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Next, the rule is kept with such strict obedience that, without the
knowledge and permission of their superior, the juniors not only do not
dare to leave their cell but on their own authority do not venture to
satisfy their common and natural needs. And so they are quick to fulfil
without any discussion all those things that are ordered by him, as if they
were commanded by God from heaven; so that sometimes, when
impossibilities are commanded them, they undertake them with such faith and
devotion as to strive with all their powers and without the slightest
hesitation to fulfil them and carry them out; and out of reverence for
their senior they do not even consider whether a command is an
impossibility. But of their obedience I omit at present to speak more
particularly, for we propose to speak of it in the proper place a little
later on, with instances of it, if through your prayers the Lord carry us
safely through. We now proceed to the other regulations, passing over all
account of those which cannot be imposed on or kept in the monasteries in
this country, as we promised to do in our Preface; for instance, how they
never use woollen garments, but only cotton, and these not double, changes
of which each superior gives out to the ten monks under his care when he
sees that those which they are wearing are dirty.
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