A rule of good life: written by the mellifluous doctor S. Bernard (monke and abbot of the holie order of S. Benet) especiallie for virgins, and other religious woemen; and may profitably be read likewise by all others, that aspire to Christian perfection. Faithfully translated into English by the R. Father Antonie Batt, monke of the holie order afore-said, of the Congregation of England

Of vvisdome or dis∣cretion. CHAPT. LVI.

MOst deare sister, listen to our Lord Iesus Christ, saying in the Gospel: Be ye wise as serpents, and simple as doues. (Mat. 10.) Salomon also saith: * The simplicitie of the iust shall direct them, and the supplanting of the per∣uerse shall wast them. (Prou. 11.•• * The strength of th•• simple the way of our Lord: and feare is to them that worke euill. (Prou. 10.) * The iustice of the simple shall direct his way: and the im∣pious shall fall in his impietie. Prou. 11.) * The innocent beleeueth euerie worde.

(Prou. 14.) * He that deceiueth the iust in a wicked way, shall fall into his destruction: and the simple shall possesse his goods. (Prou. 28.) * Men of blood hate the simple: but iust men seeke his soule. (Prou. 29.)

Holy rusticitie is onely profitable to it selfe, and asmuch as it doth edifie and doe good in the Church of Christ by the merit of life, so much it doth dis∣edifie and doe hurt, if it doth not resist those that gaine-say the truth. S. Hie∣rome likewise saith: In the seruants and handmaides of God attire of bodie is not to be expected, but simplicitie of mind. Let neither a simple man, nor a plaine honest man thinke, that sanctitie doth meerely consist in rusticitie of speech, but onely in a pure and simple conscience. Of two imperfections it is better to haue a holy rusticitie or rude∣nes, then a sinnefull eloquence. A sacred

rusticitie is more praise worthy, then verbal loquacitie.

Deare sister in Christ, if our intention be simple and sincere before God, our actions will not be sinfull nor obscure in his sight. They that know not how to be chast by iustice, cannot be innocent by simplicitie or plainnes. The Saincts and such as are elected, begin the way of righteousnes and simplicitie with feare, but end with charitie. For God is not onely a beholder of our wordes, but also of our heart, and loueth them that serue him in simplicitie of heart. Wherevpon the bridegroome speaketh in the Can∣ticles, saying: * My doue is one, my per∣fect one: shee is the onely to her mother, the elect to her that bare her. (Cant. 6.) Our mother is the regenerating grace of God, which chooseth one doue onely: because it onely collecteth those, that remaine in simplicitie, and are not diui∣ded

from vnitie. For many faithfull aslong as they attend to God, aslong as they cherish one an other through one desire of Christ, aslong as hauing one heart and one soule they cōioyne them∣selues in charitie, of many members they make one bodie, in which liuing all in simplicitie of vnitie, they remaine one doue onely.

Those things which men contemne and deride, are in great estimation be∣fore God. Let vs therefore venerable sister, desire almightie God to send downe the holy Ghost from heauen vnto vs; who may make vs to haue the simplicitie of the doue, and the wisdome of the serpent, that we may be simple in malice, and wise in good workes. For the serpent is a craftie creature, as we read of the Aspe in particular, who seing the inchanter comming, putteth one eare close to the ground, and with

his tayle stoppeth the other, to the end he may not heare the voyce of the in∣chanter. Where vpon the Prophet spea∣king of cruel men, and such as are wise in wickednes, vseth these wordes. * They haue furie according to the similitude of a serpent: as of the Aspe that is deafe, and stoppeth his eares: which will not heare the voyce of the inchanters and of the sorcerer inchan∣ting wisely. (Psal. 57.)

Do you therefore (most louing sister) imitate the serpent in this point; that is, shut your eares, that you heare not euill wordes. Honest virgin, beseech almigh∣tie God, that the oyle of a sinner may not fatte your head. (Psal. 140.) By the oyle of a sinner, I meane the praise of a flat∣terer. The serpent doth shut his eare, that he may not heare the inchanter: do you shut your eare in like manner, that you may not heare a slaunderer. The

Aspe is carefull and craftie, least he heare t••e charme or inchantement, and so die: be you likewise circumspect and carefull, least euill wordes enter in by your eares, and kill your soule.

Wherefore ô spouse of Christ, neither the wisdome of the serpent ought to be in you without the simplicitie of the doue, nor the simplicit e of the doue without the wisdome of the serpent: to the end that the craft and wisdome of the serpent may stirre vp the simplicitie of the doue, to beware of euill▪ and the simplicitie of the doue may temper the wisdome of the serpent, that it may doe ••hat which is good and laudable.

My most louing sister in Christ, the doue hath likewise seuen vertues in her, which you by the grace of the holy Ghost may ••aue in your se••fe. The doue ••ften sitteth vpon the riuers of waters, ••at seeing the hauke comming, shee

may diue into the water, and so escape his talents: in feeding shee selecteth the choisest graines of corne; s••ee of∣ten nowrisheth others young ones: shee striketh not with her bill: shee is void of gall: shee buildeth her nest in the holes of walls: and vseth groning in∣s••ed of other sweet songs. Desire God therefore honest Virgin, with all dili∣gence; t••at ••e will bestow vpon you these doue-like vertues: to wit, that you may sit vpon the riuers of the holy scriptures, and by their admonition and counsel, may escape the inuasion of the diuel. In the holy scriptu••es select the choisest sentences, by which you may be refresh••d and fed: Nourish o∣ther•• young ones, that is men first alie∣nated from God, and conuert them to God by your wordes and examples. Strike not with your bill: that is, doe your neighbour no wrong, neither

speake any thing amisse of him. Be void of gall: that is, be not angrie or spitefull. Build your nest in the holes of rocks or walls that is, put your cōfidēce in our Sauiours sufferings. Vse groning insteede of other sweet songs: that is, as wordly mē reioyce in worldly songs, so do you take delight in groning and spiritual sadnes.

Wherefore venerable sister, (as I told you before) it behoueth you both to vnderstand and to beware of the snares of your enemie with all diligence and care. You ought by integritie of life so to be simple and innocent, that you be therewithall like wise discreet and prudent. He that hauing simplici∣tie, doth not mingle wisdome with it, is (according to the saying of the Pro∣phet) * as a doue seduced, not hauing a heart. (Ose. 7.) He is therefore a doue, because simple and innocent: yet not

hauing a heart, because not wise and discreet. Againe I admonish you (most deare sister) that you prepare in your selfe a worthy habitation for Christ, that he comming with the Father and the holy Ghost, may vouchsafe to make to himselfe a māsion in you in the house of your breast. Amen.