Chapter XVIII. Of his public profession of faith, and of his delivering… some most urgent cause compel. During and after manual work one should by no means drink anything unless the body is cool: this is healthy for body and soul. Let nothing lead thee to drink between times, or so as to break a fast: it is good to bind thy feet in the fetters of wisdom. Set a time wherein to read what thou dost write in this book for it doth order thy life. It doth seem to me that the fathers in the desert offered short and frequent prayers, so that the heart might be raised continually to the Lord, and might not be set on worldly affairs, but be abstracted therefrom, and thus should one do.
(18) I do purpose in the Name of the Lord always to fast upon the fourth day of the week unless infirmity, or reasonable cause hinder me. Yet this I ordain not as an unalterable 70 rule, but as somewhat whereat to strive; and so also on the Sabbath, and on the sixth day—for upon the fourth Judas betrayed the Lord, and on the sixth was He crucified. He who fasteth not on these days doth needlessly betray Him and taketh part with His murderers. I am the more bound to observe these days in that by the apportionment of God it is my lot to be a Clerk, moreover by such fast my health is preserved and I do feel that thereby my soul is better with her God. But even if such abstinence should seem to hurt the body in some small measure, think not of that, for thou hast always been in better health when thou didst fast.
Ever pay some tribute to thy God, and thou wilt ever remember Him the better.
(19) Avoid haste, eagerness, and gluttony in eating, for such greed proceedeth from inordinate love of its object. A greedy mouth and lust for meat have an intermixture of sin.
Gregory in his Exposition of Job saith: "This doth stir up loquacity, leadeth to excess, doth heat the mind and turn it from the path just as drunkenness or too much talk do kindle it and lead it into snares."
This doth also cut off and shut out all thought of God.
It is better to do one action well with great deliberation, than through lack thereof to be thrown out of one's course. Also, as concerneth bodily health, in proportion as food is taken well and with deliberation, so much the more readily and wholesomely is it digested.
The same habit of deliberation should prevail in writing and speaking and in action also, because it is impossible to seek therein the Glory of God, if a man so impetuously rush into a matter that his whole strength is occupied in it. Learn then to be slow and restrained in 71 action.
Do not do any good thing in such a way as to run into disobedience. In matters of temporal wealth, repayments, and expenditure upon books, regard thyself as a steward, and look to it that thou be found faithful. Therefore be frugal in supplying to thyself food and raiment, that thou mayest the better supply the needy, and worthier men than thou, and mayest promote the salvation of souls. Never give aught that is of any worth to one that is not needy, for thou wilt find very many that are in want, and if thou dost give to them that have abundance, thou art not a faithful steward, nor prudent to thine own salvation. In thy giving take no thought of carnal things. I will not receive temporal gifts from any man so