Page:Rules of Life, Johan Amos Comenius.djvu/9



Generous youth, now a beloved disciple, and afterwards to be an esteemed friend; you have requested that,—as you are now about to leave my society and discipline, and soon to be among strangers,—you may have from my hand some memorial of my affection.

Why should you seek such an evidence of my love? If you have engraven on your heart my often iterated admonitions and the favour of the Divine blessing invoked upon you,—to which the truth of God may add its seal, as you truly purpose to continue in the ways of God,—what need is there of a memorial on paper?

That I may not, however, fail you in anything, I present you with this tablet, as a future directory of your actions, until, by being still more confirmed in goodness, you need no such aid.

COMENIUS.

Written with a friendly hand and mind, on the 9th of June, 1645, being the day of your departure from me.