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JOSEPH: For this reason we said that the full and perfect grace of
friendship can only last among those who are perfect and of equal goodness,
whose likemindedness and common purpose allows them either never, or at any
rate hardly ever, to disagree, or to differ in those matters which concern
their progress in the spiritual life. But if they begin to get hot with
eager disputes, it is clear that they have never been at one in accordance
with the rule which we gave above. But because no one can start from
perfection except one who has begun from the very foundation, and your
inquiring is not with regard to its greatness, but as to how you can attain
to it, I think it well to explain to you, in a few words, the rule for it
and the sort of path along which your steps should be directed, that you
may be able more easily to secure the blessing of patience and peace.
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