Chapter XVIII. Of his public profession of faith, and of his delivering… appear before the civil magistrates or the secular judge in Deventer save in the case of similar necessity, for thy friends deal well enough with all such matters before magistrates.
Never busy thyself with any controversies of men whatsoever (save as above) unless it be to compose them, and when this can be done in a short time and without brawling. Even when such composition ought to be made, if it can be done as well by another, do not intrude thyself; always consider this. Yet put not aside the making of peace when thou canst truly 61 make it, out of deference to thine own quietness.
(10) Whensoever any kinsman of thine is beaten, or slain, or evilly entreated, thou shalt never evilly entreat him that did the injury; nor ever give counsel against him to his hurt; nor ever close thy mouth against him, nor avoid him. Rather admonish him with words of comfort, or lead him back to peace. Also if his friends would take vengeance thou shalt dissuade them therefrom with words of peace, and from injury that they do it not.
Do thou forgive all men, and be an ensample in so doing, and so much the more as thou dost admonish others. I will never have part in the doings of my friends or kinsmen or betters, save only such as are acts of piety, tending to mercy and duty and justice, and also such as may not be done so well through another man. Yet would it be evil to turn aside, for the sake of preserving mine own quietness, from works of piety and justice which could not be done through another, and from my duty in serving my neighbour.
Of the study of Holy Books (11) I now return to consider the pursuit of knowledge. Let the root of thy study and the mirror of thy life be these: First, the Gospel of Christ, for therein is the Life of Christ.
(2) The lives and discourses of the Fathers. (3) The Epistles of Paul and the other Canonical Epistles, and the Acts of the Apostles. (4) Holy Books, as the meditations of Bernard and the Horologium of Anselm, Bernard on the Conscience, the Soliloquies of Augustine, and suchlike books. (5) The legends and devotions of the Saints, the Instructions of the Fathers 63 on Conduct, such as the Pastoral of Gregory, the blessed Augustine on Monastic work,
Gregory on Job, and so forth. (6) The Homilies of the Holy Fathers and of the Four Doctors upon the Gospels, the Interpretations of the Holy Fathers and Commentaries upon the Epistles of Paul, for these are included in the authorized readings of the Church. (7) The study of the Proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes and Ecclesiasticus, for these are included in the lectionaries and authorized readings of the Church. "I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also." (8) The study and interpretation of the Psalter, for this is included in the services of the Church of the Holy Fathers. "I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also." (9) The study of the Books of Moses; the historical books—Joshua, Judges and Kings; of the Prophets and the expositions of the Fathers upon the same.
(12) As to the manner of perusing the Decrees, so as to know what was determined of our forefathers and of the Church: one must not strive to master them, but only peruse