dost thou not fear that the like may happen thee? Know that more terrible torments threaten after death. Set in thy mind the things that are natur- ally dreadful, namely a blazing vessel full of pitch, stinking of sulphur: think of roaring lions, 40 NOVICES REGULAR dogs biting, serpents hissing: toads gnawing, dragons devouring: and thou shalt more speedily overcome the vile sins brought thee by the devil to stain thy heart: and thou shalt drive farther from thee sloth of mind, sleepiness of body, and the desire of most empty praise. I tell thee that long vigils, long lessons, the daily Hours, silence, toil, and fast make a short Purgatory: and bring great joy, after the space of three or four hours. It is strange that thou dost so easily feel weari- ness in the choir chanting or reading: and dost not grow weary with long conversing, or hearing news of the world. Understand that this is the work of the devil: who strives in every way to hinder the divine worship: and to draw thee away from the church and the gathering of them that sing psalms: that he may have a companion to burn for ever in hell. Then they shall yell and howl for exceeding heat and pain: who do not now praise God in heart and mouth with great fervour. If it pleases thee to discourse with a friend for the sake of receiving some relief: how much more oughtest thou to hasten and pant to hear the things of God: to speak with God in hymns and canticles, leaving aside all other cares and fancies. But since facts often move more than words: some examples are to be added at the end of the sermon, for the sake of instruction. Imitate the good which pleases: be on thy guard against the evil which displeases.
An EXAMPLE An EXAMPLE A certain brother began to sleep a little at Matins. Noticing which, the brother seated next to him: quietly cast into his ear just this word: “Hell!” On hearing this, suddenly terrified and 41 SERMONS TO THE awakened: he cast off all drowsiness from him. Think therefore, slothful one, of hell: and thou wilt not slumber in choir, tired through weariness.
ANOTHER Another brother also was singing but little, and when his neighbour did not hear his voice: he remonstrated with him that just then Matins were being sung. ‘Simon, sleepest thou?” And he, aroused by these words, became aware that he was remarked in his drowsiness: and in surprise and shame he was abashed before him that re- buked him.
ANOTHER ANOTHER There was a certain brother in the Order of Regulars devout to God and well read: an artistic singer, and a zealous lover of the divine praise. He was speaking once familiarly with another brother on the sweetness of the divine chant: and of the solemn office which is performed in the church on the chief festivals. He said therefore to him by way of edification to encourage his weakness: that he might cheerfully sing in choir. “Brother, praise be to God, I have never had weariness in the Divine Office: however long it might be. For on the Feast of Palms, although compared with other days the divine service seems very long: nevertheless I was not weary of the length of the singing: but I felt myself so ready to sing, that if anyone had wished to begin the whole from the beginning again: I should willingly have commenced and chanted with him.” Hear- ing this, the aforesaid brother was edified: and rendered more eager for the chant. This elder should be well believed; for he was always among the first to come to choir, he seldom went out, if he 42 NOVICES REGULAR went out for some need he speedily returned: while there he faithfully helped according to his power, and he did not turn his eyes to other matters.
ANOTHER Another brother of the same Order, on fire with the zeal of God, struggled hard against drowsi- ness: and did violence to himself as follows. For weighed down by sleep in choir, he pulled out the hairs of his head with his hand: he roughly rubbed his beard, he pricked his nose with a pen, he made his eyes smart with spittle: and some- times he placed under his chin a hard piece of wood, that he might drive away sleep. And when he felt the motions of the flesh, he thought on the flames of the fire of hell: and he sharply tore the skin of his body with his finger nails, and inflicted red wounds on his prurient flesh: until the illicit movement, aroused by the devil, wholly ceased.
SERMON VII e¢ OF GUARDING THE Mouruy anp DILIGENCE IN LaBouR WITH OBEDIENCE TO THE SUPERIOR GOOD man out of a good treasure bringeth forth good things. Beloved brethren, you should always have kere] something good concerning God and holy Writ stored up in your heart; and in your external labour repeat the sweet words of Christ: to strengthen you in the burden of your toil. Turn over earnestly the devout psalms and hymns in the silence of your mouth: lest the devil discover you wandering within and idle, unprofitably occupied about the doings of 43 Matt. re. 36.
SERMONS TO THE others: for a heart unstable and empty of good thoughts, is the devil’s nest. Weigh your words before you speak: lest you utter something foolish which may offend your hearers, and you may grieve to have said: because you have not observed the bounds of discretion. If you do not know how to speak wisely; strive nevertheless to hold your peace with humility and modesty: according to that of Solomon: “A fool, if he will hold his peace: shall be accounted wise.”
Time is given to work well, not to idle: nor to gossip; nor to jest. Suffer not then any time to pass away without the fruit of good work: for if you have permission to speak: you have not how- ever to utter anything useless. For as you are to render an account before God in the judgement of every idle word: so also of every time and moment ill or carelessly spent. But according to the differ- ent seasons and feasts by day and night exercises suited to the time should be taken up: and good purposes should be more fervently enkindled. Nevertheless for the good of obedience and the service of brotherly charity, all private matters should be neglected: nor is any singular practice of devotion to be preferred to holy obedience and the common profit. For thus Christ left the Temple and the doctors of the Law; and obeyed His Mother and Joseph like a good son subject to his parents: as an example for all religious. He who exercises himself well in this, and dail strives and labours to overcome himself: he will be most gloriously crowned because he hath striven lawfully. For all good works performed out of simple obedience for God’s sake, are most pleasing to God: and worthy of avery great reward to be for ever crowned in Heaven. For the renun- 44 NOVICES REGULAR ciation of our own will with true humility of heart subject to the prelate and the advice of the superior: surpasses all temporal gain and argu- ments of utility, and is resplendent with everlast- ing praise. For as nothing is more precious than a good will, nor more at rest than free submission: so nothing is more vile than self will with the swelling of pride. Hence Solomon saith in praise of obedience. “An obedient man shall speak of Prov. 21. 28. victory.” Itis a great struggle to overcome one- self: a noble triumph to bow the neck of pride; to leave one’s own opinion, to lay aside one’s own wisdom: and in nothing to wish to show oneself. Every man who freely obeys for God’s sake, does the work of a mighty warrior; because he fights against himself: and slays the motions of his own will with the sword of the fear of God. And so he shall receive a crown of everlasting glory with the martyrs: because he has manfully struggled and conquered. Whoever therefore humbly obeys a superior, or even an inferior, and willingly sub- mits his opinion to the opinion of another: he loses nothing, but yielding to the other, gains the more. Every man who thus overcomes and humbles himself: treads upon the head of proud Lucifer, who suggests things contrary to humility: that a man give not way to another, but turn himself to cunning arguments. Why this? Lest keeping silence, he be lowered outwardly, and seem as a fool or an ignoramus: because he knows not how to defend himself, or suffers himself to be vanquished. Alas pride, how blind and foolish always: how far thou wanderest from the kingdom of God: and rushest headlong to the gates of hell. O what good and praiseworthy things have been said of thee, holy humility, always ready to obey; 45 SERMONS TO THE for to thee are opened the portals of Heaven: to see the glorious countenance of Jesus Christ, Let it not then be burdensome to anyone, nor seem unworthy to obey man for God’s sake in things lawful and righteous: while Christ has been made obedient even to the shame of the cross. Truly, brethren, if a man will obey and serve a brother for God’s sake, he shows God the greatest honour in his submission: and in the end he shall have Christ as the recompense of his labour and the rewarder of his holy subjection speaking thus: “What you did to one of these My least breth- ren: you did to me.” For without obedience and brotherly love: our works are either little, or no- thing. But with humble obedience: even worth- less and small services rendered a brother please God. A truly and perfectly obedient man does not tarry when called: he does not excuse himself when busy or wearied: for he fears to incur the displeasure of God: if he follow not the voice of him that commands according to his power. Whether therefore the obedient man toils or prays, whether he reads or writes: whether he is silent or speaks, whether he watches or rests, whether he eats, or fasts: all things are accounted to him unto good from the merit of holy obedi- ence. For in performing or in leaving all his acts he merits equally well, if he fully resign himself within: if herein he truly seek and aim at the good pleasure and honour of God. And he pro- gresses the more fully and is the more acceptably pleasing to God; the more quickly and readily he fulfills: that which the will of the superior declares should be done. And if he knew better and the precept were more clearly made manifest to him: without any wavering, he should show himself 46 NOVICES REGULAR most prompt to obey God and His vicar. There- fore the truly obedient man is always joyful, and has great trust in God; Whose will He desires to accomplish at all times: from Whom he doubts not he will receive a never-ending reward with the elect, singing in heart and mouth: “ My heart is ready, O God: my heart is ready.” And again. “T am ready and am not troubled: that I may keep Thy commandments.”
SERMON VIII @@ OF SHUNNING VAINGLORY, AND THAT PRAISE IS TO BE RENDERED TO GOD ALONE 10 let your light shine before men that Hi they may see your good works: and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven.
@4| Beloved brethren, when you do any y zood, be not lifted up, do not vainly boast; but humble your heart before God: lest on account of vainglory and self complacency you lose heavenly glory and the reward eternal. Every good action is to be attributed to God: not to your industry or power. Strive to wish to please God alone: and to give good example to the neighbour, in the observance of the regular discipline; lest the devil find whereby to grievously accuse you: and urge that you are like to sepulchres whitened without. Of what profit the vain praise of men; when within an evil conscience accuses of sins? The proud man and ambitious of temporal glory has toil without fruit: and unless he speedily repent and deeply humble himself: he will heap up a sum of greater punishment. Outside the charity of God and the neighbour the works 47 SERMONS TO THE SERMONS TO THE praised by men are of no avail; but they are as empty vessels having no oil: and as lamps giving no light in the dark. Certainly they are the foolish virgins: who for any good work or word seek the praises of men. But they are the wise, who stand in fear, and guard in true humility the little good which they do: all likewise that they know and understand, and bring to effect, or purpose to make better: this they attribute with truth to God, the giver of all good things. Otherwise they are thieves and robbers: thieves because they un- lawfully usurp the glory and honour of God; rob- bers because by vainly boasting they wound their own soul: and by taking pride they destroy the grace of God.
Who is just and prudent? He who has God ever before his eyes; who always thinks on good things: always speaks good things: always does good things, while he lives and is able. Do not, brethren, take pride from this that you know and read much: or because you have been long in the way of God and in religion. You should rather grieve that you have made so little progress in virtues: and would that you had still the first-fruits of the sweetness of a beginner, and so felt. How- ever, you must not lose heart, or cease from your good endeavours: but with all humility beseech the divine assistance: that God deign to inspire you with fresh fervour. For as long as a man dwells in the present condition, he is instable, and liable to fall from good to evil: and on the other hand he is capable of being brought back from evil to good. Whence the wise king Solomon saith: “There is no just man upon earth: that doth good, and sinneth not.” And blessed John, the most beloved disciple of Jesus, says in his epistle: that no man 48 NOVICES REGULAR may vainly glory in his justice and purity, “If John, x. 8. we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves: and the truth is not in us.” Let no man therefore excuse himself as if he were blameless, and clear of fault: for in many things we all offend, saith James, 3. 2. blessed James the Apostle. For either knowingly aman sins, or unknowingly: either willingly or unwillingly, either from weakness, or from a per- verse will: either from fear or from love, either from despair or presumption: either from frivol- ity of mind, or from habit, or from lukewarmness; either drawn by company, or puffed up by singu- larity: either stirred by anger, or carried away by concupiscence. By these passions and various desires, as by contrary winds, the heart of man is often moved and disturbed: and because of these storms of the world, very seldom does a man attain the harbour of repose. For there is scarcely a day or a night, an hour or an interval so brief and good: but in something a man errs or grows lukewarm, or commits negligences. For all which it behoves to pray without ceasing; that the lov- ing God may mercifully forgive us all our evils: of which we have been guilty in word or deed or thought. And because no man is free from stain; therefore with humility and sorrow of heart speedy recourse must be had to the remedy of confession: and with greater watchfulness care be taken for the future against every occasion of evil thoughts. It behoves a man to strive to guard against evil in the beginning, lest the wily serpent find a small opening: and at length violently thrust in his whole head and tail. The heart of man cannot rest; but it is occupied either in good or in evil: as frequent experience teaches. And as much as a man loves good and pursues virtue: SERMONS TO THE so much he hates evil and detests vice: because contraries cannot dwell together in one home. But no man shall find repose of heart whatever he may have or desire; unless he seek and hold in enjoyment God the true and supreme good: and use temporal things with moderation unto meriting the eternal kingdom of God.
Therefore, brethren, seek Christ in humility now: that hereafter you may see Him in His majesty. Seek now His grace by prayers with unfeigned tears: that cleansed from all stains, you may be worthy to see His face in Heaven. Seek now Christ in the law and the prophets concealed under figures: that hereafter you may know all the secrets of the scriptures perfectly without books and masters: as it is said by the apostle Paul: ‘We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face to face.”
But to possess the supreme good with the elect of God, who can be meet and worthy? Assuredly the truly humble, the perfectly obedient, mild and patient: grieving much for sins, strongly re- sisting vice: spurning the glory of the world, accounting himself nothing; seldom in things exterior, assiduous in interior: cold towards the things of earth, on fire for the things of Heaven: gentle to bear with others, vigorous in chastising self: easy to forgive, difficult to provoke: anxious every hour to watch over his heart: slow to go outside, joyful of soul to abide at home. Blessed he who turns over these things in his mind: and most speedily returns to his interior. Blessed he who suffers nothing temporal, nothing carnal, nothing impure, nothing swollen to enter the sanctury of his heart: nor permits the like to tarry there. Blessed he who knows many good 50 NOVICES REGULAR things and does what he says; for now he has great peace: and hereafter with Christ he shall equally obtain a more blessed glory. Which may He deign to bestow upon us with all His saints: Who is above all God, blessed for ever. Amen.
SERMON IX @¢ OF THE Risk oF MANY EVILS FROM MUCH BANDYING oF WorpDs Bey] not multiply to speak lofty things \j S0asting. Beloved brethren, hold this 4| verse firmly in your mind, and beware Sin} of speaking of sublime matters; lest the devil tempt you to vainglory: and you lose your time given you for devotion and compunc- tion. It would be more expedient for many that they thought of the pains of Hell and the fire of Purgatory: rather than of the breadth of the world and the height of Heaven. For to think and speak of the awful judgement to come and of the punishments of ‘the reprobate: often strikes fear, which is very profitable for the lukewarm and dissolute. But to speak of the empyreal heaven and of the nine choirs of angels, does not profit young and unmortified monks: who are easily uplifted, when they read or hear any subtle matters: it were better they were silent of these things, and examined and mourned their own shortcomings.
Brethren, then you do truly wisely if you know your own vices: and bitterly repent of all the evils which you have done. Alas, how much good you lose every hour idling and talking: which you might gain by toiling, keeping silence and 1 SERMONS TO THE praying. Purpose strongly therefore to amend and make fervent progress: and persevere with constancy in the Order. Lift up your eyes very often with humble prayer to the Lord in Heaven, groaning: and praying for your sins in the secret of your heart. Such God loves: who often lift up their hearts to heavenly things and pray. He freely forgives your past faults if you crave par- don: and seek and keep His grace. Never fool- ishly think great and high things of yourselves: lest you fall before you know it.
When, therefore, you think or say or do any- thing good: you must not attribute this to your- selves even in the least. but immediately strive to return it all, with giving of thanks, wholly to God: from Whom comes all the good that you recognize in yourselves, and see in others. All things are the gifts of God, which beautify the body and soul: for God has given being, life, feeling, action, discernment and understanding. It is a great blindness of heart, not to consider the divine gifts: and how much we are obliged to thank the Creator. So great are the blessings of God that they cannot be numbered: or suffic- iently unfolded. Grievously, therefore, they sin and displease God by ingratitude: who, entangled in vanities, do not render to God devout thanks for His favours. Whence the apostle Paul saith: “Give thanks always for all things: in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And David singing on the Psaltery and harp: after many favours bestowed, rendering thanks to God, says: “‘ Unto Thee, O my helper, will I sing; for Thou art God my defence: my God, my mercy.” And the same Lord speaks by Isaias the prophet, saying: “I will not give My glory to another.” What then 52 NOVICES REGULAR 52 NOVICES REGULAR shall we say to this, who do little or no good: and nevertheless desire to glory and to be praised? A base thing utterly: to wish to be esteemed for virtues which we do not possess. Let us abandon this vanity: let us follow the holy apostles and prophets, who were truly saints: and nevertheless attributed nothing of their holiness to themselves but all to God.
When, therefore, we seek the honour and glory of God, and render thanks to Him simply and wholly for all good things bestowed upon us; then we rise above with the angels.in Heaven: who at the birth of Christ. sang. glory to God in the highest. But when we seek empty glory without of any good, or take pleasure in ourselves within, and weigh our good more than we should; then we are not truthful, nor humble in the truth, but proud and foolish: despised of God, reprobate of the angels, and strangers to all the saints. Whence from the vice of elation we fall beneath ourselves, and by degrees approach Hell; because we are likened to the demons and the damned, who do not love or praise God: nor are able to gaze upon the glory of God. And because they do not pay the honour due to God nor freely humble themselves with the saints; but perversely and proudly resist their Creator: by a just judge- ment of God they carry the torment of hell every- where with them, and wither away in their malice. They are burnt by the flames, and not cleansed: they are most cruelly tortured, and never amend. From the moment they sought glory in themselves, they lost Heaven; and fell from the eternal glory of God into everlasting shame. Thus, alas, poor wretches, proud men glorying in themselves and despising others, shall speedily perish, before they 53 Ezech, 36, SERMONS TO THE are aware: who presuming of themselves say or think: “Our mighty hand: and not the Lord, hath done all these things.” Be therefore, breth- ren, humble of heart, chaste, kind, modest, com- passionate: prudent in word, diligent in toil: fer- vent in prayer, patient in tribulation: obedient without delay, simple without questioning: retir- ing without pretence, silent without suspicion: submissive without complaint.
When also God of His great loving-kindness inspires or reveals anything good to one in prayer or study: let him not at once extol himself for this, nor prefer himself to others, or deem himself more holy; but he must think and believe that God hath done this to him not on account of his own virtues and labours, nor on account of his merits and ingenious toil: but because of His immense goodness, whereby He sends down rain upon the good and the bad, pouring forth His mercy upon every creature. For thus he speaks by the prophet Ezechiel to the Jews taking pride in the good things vouchsafed them: “It is not for your sakes but for My own sake that I have done this, House of Israel: be it known to you.” Let no man then abuse the divine goodness and mercy upon him by attributing anything to him- self through pride: for fear that he incur at once the displeasure of God because of his thankless- ness: and hear against himself the harsh sentence of the judge fearfully thundering: “Take away the pound from him, that is, the grace of devo- tion of which he is unworthy because of vain- glory: and give to him that hath ten pounds, on account of his humility and thankfulness.” For he is meet to receive greater gifts; who studies ever to return thanks to God for the lesser: and 54 NOVICES REGULAR 54 NOVICES REGULAR confesses himself unworthy of all. The most lov- ing Lord often gives His consolation not only for the sake of one man or two comforting one another; but also for the sake of the edification of others, and the instruction of many to the love and praise of so pious, sweet and generous a Master in His gifts: Who is so good and bene- ficent in bestowing His grace upon the humble, the mild and the compunct of heart. But He soon withdraws His sweetness trom the elated and thankless: from idle talkers, from the curi- ous, from the deceitful and murmurers. For the heart must be free of vices, if the sweetness of the Holy Spirit is to enter: which is more precious than all earthly riches. And he shall be enriched with eternal good things in Heaven: who spurns to take pleasure in the praises of men. Seek, therefore, rather to be comforted in devout prayers and tears: than in deep questions and long dis- courses. Study in the book of the conscience: flee the shadow of vainglory: store up oil in your vessels with the wise virgins: hide the treasure of your heart in the valley of humility. For if you seek the summit of true honour: you will hasten to that heavenly fatherland with your whole de- sire. To the happy gaining of which: may Jesus Christ lead us all. Amen.
55 i) rey AG ive a roo Dy prey . ov, , ahi oa of ah 4 iar eo tng) Mt ¥ f lit My PART II SERMON X @¢ OF THE MANY TRIALS OF THE JUST FOR THE Kincpom or Heaven ANY are the tribulations of the just: ps. 33, 20. and out of them all will the Lord deliverthem. Beloved brethren, look into the life of the saints; eagerly hear and read the teaching of the as eH) saints: desire to follow their examples; and constantly implore their glorious intercession, that you may be strong in adversity: and may be able to bear with constancy for Christ all the toils of the day and the night. Doubt not of the future promise of Christ: which He will render to them that love Him, when their work is accomplished and their combat bravely ended.
You have not been in Hell nor in Lucifer’s pit: therefore the statutes of the cloister seem burden- some to you. You have not experienced the fire of Purgatory: therefore you dread to bear the word of reproach, the strictness of silence, the hardness of your couch, the severity of the fast, the coarseness of the food: the fatigue of singing and the frequency of prayer. If you would have all things according to your fancy; what do you Sit porn SERMONS TO THE merit thereby before God? This is not in agree- ment with the saints: who suffered most grievous afflictions for many years. Consider then in your small labours and distresses, the most bitter suf- ferings of the martyrs; and by true virtue imitate the combat of those: whose festivals you celebrate through the year. And when you feel any trial, take up the buckler of patience: lest you fail in religion before the time for the end of the struggle. Let it not scandalize thee, if the wicked flourish in the world, and the good groan under the yoke; if the perverse rejoice in honours: and the good are deprived of necessaries and friends. God merciful and just provides better and everlasting goods for His elect, to be bestowed hereafter; whom now He strikes and chastises in divers ways by means of the wicked: that they may be made Ps, 33. 20. the more worthy to receive greater rewards in the heavenly kingdoms. Many therefore are the Ps, 31.10. tribulations of the just: but many also are the scourges of sinners, which are the commencement of future sorrows. And who shall be able fully to ponder and fathom the abyss of the judgements Ps, x0.8. of God upon the sons of men? For the Lord is just and hath loved justice; Who to the good and righteous of heart ordains all things unto good and turns all to their salvation: and to the wicked, hard, and perverse changes all unto their destruc- tion and grief. Bear therefore, brethren, as good and faithful servants of Christ, with patient heart and willing soul, the small burdens which at times trouble you and prove how strong you are; for they will not last long nor confound the humble: but borne devoutly they will greatly rejoice your Ps. 50,10, souls according to that of the Psalmist: “The Ps. 33.19. bones that have been humbled shall rejoice: and 58