence the elders. 69. To love inferiors. 70. For Christ's sake, to pray for our enemies. 71. To make peace with adversaries before the setting of the sun.

72. Never to despair of God's mercy. Behold, these are the tools or instruments of our spiritual profession. If we constantly employ them day and night, and have them signed with approval in the day of judgment, that reward shall be given us by our Lord as a recompense.

Which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man, to conceive what God hath prepared for those that love him. The workshop where all these things are to be done is the cloister of the monastery, and steadfast abiding in the congregation.

Obedience Without Delay

Chapter V. Of the Obedience of Disciples. The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This beseemeth those who, either on account of the holy servitude they have professed, through fear of hell, or for the glory of life everlasting, count nothing more dear to them than Christ.

These presently, as soon as anything is commanded them by the Superior, make no delay in doing it, just as if the command had come from God. Of such our Lord saith, At the hearing of the ear he hath obeyed me.

1 Corinthians 2 .9. And to teachers he saith, He that heareth you, heareth me. Unquote. From Psalms Chapter XVII. Verse 45. Therefore, such as these, leaving immediately everything, and forsaking their own will, leave unfinished what they were about, and with the speedy foot of obedience follow by deeds the voice of him who commands, and thus, as it were in one and the same moment, the command of the perfect work of the disciple in the speed of the fear of God, go both jointly together, and are quickly affected by those who ardently desire to advance in the way of eternal life.

These take the narrow way, of which the Lord saith, Narrow is the way which leadeth to life. Unquote. From Matthew Chapter VII. Verse 14. They live not according to their own will, nor follow their own desires and pleasures, but, abiding in monasteries, walk according to the command and direction of another, and will to have an abbot over them.

Without doubt these fulfil that saying of our Lord, Quote, I came not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. Unquote. From John Chapter V. Verse 30. This obedience will then be acceptable to God, and pleasing to men, if what is commanded be not done fearfully, slowly, coldly, or with murmuring, or an answer showing unwillingness.

Because the obedience which is given to superiors is given to God, who hath said, Quote, He that heareth you, heareth me. Unquote. From Luke Chapter X. Verse 16. Hence it ought to be done by the disciples with a good will, because God, Quote, loveth a cheerful giver.

Unquote. From 2 Corinthians Chapter IX. Verse 7. If the disciple obey with ill will, and murmur, not only in words, but also in heart, although he fulfil what is commanded him, it will not be acceptable to God, who considereth the heart of the murmurer.

For such a work he shall not have any reward, but rather incurth the penalty of murmurers, unless he amend and make satisfaction. Chapter VI. Of Silence. Let us act in accordance with that saying of the Prophet, Quote, I have said, I will keep my ways, that I offend not with my tongue.

I have been watchful over my mouth, I held my peace and humbled myself, and was silent from speaking even good things. Unquote. From Psalm Chapter XXXVIII. Verses 2 and 3. If therefore, according to this saying of the Prophet, we are at times to abstain, for silence' sake, even from good talk, how much more ought we to refrain from evil words, on account of the penalty of sin?

Therefore, because of the importance of silence, let leave to speak be seldom given, even to perfect disciples, although their words be of good and holy matters, tending unto edification, because it is written, Quote, In much speaking, thou shalt not escape sin.

Unquote. From Proverbs Chapter X. Verse 19. And in another place, Quote, Death and life are in the hands of the tongue. Unquote. From Proverbs Chapter XVIII. Verse 21. For it befitteth a master to speak and teach, and it beseemeth a disciple to hold his peace and listen.

If, therefore, anything must be asked of the prior, let it be done with all fitting humility and the subjection of reverence. But as for buffoonery, idle words, or such as move to laughter, we utterly condemn and exclude them in all places, nor do we allow a disciple to open his mouth to give them utterance.

The Twelve Degrees of Humility

Chapter VII. Of Humility. The Holy Scripture crieth to us, brethren, saying,. Quote,. Everyone who exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he who humbleth himself shall be exalted. Unquote. From Luke Chapter 54.

Verse 11. By these words it declares to us that all exaltation is a kind of pride, which the prophet showeth must carefully be avoided when he says,. Quote,. Lord, my heart is not exalted, neither are my eyes lifted up, neither have I walked in great things, nor in wonders above myself.

Unquote. But why? Quote,. If I did not think humbly, be exalted my soul. As a child weaned from his mother, so wilt thou reward my soul. Unquote. From Psalm Chapter 103. Verses 1 to 2. Wherefore, brethren, if we would attain to the highest summit of humility, and speedily reach that heavenly exaltation, which is won through the lowliness of this present life, by our ascending actions a ladder must be set up, such as appeared in sleep to Jacob, whereon he saw angels descending and ascending.

That descent and ascent signifieth nothing else but that we descend by exalting and ascend by humbling ourselves. The ladder thus erected is our life here in this world, which through humility of heart is lifted up by our Lord to heaven.

The sides of this ladder we understand to be our body and soul, in which the divine vocation hath placed diverse degrees of humility and discipline, which we must ascend. The first degree, then, of humility, is that a man always have the fear of God before his eyes, and altogether flee forgetfulness.

Moreover, to be mindful of all that God hath commanded, and remember that such as condemn God fall into hell for their sins, and that everlasting life is prepared for such as fear Him, and keeping himself every moment from all sin and vice of thought, word, eyes, hands, feet, and self-will, let him thus hasten to cut off the desires of the flesh.

Let him think that he is always beheld from heaven by God, that all his actions, wheresoever he may be, lie open to the eye of God, and are at every hour presented before him by his angels. The prophet declared this, when in these words he saith that God is always present to our thoughts, Quote, God searcheth the heart and reigns, Unquote.

And again, Quote, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are vain, Unquote. He also saith, Quote, Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off, Unquote. And, Quote, The thought of man shall confess to thee, Unquote.

In order, therefore, that the humble brother may be careful to avoid evil thoughts, let him always say in his heart, Quote, Then shall I be without spot before him, if I shall keep me from my iniquity, Unquote.

The Scripture also forbideth us to do our own will, saying, Quote, Leave thy own will and desire, Unquote. And again, Quote, We beg of God in prayer, that his will may be done in us, Unquote. With good reason, therefore, are we taught to beware of doing our own will, when we keep in mind that which the Scripture saith, Quote, There are ways which to men seem right, and, and whereof, plungeth even into the deep pit of hell, Unquote.

And again, when we fear that which is said of the negligent, Quote, They are corrupted and made abominable in their pleasures, Unquote. But in the desires of the flesh we ought to believe God to be always present with us, according to that saying of the prophet, speaking to the Lord, Quote, O Lord, all my desire is before thee, Unquote.

Let us then take heed of evil desires, because death sitteth close to the entrance of delight. Wherefore the Scripture commandeth us, Quote, Follow not thy concupiscences, Unquote. If then the eyes of the Lord behold both good and bad, if he ever looketh down from heaven upon the sons of men to see who is understanding or seeking God, if our works are told to him day and night by our angels, we must always take heed, brethren, lest, as the prophet saith in the psalm, Quote, God behold us some time declining to evil, and become unprofitable, Unquote.

And though he spare us for the present, because he is merciful, and expecteth our conversion, he may yet say to us hereafter, Quote, These things thou hast done, and I have held my peace, Unquote. The second degree of humility is, if anyone, not wedded to his own will, seeks not to satisfy his desires, but carries out that saying of our Lord, Quote, I came not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me, Unquote.

The Scripture likewise saith, Quote, Self-will engendereth punishment, and necessity purchaseeth a crown, Unquote. The third degree of humility is, that a man submit himself for the love of God, with all obedience to his superior, imitating thereby our Lord, of whom the apostle saith, Quote, He was made obedient even unto death, Unquote.

The fourth degree of humility is, that if in obedience things that are hard, contrary, and even unjust be done to him, he embrace them with a quiet conscience, and in suffering them grow not weary, nor give over, since the Scripture saith, Quote, He only that persevereth to the end shall be saved, Unquote.

And again, Quote, Let thy heart be comforted, and expect the Lord, Unquote. And showing that the faithful man ought to bear all things for our Lord, be they never so contrary, it saith in the person of the sufferers, Quote, For thee we suffer death all the day long, we are esteemed as sheep for the slaughter, Unquote.

And being assured by hope of a reward from God's hands, they go on rejoicing, and saying, Quote,. But in all things we overcome by the help of him who hath loved us, Unquote. Likewise, in another place the Scripture saith, Quote, Thou hast proved us, O Lord, thou hast tried us, as silver is tried with fire, thou hast brought us into the snare, thou hast laid tribulation upon our backs, Unquote.

And to show that we ought to be under a prior, it goes on to say, Quote, Thou hast placed men over our heads, Unquote. Moreover, in order to fulfil the precepts of the Lord by patience in adversities and injuries, Quote, When struck on one cheek, they offer the other, to him who taketh away their coat, they leave their cloak also, and being constrained to carry a burden one mile, they go too, Unquote.

With Paul the Apostle, they suffer false brethren and persecutions, and bless those who speak ill of them. The fifth degree of humility is to manifest to the abbot by humble confession all the evil thoughts of his heart, and the secret faults committed by him.

The Scripture exhorteth us thereunto, saying, Quote, Reveal thy way to the Lord, and hope in him, Unquote. And again, Quote, Confess thy way to the Lord, because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever, Unquote.

Furthermore, the prophet saith, Quote, I have made known unto thee mine offence, and mine injustices I have not hidden. I have said I will declare openly against myself mine injustices to the Lord, and thou hast pardoned the wickedness of my heart, Unquote.

The sixth degree of humility is, if a monk be content with all that is meanest and poorest, and in every thing enjoined him, think himself an evil and worthless servant, saying with the prophet, Quote, I have been brought to nothing, and knew it not.

I have become as a beast before thee, and I am always with thee, Unquote. The seventh degree of humility is, not only to pronounce with his tongue, but also in his very heart to believe himself to be the most abject and inferior to all, and humbling himself to say with the prophet, Quote, I am a worm and no man, the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people.

I have been exalted, humbled, and confounded, Unquote. And again, Quote, It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn thy commandments, Unquote. The eighth rule of humility is, that a monk do nothing but what the common rule of the monastery, or the examples of his seniors, exhort him to do.

The ninth degree of humility is, for a monk to refrain his tongue from speaking, and be silent till a question be asked him, remembering the saying of the scripture, Quote, In many words thou shalt not avoid sin, Unquote.