Chapter XIV. Of the abundant fruit which he bore in the conversion of m… abundance the oil of mercy which he had received from God. But he put on bowels of mercy chiefly toward indigent clerks, lone widows, and virgins who preserved their chastity, and upon these he expended the anxious care of a father; also he studied to minister to the necessities of them that lacked both by his own efforts and through others, giving them whatsoever help and consolation he could.
(3) With reason, too, is he compared to a lofty cedar that groweth upward, because by his contempt of all earthly things and his contemplation of the Eternal, he grew toward
Heaven: and knowing his own frailty, he rooted his heart in the depths of humility, and in proportion as his roots became finer and more deeply planted, so did he spread the more widely above. Although he was endowed with so much knowledge, and was in so great reputation with the famous doctors of his time, he nevertheless despised every pinnacle of worldly honour, and kept himself simple in bearing, so that anyone who did not know him would scarcely have given heed to, or saluted him.
Well, too, is the Master likened to a flourishing palm tree, for with the leaves of this were victors and fighters of old wont to be crowned; and, like them, Gerard strove against and overcame his enemies, that is, men guilty of heresies, simony, usury, self-seeking, lust, and the other various monsters of wickedness, enduring many labours and using the writings of the Scriptures as the weapons wherewith he was armed. Therefore was he worthy to be crowned with the palm of everlasting bliss, and to be commended of faithful people with due reverence and praise. Behold him! an Israelite indeed, a most devoted preacher and 42 champion of sound doctrine: one who so loved God as not to neglect his neighbour: who so lifted his mind to the things of Heaven as not to be backward in ministering to the necessities of others, who moreover busied himself in looking not to his own salvation only but to the weal of many, and in leading them with him to the more perfect life.
(4) He was of a cheerful countenance, and in speech kindly; calm in mind and humble in clothing; in food abstinent, in counsel wise, in judgement discreet. Towards evil he was stern, toward virtue zealous. Fleeing from idleness he ever exercised himself with something profitable to edification: he loved simplicity and followed lowliness, thinking upon heavenly things. He was apt to understand hidden matters, and was never too much occupied for reading and prayer. Having God ever before his eyes he jealously guarded the rights of the Church. He set a good example to men of the world, seeking no temporal advantage from his preaching, thinking only of the profit of souls, and preaching the Gospel without price and without money from the Church. Thus though his life was not long, nor crowned with age, yet in his short season he brought forth abundant fruit by his preaching, and left behind him in divers places most devout disciples and brothers whom he had first faithfully built up and set on fire by the grace of that new light wherewith he himself was filled.