Chapter XXIII. Of his devout exhortation to spiritual prayer CHAPTER XXIII Of his devout exhortation to spiritual prayer
(1) ASTER FLORENTIUS, that notable fair flower of the priesthood, that fervid zealot for souls, not only took thought for the Brothers of his house, but was also instant inM planting the seeds of the Word of Salvation amongst other neighbouring Communities of Clerks and from time to time communed with them and piously exhorted them to have peace and charity towards one another, either preaching himself or sending some suitable
Brother of his house. When he visited them all the inmates rejoiced, desiring to hear the Holy Word from the mouth of God's Priest, for the Holy Ghost spoke through his mouth to comfort that little Flock which was eagerly and devoutly willing to obey.
(2) In one of his discourses he spake this word of advice. "Every man should set before him daily these resolutions, namely, to earnestly strive to amend his life: to struggle anew against his temptations; to pluck out his vices, to strive with special courage to overcome those sins which do more easily beset him; to do violence to himself for Christ's sake because
'the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away.'" It is profitable also for a man to lay his passions and perplexities bare before some discreet brother, one 131 who hath tried knowledge of the Way of God. It is well not to strive in the light of one's own understanding only, but rather to trust another, to humbly receive his counsel, and gladly to follow him as a director, for this is a great help to those that are newly converted and a wholesome sign of spiritual progress.
Therefore a man who doth so resolve to serve God continually, diligently to amend his life and to keep himself carefully from all sin, doth thereby become more worthy and more acceptable than if he fed an hundred poor persons without making such a resolution to govern himself; because the greatest gift that man can offer to God is a good and perfect will to serve Him all the days of one's life. So long as a man doth abide by his holy purpose his death cannot be ill, for though he die, I do trust that he will be in a state of Salvation, and shall find mercy, because his intent was good, and a good will shall be counted to him for righteousness as if he had carried out his purpose: as holy David doth confess, saying,
"O Lord, thou hast crowned us with a shield of thy good-will."
Many other words of comfort spake he to strengthen the devout young men who were gathered together in his house from divers parts to employ their time in spiritual study, not in the School of learning only, but also in the School of Christ.
(3) Some of these would note his words in a book, and eagerly show them to such as had been absent, quoting these words of Divine eloquence amongst themselves with a far 132 keener zest than worldlings show in repeating witty sayings. He abstained altogether from dealing with deep questions, subtle arguments and difficult matters, knowing that such