of shameless
heart." Gregory: "It is not lawful to look after that which it is not
lawful to desire." David: "Turn away mine eyes that they may not see
vanity." Look also that thou hearest nothing that may stir thee to sin,
as unclean words, backbiting, false judgments, great oaths, controversy,
striving and other such vices. Also at thy meat, bear thyself orderly,
and hold thee in measure, and seek after no dainties, but be pleased
with common meats. Consider in speaking, to whom, what, when, how, of
whom, and where: and have thyself so orderly that thou beest not like
other worldly men, but fulfil the Apostle's words; "Be not conformed to
this world, because your conversation is in heaven."

Though our body be in this world as a clot of earth, it is needful that
our spirit which was bought with the dear-worthy blood of GOD Almighty
be with mind and will in heaven, not soil itself here with sin, as swine
do in a ditch. And whatsoever thou doest, and wheresoever thou comest,
do as the Apostle teaches: "Shew thyself to all men as an example of
good works," for through a good example GOD is worshipped and praised,
men are helped and taught and strengthened in their belief. Bear thee so
that men who dwell with you may say of you as was said of the Apostles
Paul and Barnabas, "The gods are made like men, and have come down to
us." _DEO gracias._

FOOTNOTES:

[5] Rolle's free rendering of the Latin is added here from the _Thornton
MS._ It does not occur in the Arundel MS.

[6] The MS. is defective.

[7] On the 18th leaf of the MS. containing _Our Daily Work_ begins
Richard Rolle's _Meditations on the Passion_. A rendering of this is
given in Fr. R. H. Benson's _A Book of the Love of JESUS_.

[8] A meat-time between sunrise and noon, or between noon and sunset.

On Grace.

On Grace.

Three degrees of grace there are. The first GOD gives to all creatures,
to uphold them with; and this is called GOD'S help freely given to all
creatures; and without this gift of grace, creatures cannot do, nor last
in their kind; for as water is made hot through fire and becomes cold
again if the fire be withdrawn, so, as S. Austin says, "All creatures
that are made of naught, so are they worth naught in a little time,
unless GOD upholds them with His grace." Therefore says the Apostle
"Through the grace of GOD, I am what I am." As if he said, "That I live,
that I feel, that I speak or hear or see, and all that I am: all