The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

Of profitable science and vnfruitfull, of preaching and the interpretation of those wordes of the scripture: Ego rogaui pro te Petre.

THE XXXVI. CHAPTER.

THe Venerable Br. Giles would sometimes say lett him who desireth to be learned humble well his head, lett him be exerci∣sed in good worckes, and lett him rent his body on the earth, & God will giue him knowledge. It is a soueraine wisdome to doe good worckes, carefully to obserue the cōmandementes and to consider the iudgements of God. He once sayd to a Religious that would goe to a lecture att a Colledge: Tell me wherfore would you goe to the lecture? Know that the most worthy science is to feare and loue God: these two vertues will suffice you, a man hath knowledge according to his good worckes and no more. Be not only carefull to profitt others, thou being obliged to be more carefull to benefitt thy selfe. We would of∣ten times know many thinges for others, and few for our selues. The word of God is not of him that heareth it, nor of him that vttereth it, but of him that putteth it in effect. Many not knowing how to swimne throw themselues into the water to helpe an other that they see in dan∣ger of drowning; but hauing aduentured too farre, they are drowned together: so that wheras there was but one in perill, two are lost by presumption: In purchasing aboue all thinges the saluation of thy owne soule as thou art obliged, thou shalt not omitt to assist others, but rather in doeing good worckes for thy selfe, thou shalt also profitt them that wish thee well. The Preacher of the word of God is a messager of his maiesty, to the end he be to the people a flaming light, a glittering glasse, a standerd-bearer of his warryers. Happy is he that condu∣cteth others by the assured way, that faileth not to walke the same way, and that inducing others to runne, standeth not still himsel∣fe: and so if he helpe to enrich others, he remayneth not poore. I suppose a good Preacher preacheth more for himselfe then for others, and it seemeth that he who endeauoureth to draw soules out of an euill course to setle them in a good, ought to feare that himselfe be not seduced from the same good way, and led to the way of the deuill.

A Religious demaunded of this holy Father, whither were better to preach well, or to doe well: he answeared, tell me who doth me∣ritt more, ha that goeth in pilgrimage to sainct Iames of Galicia, or he that sheweth him the way? I see many thinges that are not myne, I heare much that I vnderstand not, and I speake much that I

doe not performe; and it seemeth to me, that a man is not saued for seeing, speaking and hearing, but for well performing that which he knoweth to be the best. Wordes are farther distant from deedes, thē the earth is remote from heauen. If any one would permitt you to goe into his vineyeard there to gather grapes, would you content your sel∣fe with leaues? It is a thousand times more necessary for a man to gett instruction for himselfe, then for all the world. If you desire to know much, doe many good worckes, and humble your selfe withall possibi∣lity. A Preacher should not speake ouer-curiously, nor too grosly: but should vse only common and ordinary tearmes.

Then the holy Father smilingly proceeded: there is great diffe∣rence betweene the ewe that bleateth much, and her that bringeth many lambes: that is, it is not one thing to preach, and to putt in execution.

Br. Giles one day sayd to a Doctour, that seemed to glory much in his doctrine and preaching: if all the earth were in the possession of one man, and he should not labour it, what fruit would he reap therof? Rely not therfore so much one your learning, albeit all the knowledge of all the world were in your head, because not performing worckes necessary to your saluation, it would nothing auayle you.

This holy Father prayed a Religious that went to preach att Perusia, to take for the theme of his sermon these wordes: I kisse, I kisse, I speake much and performe litle. This is in his life a litle before.

This holy Father expounding these wordes of our Sauiour IESVS* 1.1 CHRIST, I haue prayed for thee Peter, I haue prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not: and thou once couuerted, confirme thy Brethren: he thus inter∣preted it: Almighty God, sayd he, would giue to vnderstand that a man should first labour for himselfe, and then for others▪ And albeit the con∣uersion of soules be very gratefull vnto God, yet it is vnderstood of tho∣se that can doe it without preiudice to the saluation of their owne sou∣les, seruing God, as S. Paul, whersoeuer they are. Therfore this holv Fa∣ther would often with great feruour of spiritt, say: Paris, Paris, thou doest ruinate the Order of S. Francis. Which this good Religious sayd, seeing the disquiett and trouble of spiritt of many learned Frere Minors, that put confidence in their sciences.

Br. Giles hearing a quaile and a doue to sing, sayd in feruour of spiritt; there is the way, there is the way, and not there: as if they sayd, lett vs endeauour to doe well in this life, and not expect the other: with reasō sister doue thou speakest this, so sweetly groning. But sinner wheron thinckest thou? why makest not thou they profitt of this aduertisment? Besides, it is to be vnderstood that Br. Giles speake this vpon the allu∣sion of the Italian•• and Spanish tongue, with the note of the doue and

the quaile, which is, quaqua, which cannot be applyed to the French tongue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luc. 22.