from death. He lay
asleep, and an adder came toward him: but this fly Saura flew before,
and lighted on his forehead, and pricked him a little, and therewith he
wakened; also the adder came; but this Virgil, in his waking, felt his
forehead smart, and smote himself on the face; and so he slew the fly,
and so repaid him for his service, who saved his life. Therefore do thou
not ruin GOD'S grace when it comes to thee, to warn thee of harm and
stir thee to good. Glad ought man to be of GOD'S grace, when GOD sends
it to him, and to take care full warily of so rich a gift: for grace is
earnest-money of that lasting joy which is to come, as the Apostle says:
"the grace of GOD is eternal life"; that is, "GOD'S grace is like a help
and way to everlasting life." Therefore, He sets grace before us as the
way that leads to everlasting joy: and also a pledge, if we keep it
well, to make in us certainty of endless joy; as the Apostle says, "Who
gave us His Spirit as a pledge in our bodies," that is "GOD has given us
the Holy Ghost as pledge of endless joy." Hold we then this heavenly
pledge; and enjoy we it well in work; for it is well for us in this
life, if GOD'S grace lead us; and when grace leaves us, we fail of that
welfare. Therefore, through help of grace let us destroy in ourselves
everything that is against grace, be it less or more, that our reason
says is against GOD'S will, that is, all that is sin, or may stir to
sin: and let us have repentance in our heart, shrift in mouth, and
withstanding, with will never to turn again.

An Epistle on Charity.

On Charity.

_By what tokens thou shalt know if thou lovest thine enemy:
and what example thou shalt take from Christ to love him_.

And if thou beest not stirred against the person by anger or fell
outward cheer, and have no privy hate in thine heart for to despise him,
or judge him, or for to set him at naught: and the more shame and
villany he does to thee in word or in deed, the more pity and compassion
thou hast of him as thou wouldest have of a man who was out of his mind,
and thou thinkest thou canst not find in thine heart to hate him, for
love is so good in itself, but prayest for him, and helpest him, and
desirest his amending, not only with thy mouth as hypocrites do, but
with thy affection of love in thine heart, then hast thou perfect
charity to thy fellow-Christian. This charity had S. Stephen, perfectly,
when he prayed for them who st