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THIS carnal pride therefore, of which we spoke, when it has gained an
entrance into the heart of a monk, which is but lukewarm, and has made a
bad start in renouncing the world, does not suffer him to stoop from his
former state of worldly haughtiness to the true humility of Christ, but
first of all makes him disobedient and rough; then it does not let him be
gentle and kindly; nor allows him to be on a level with and like his
brethren: nor does it permit him to be stripped and deprived of his worldly
goods, as God and our Saviour commands: and, though renunciation of the
world is nothing but the mark of mortification and the cross, and cannot
begin or rise from any other foundations, but these; viz., that a man
should recognize that he is not merely spiritually dead to the deeds of
this world, but also should realize daily that he must die in the body--it
makes him on the contrary hope for a long life, and sets before him many
lengthy infirmities, and covers him with shame and confusion. If when
stripped of everything he has begun to be supported by the property of
others and not his own, it persuades him that it is much better for food
and clothing to be provided for him by his own rather than by another's
means according to that text (which, as was before said, those who are
rendered dense through such dulness and coldness of heart, cannot possibly
understand.) "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
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