Chapter XVIII. On compassion for oneās neighbor
Blessed (is) the man, who supports his neighbor during his frailty to the extent that he would want to be supported by him, if he falls into an exactly similar situation. Ā· Blessed (is) the servant who renders all his goods to the Lord God, because he who has retained anything for himself āconcealsā within himself āthe money of his Lordā God (Mt 25:18) and āwhatā he thought he āhad, shall be born away fromā him (Lk 8:18).
Chapter XIX. On the humble servant of God
Blessed (is) the servant who does not consider himself better when he is magnified and exalted by men as when, for example, he is considered to be vile, simple, and despised, Ā· because as much as a man is before God, that much he is and nothing more. Ā· Woe to that religious who has been placed on high by others and does not wish to descend by means of his own will. Ā· And āblessed (is) that servantā (Mt 24:46) who is placed on high not by means of his own will and desires always to be beneath the feet of others.
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Chapter XX. On the good and the vain religious
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Blessed (is) that religious, who has not cheer and gladness except in the Lordās most holy discourses and works Ā· and with these leads men forth to the love of God with joy and gladness (cf. Ps. 50:10). Ā· Woe to that religious who delights himself in idle and vain words and with these leads men to laugh.
Chapter XXI. On the inane and loquacious religious
Blessed (is) the servant who, when he speaks, does not manifest all his own (thoughts) in view of (some) wage and is not swift to speak (cf. Prov. 29:20) but wisely provides what he ought to speak and answer. Ā· Woe to that religious who does not retain in his heart (Lk 2:19.51)the good things, which the Lord shows him, and does not show them to others through work, but who in view of (some) wage desires rather to show them to men with words. Ā· He himself receives āhis wageā and (his) hearers bring back little fruit.
Chapter XXII. On correction
Blessed (is) the servant who would endure discipline, accusation and rebuke as patiently from another as from his very self. Ā· Blessed (is) the servant, who having been rebuked, acquiesces kindly, submits meekly, confesses humbly and makes satisfaction freely. Ā· Blessed (is) the servant, who is not swift to excuse himself and humbly endures shame and rebuke because of a sin where he has not committed (any) fault.
Chapter XXIII. On humility
Blessed (is) the servant, who is found to be as humble among his own subjects as when, for example, he would be among his own lords. Ā· Blessed (is) the servant, who always remains continually under the rod of correction. Ā· A faithful and prudent servant is he (cf. Mt 24:45), who in all (circumstances) does not delay to punish his own offenses interiorly by means of contrition and exteriorly by means of confession and works of satisfaction.
Chapter XXIV. On true love
Blessed (is) the servant, who would love his own brother as much when he is infirm to the point that he cannot repay him, as when he is a healthy (brother)who can repay him.
Chapter XXV. Likewise on the same (subject)
Blessed (is) the servant, who would so love and fear his own brother when he is far from him as when, for example, he is with him. And would not say anything behind him which he cannot, with charity, say before him.
Chapter XXVI. That the servants of God should honor clerics
Blessed (is) the servant, who puts faith in the clerics who live rightly according to the manner of the Roman Church. Ā· And woe to those who despise them; for though they may be sinners, no one however ought to judge them, since God Himself reserves to Himself alone their judgment. Ā· For as much as their administration is greater, which they have because of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which they themselves receive and which they themselves alone minister to others, Ā· so much greater a sin have they, who sin against them, than against all the other men of this world.
Chapter XXVII. On the virtue of fleeing vice
Where there is charity and wisdom, there (is) neither fear nor ignorance. Ā· Where there is patience and humility, there (is) neither wrath nor disturbance. Ā· Where there is poverty with gladness, there (is) neither cupidity nor avarice. Ā· Where there is quiet and meditation, there (is) neither solicitousness nor wandering about. Ā· Where there is fear of the Lord to guard the entrance hall (cf. Lk 11:21), there the enemy can have no place to enter. Ā· Where there is mercy and discretion, there (is) neither superfluity nor hardness.
Chapter XXVIII. On concealing good lest it be lost
Blessed (is) the servant, who stores up āin Heavenā (Mt 6:20) the good things, which the Lord shows him and does not desire to manifest them to men in view of (some) wage, Ā· because the Most High Himself will manifest his works to whomever He has pleased. Ā· Blessed (is) the servant, who watches the secrets of the Lord āin his heartā (Lk 2:19.51).
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