Chapter XVIII. Of his public profession of faith, and of his delivering… be praised and glorified for them and in them; so that the knowledge of natural laws may be of profit and be offered as a sacrifice to God Most High by giving thank-offerings to Him like righteous Abel, and that like him we may draw holy thoughts therefrom to the honour of God. But in everything remember that all these things defile the mind and do not satisfy it; and through the grace of the Most High, thou shalt find, as I hope, that thou canst not stomach them.
(6) I resolve never to take a degree in medicine, because I do not purpose to get any gain or preferment by such a degree; and the same resolve doth hold for Civil and canon law; for the purpose of a degree is either gain or preferment, or vain glorification and worldly honour, which latter things if they lead not to the former, are simply useless, empty, and most foolish, being contrary to godliness and all freedom and purity. When a man doth crave for them he falleth into many evils, and they are worse than the motives of gain and preferment. I resolve not to study any art, nor to write any book, nor to undertake any journey nor any labour, nor to pursue any science, with the purpose of extending mine own fame and repute for knowledge, or of gaining honour, or the gratitude of any man or for the sake of leaving a memorial of myself behind me. For if I should do these things, or any act whatsoever with such motives and take my reward therein, I should not be rewarded of my Father Which is in Heaven. If I shall do any of these I will do it always for some good purpose, looking for a reward which is eternal: wherefore let the extending of my repute be in every way avoided. This desire for empty glory, for remembrance, and for fame is so admirably reproved, even by the Philosophers, that any man who is worthy of praise would 59 scarce harbour such a motive. But if praise should follow any deed done really for the sake of God (but the motive of which was unseen, though the deed itself was in the light), give then that praise and glory to the Most High.
(7) Likewise after the example of Bernard, utter no word by the which thou mayest seem to be very religious, or endowed with knowledge. Resolve to avoid and abhor all public disputations which are but wranglings for success in argument, or the appearance thereof
(such as the disputations of graduates in Theology and Arts at Paris), and take no part therein. These are unprofitable, always concerned with mere subtleties, and for the most part superstitious, sensual, devilish or earthly, so that the teaching thereof is often hurtful, ever unprofitable, and a useless waste of time;—meanwhile thou canst gain spiritual profit by prayer, or meditation, or the study of some holy book.
So also I will never argue with anyone in private unless it is certain and evident that some good end shall follow, or unless my fellow disputant doth desire to hear me, or is one with whom I can confer without wrangling, and temperately which conditions are to be observed except when malice doth demand severity for some eventual good: but even so I will never act without due deliberation. It is evident that to attain a good end, everything