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Y son, stand steadily, and put thy trust in Me: for what are words, but words?

They fly through the air, but hurt not.

If thou be guilty, see that thou art willing to amend thyself; if conscience reproach thee not, suffer willingly for God's sake.

It is a small matter to suffer sometimes from words, if thou hast not the courage to endure hard stripes.

And why do such small matters go to thy heart, but because thou art yet carnal, and regardest men more than thou oughtest?

For it is because thou art afraid to be despised, that thou art not willing to be reproved for thy faults, but seekest the shelter of excuses.

2. But look better into thyself, and thou shalt acknowledge that the world is yet alive in thee, and a vain desire to please men.

For when thou shrinkest from abasement, and from reproving for thy faults, it is evident that thou art neither truly humble, nor truly dead to the world, nor the world crucified to thee.

But to My words give diligent ear, and thou shalt not regard ten thousand words spoken by men.

Behold, if all should be spoken against thee that