the vine, that he may gather the fruits of it, in season. And many, because of the great labor and toil, leave off by degrees, and repent of the work they have begun: but if they would persevere until the vintage, they would forget all pains, and be comforted and filled with gladness, securely enjoying the fruits of their labor.
" And so shall a man also, that is strong in temptations, obtain much consolation; ' according to our tribulations,' says St. Paul, ' shall be the recompense,' and the crown of eternal life that shall be given to us. But not only shall the reward in heaven be given to them who withstand temptations, but even in this life also, as the Psalmist says: ' Lord, according to the multitude of my temptations, and of my sorrows, thy consolations have delighted my soul:' therefore the greater the temptation and the combat, the more glorious shall be the crown."
Another Brother asked counsel of Brother Giles on account of his temptations, saying: " O Father, I am attacked by two most violent temptations: one is this: that as soon as I do anything good, immediately I am tempted to vainglory; and the other, that when I do an evil, I fall into such rashness and bitterness that I almost despair."
To which Brother Giles replied: " My Brother, well dost thou do and wisely to grieve for thy sins, but I counsel thee to grieve discreetly and in measure, and ever to remember that the mercy of God is greater than thy sins. But if the infinite mercy of God receives to repentance the man who is a great sinner, and who sins wilfully, thinkest thou that this God will abandon the good sinner who sins not wilfully, seeing him contrite and penitent? Also, I counsel thee never to leave off doing good for the fear of vainglory; for if a man who was about to sow his com should say: ' I will not sow, for if I do, perchance the birds will come and devour it,' and so saying should leave his field unsown, of a surety he should gather in no harvest that year.
" But if he sow his seed, though the birds should come and eat a part of it, yet the greater part shall remain to the laborer; so it is with a man who is attacked by vainglory, and who will not do good works for the fear of vainglory; but if he continually strive against it, I say to thee, that he shall not lose the merit of the good he has done, for having been tempted."
A Brother once said to Brother Giles: " Father, it is said that St. Bernard once said the seven penitential psalms with such tranquillity of mind and devotion, that he had not a single distraction, or a thought of aught else besides each sentence of the psalms." To which Brother Giles replied: " My Brother, I esteem it a much greater thing if a knight, being assailed by his enemies, should defend himself so bravely that he should not suffer one of them to enter in, than if he were to be left in peace, and without any trouble."
On Holy Penance.
Much should a man continually afflict and macerate his body, and willingly suffer every injury, tribulation, anguish, sorrow, shame, painfulness, insult, adversity and persecution, for the 3ove of our. good Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, who has given us the example in Himself; inasmuch as, from the beginning in His glorious Nativity, to the end in His most holy Passion, He ever suffered anguish, tribulation, sorrow, pain, contumely, and persecution, solely for our salvation. And, therefore, if we should attain to the state of grace, before all things it is necessary that we should, so far as in us lies, follow in the footsteps of our good Master, Jesus Christ.
A secular once asked Brother Giles: " Father, in what way can we men of the world attain to the state of grace?" To whom Brother Giles replied: " My Brother, a man should first of all mourn for his sins with great contrition of heart; and then he should confess himself sincerely to the priest, with bitterness and sorrow of heart, without concealing or excusing aught; and having done so, he should perfectly fulfill the penance imposed upon him by his confession; and after this he should keep guard against every vice, and every sin, and every occasion of sin; and moreover he should excite himself to good works of virtue towards God and his neighbor; and thus doing, a man shall attain to the state of grace and virtue.
" Blessed is the man who shall have continual sorrow for sins, continually weeping both by day
