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But those clothes, which he laid aside, are consigned to the care of
the steward and kept until by different sorts of temptations and trials
they can recognize the excellence of his progress and life and endurance.
And if they see that he can continue therein as time goes on, and remain in
that fervour with which he began, they give them away to the poor. But if
they find that he has been guilty of any fault of murmuring, or of even the
smallest piece of disobedience, then they strip off from him the dress of
the monastery in which he had been clad, and reclothe him in his old
garments which had been confiscated, and send him away. For it is not
right for him to go away with those which he had received, nor do they
allow any one to be any longer dressed in them if they have seen him once
grow cold in regard to the rule of their institution. Wherefore, also, the
opportunity of going out openly is not given to any one, unless he escapes
like a runaway slave by taking advantage of the thickest shades of night,
or is judged unworthy of this order and profession and lays aside the dress
of the monastery and is expelled with shame and disgrace before all the
brethren.
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