CHAP. III.
Of a good and peaceable man.
BE first of all at peace with thy selfe, then maist thou be better able to pacifie others, a peaceable man doth more good then he that is learned.
2 A passionate man turneth good
The imitation of Christ divided into four books / written in Latin by Thomas à Kempis ; and the translations of it corrected & amended by W.P.
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- The imitation of Christ divided into four books / written in Latin by Thomas à Kempis ; and the translations of it corrected & amended by W.P.
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- Oxford :: Printed by Leonard Lichfield ... for Edw. Forrest,
- 1639.
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- Meditations.
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"The imitation of Christ divided into four books / written in Latin by Thomas à Kempis ; and the translations of it corrected & amended by W.P." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A13699.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 4, 2024.
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Page 92
into evill, and easily beleeveth the worst. A good quiet man turneth all things into good, he that is peaceable is not suspicious of any.
3 He that is discontent and trou∣bled, is tossed up and down with many suspitions, he is neither quiet himselfe nor suffereth others to be quiet.
4 He speaketh that oftentimes which he ought not to speake, and o∣mitteth that which were more expedi∣ent for him to doe.
5 He considereth what others are bound to doe, and neglecteth that which he is bound to himselfe.
6 First therefore have a zealous care over thy selfe, and then thou maist justly shew thy selfe zealous of thy neighbours good.
7 Thou knowest well how to ex∣cuse and colour over thine own deeds, and yet thou wilt not admit of other mens excuses.
8 It were more equall and meet thou shouldst accuse thy selfe, and ex∣cuse thy brother, if thou wilt be borne withall, bear thou with another.
9 Behold how farre off thou are yet from true charity and humility,
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which knoweth not how to be angry or displeased with any, but with him that hath it.
10 It is no great matter to con∣verse with the good and those of a gen∣tle disposition, for that is naturally pleasing unto all, and every one is wil∣ling to be at peace, and love those that are of his humour.
11 But to be at quiet with the stubborn and perverse, with the disor∣derly and such as crosse us, is a great grace, a very commendable and manly fact.
12 There be who are at peace with themselves and with others also, and there be who can be quiet neither with themselves nor with others; they are troublesome to others, but to them∣selves most of all.
13 And others there are who keep themselves in peace and labour to bring others into peace.
14 Our greatest peace, in this mi∣serable life consisteth rather in hum∣ble enduring, then in not feeling adver∣sities.
15 He shall injoy the greatest peace that can tell how to be most patient;
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such a man is a conquerer of himselfe, a Lord of the world, a friend of Christs, and an heire of heaven.