Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/375

 then may  we  thus  overcome  idleness,

because it  is  a  prolonged  disgrace,  if  our  life  be  useless  here.

The seventh  Virtue  is  true  Love  to  God,

that we  in  good  works  seek  after  God's  love;

not Vainglory,  which  is  hateful  to  Him,

but let  us  do  alms,  even  as  He  taught  us,

for the  praise  of  God,  not  for  our  own  glory,

that God  may  be  magnified  in  our  good  works,

and Vainglory  may  ever  be  worthless  to  us.

The eighth  Virtue  is  true  Humility,

both towards  God  and  towards  man  with  simplicity  of  mind;

for he  who  is  wise  will  never  be  proud.

Wherein may  a  man  pride  himself,  though  he  wish  it?

He may  not  in  his  rank,  because  many  are  more  distinguished [than  he];

nor may  he  in  his  possessions,  because  he  knoweth  not  his  last  day;

nor in  anything  can  he  pride  himself,  if  he  be  wise.

Now ye  have  heard  how  these  holy  Virtues

overcome those  Sins  which  the  devil  soweth  in  us;

and if  we  will  not  overcome  them,  they  will  sink  us  to  hell.

We can,  by  God's  assistance,  conquer  those  fiendish  sins

by fighting,  if  we  fight  bravely;

and have  for  ourselves,  at  the  end,  the  eternal  glory

ever with  God  Himself,  if  we  now  labour  here,

unto His  glory  who  eternally  reigneth,  the  Everlasting  Lord;

to whom  be  glory  and  praise,  who  ever  liveth,

the Father,  and  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  in  eternity. Amen.