Page:Beautifulpearlso00oreirich.djvu/494

 be able,  for  the  greatness  of  his  fear,  to  run  after  or to  fly  amongst  the  vanities  and  the  devices  of  this world, which  are  so  many  occasions  of  damnation. We see  now-a-days  men  of  the  world  laboring  and toiling much,  and  putting  themselves  in  much bodily peril,  in  order  to  acquire  these  deceitful  riches; and then  when  they  have  labored  and  acquired much, in  a  moment  they  die,  leaving  behind  them all they  have  gathered  together  in  this  life.

And therefore  it  is  not  meet  that  we  should  trust to this  fallacious  world,  which  will  deceive  all  who trust in  it,  because  the  nature  of  it  is  to  lie. But he who  would  be  great,  and  very  rich,  will  seek  and will love  the  eternal  riches,  which  ever  satisfy,  and never disgust,  or  grow  less. If we  will  not  err,  let us follow  the  example  of  the  beasts  of  the  field  and of the  birds,  who  when  they  have  had  enough  are content, and  seek  no  more  than  to  live  from  hour  to hour,  according  to  their  necessities;  thus  should man also  be  content  with  satisfying  his  temporal necessities, and  not  seek  after  superfluities.

Brother Giles  used  to  say,  that  the  ant  was  not so pleasing  to  St.  Francis  as  other  creatures,  on  account of  the  great  solicitude  which  it  has  to  collect and lay  up  a  store  of  grain  in  the  summer-time,  for the winter;  he  said  that  the  birds  pleased  him  much better, because  they  collect  nothing  on  one  day  for the next. Yet the  ants  give  us  an  example  of  foresight in  this  summer-time  of  our  present  life,  that we may  not  be  found  empty  and  fruitless  when  the winter of  our  last  and  final  judgment  arrives.

Our frail  and  miserable  human  flesh  resembles the swine,  which  ever  delight  in  wallowing  in  the mire, looking  on  the  mire  as  their  greatest  delectation. Our flesh  is  the  devil's  champion,  for  it  combats and  resists  in  all  things  that  which  is  according to  God,  and  for  our  own  salvation.

A Brother  once  asked  Brother  Giles  thus: " Father,  teach  me  in  what  manner  we  may  guard against  carnal  vices; "  to  which  Brother  Giles  replied:  "  My  Brother,  he  who  would  move  a  heavy weight,  or  great  stone  out  of  his  way,  must  do  so rather  by  skill  than  by  force.  And  thus  we  also, if  we  would  overcome  carnal  vices,  and  acquire  the virtue  of  Chastity,  shall  rather  attain  thereto  by humility,  and  by  a  good  and  discreet  spiritual  rule, than  by  our  own  presumptuous  austerities,  and  the weight  of  much  penance.  All  vices  trouble  and obscure  this  holy  and  resplendent  Chastity;  because Chastity  is  like  to  a  clear  mirror,  which  is dimmed  and  obscured,  not  only  by  contact  with  unclean things,  but  even  by  a  man's  breath.

"And it  is  impossible  for  one  to  attain  to  any spiritual  grace,  so  long  as  he  finds  himself  inclined to  carnal  concupiscence:  and  thus,  worry  thyself  as thou  wilt,  thou  wilt  find  no  other  remedy  or  way  of attaining  spiritual  grace,  but  by  overcoming  all carnal  vices.  Therefore  combat  valiantly  against thy  sensual  and  fragile  flesh,  thy  true  enemy,  which would  thwart  thee  both  day  and  night;  which  mortal enemy  of  our  flesh,  if  a  man  subdue,  of  a  surety all  his  other  enemies  shall  be  subdued,  and  he  shall quickly  attain  to  spiritual  grace,  and  to  a  state  of virtue  and  perfection."

Brother Giles  said  also:  "Amongst  all  the  other virtues,  I  prefer  the  virtue  of  Chastity:  because most  sweet  Chastity  contains  alone  in  itself  all  perfection;  but  there  is  no  other  virtue  which  can  be perfect  without  Chastity." A Brother  once  asked Brother Giles:  "  Father,  is  not  the  virtue  of  Charity greater,  and  more  excellent  than  Chastity?" To which Brother  Giles  answered:  "And  tell  me,  my Brother,  what  is  more  chaste  than  holy  Charity?  " Many a  time  did  Brother  Giles  sing  this  canticle: " O  Holy  Chastity,  how  good  thou  art!  Verily thou  art  precious,  and  such  and  so  great  is  thy fragrance,  that  he  who  has  not  tasted  thee  knows  not thy  worth.  Therefore  the  foolish  do  not  understand thy  value."

A Brother  asked  Brother  Giles  thus:  "  Father, tell  me,  I  pray  thee,  thou  who  dost  so  commend Chastity,  wherein  consists  Chastity?  "  To  whom Brother Giles  replied:  "  My  Brother,  I  tell  thee, that  rightly  is  Chastity  called  the  careful  custody and  continual  guard  of  all  the  senses,  corporal  and spiritual,  by  which  they  are  kept  pure  and  immaculate for  God  alone."

One cannot  enjoy  in  peace  and  tranquility  the great graces  which  he  receives  from  God;  for  many contradictions, many  disturbances  and  adversities,