I know that thy life is given to the service of GOD. Then is it shame to
thee, unless thou beest as good, or better, within thy soul, as thou art
seeming in the sight of men. Turn therefore thy thoughts perfectly to
GOD, as it seems that thou hast done thy body. For I will not that thou
shouldest ween that all are holy that have the habit of holiness, and
are not occupied with the world. Nor that all are ill who discourse of
earthly business. But they only are holy, what state or degree they be
in, the which despise all earthly things, that is to say, love it not;
and burn in the love of JESUS Christ; and all their desires are set to
the joy of heaven, and hate all sin, and cease not from good works, and
feel a sweetness in their heart of the love without end: and
nevertheless, they think themselves vilest of all, and hold themselves
wretchedest, least and lowest. This is holy men's life; follow it and be
holy. And if thou wilt be in the Apostles' reward, think not what thou
forsookest, but what thou despisest. For they who follow JESUS Christ in
willing poverty, and in meekness, and in charity, and in patience,
forsake as much as they can covet who follow Him not. And consider with
how great and how good will thou presentest thy vows before Him: for on
that He has set His eyes, and if thou with great desire offerest thy
prayers, with great fervour desirest to see Him, and seekest no earthly
comfort, but the savour of Heaven, and in contemplation thereof hast thy
delight. Wonderfully JESUS works in His lovers, those whom he reaves
from the pleasure of flesh and blood through tender love. He makes them
to will no earthly thing, and makes them rise to the solace of Him, and
to forget vanities and fleshly loves of the world, and to dread no
sorrow that may fall: to diminish over-great bodily ease: to suffer for
His love, seems to them joy; and to be solitary they have great comfort:
so that they be not hindered of that devotion. Now mayst thou see that
many are worse than they seem, and many are better than they seem, and
namely among those that have the habit of holiness. Therefore force
thyself, in all that thou mayest, that thou mayest be no worse than thou
seemest. And if thou wilt do as I teach thee in this short form of
living, I hope, through the grace of GOD, that if men hold thee to be
good, thou shalt be well better.