§16His meditationibus conroborandus est animus, fratres dilectissimi, eiusmodi exercitationibus contra omnia diaboli iacula firmandus.
By these meditations, most beloved brethren, the mind must be strengthened, and by such exercises must be established against all the darts of the devil.
sit in manibus diuina lectio, in sensibus dominica cogitatio, oratio iugis omnino non cesset, salutaris operatio perseueret.
Let the divine reading be in your hands, the thoughts of the Lord in your senses, let constant prayer not cease at all, let saving works persevere.
spiritalibus semper actibus occupemur, ut quotienscumque inimicus accesserit, quotiens adire temptauerit, et clausum aduersum se pectus inueniat et armatum.
Let us be always occupied in spiritual activities, so that whenever the enemy approaches, whenever he attempts to draw near, he may find the breast both closed and armed against him.
non enim christiani hominis corona una est quae tempore persecutionis accipitur.
For the Christian man has not only one crown which is received in the time of persecution.
habet et pax coronas suas, quibus de uaria et multiplici congressione uictores prostrato et subacto aduersario coronamur.
Peace also has its own crowns, with which we, as victors from various and manifold battles, are crowned, having prostrated and subdued the adversary.
libidinem subegisse continentiae palma est.
To have subdued lust is the palm of continence.
contra iram, contra iniuriam repugnasse corona patientiae est.
To have resisted anger and injury is the crown of patience.
de auaritia triumphus est pecuniam spernere.
To despise money is a triumph over avarice.
laus est fidei fiducia futurorum mundi aduersa tolerare.
To endure the adversities of the world through trust in future things is the praise of faith.
et qui superbus in prosperis non est gloriam de humilitate consequitur.
And he who is not proud in prosperity obtains glory from humility.
et qui ad pauperum fouendorum misericordiam pronus est retributionem thesauri caelestis adipiscitur.
And he who is inclined to the mercy of cherishing the poor obtains the reward of a heavenly treasure.
et qui zelare non nouit quique unanimis et mitis fratres suos diligit dilectionis et pacis praemio honoratur.
And he who knows not how to envy, and who, harmonious and gentle, loves his brethren, is honored with the reward of love and peace.
in hoc uirtutum stadio cotidie currimus, ad has iustitiae palmas et coronas sine intermissione temporis peruenimus.
In this arena of virtues we run daily, to these palms and crowns of justice we arrive without intermission of time.
§17Ad quas ut peruenire tu etiam possis qui fueras zelo et liuore possessus, omnem illam malitiam qua prius tenebaris abice, ad uiam uitae aeternae uestigiis salutaribus reformare.
That you also, who had been possessed by envy and jealousy, may be able to arrive at these, cast away all that malice with which you were previously held, and reform yourself with saving steps to the way of eternal life.
euelle de pectore tuo spinas et tribulos, ut te dominicum semen fertili fruge locupletet, ut diuina et spiritalis seges in copiam fecundae messis exuberet.
Pluck up thorns and thistles from your breast, so that the Lord's seed may enrich you with fertile fruit, and that the divine and spiritual harvest may overflow into an abundance of a fruitful crop.
uenena fellis euome, discordiarum uirus exclude, purgetur mens quam serpentinus liuor infecerat, amaritudo omnis quae intus insederat Christi dulcedine leniatur.
Spit out the poisons of gall, shut out the virus of discords, let the mind which serpentine envy had infected be cleansed, and let all the bitterness which had settled within be softened by the sweetness of Christ.
de sacramento crucis et cibum sumis et potum, lignum quod aput Merrham profecit in imagine ad saporis dulcedinem tibi in ueritate proficiat ad mulcendi pectoris lenitatem, nec ad medellam prosperandae ualitudinis laborabis.
From the sacrament of the cross you take both food and drink; let the wood which at Marah profited in figure for the sweetness of taste, profit you in truth for the gentleness of soothing the breast, nor will you labor for the cure of restoring your health.
unde uulneratus fueras inde curare.
From the very source where you had been wounded, be healed.
ama eos quos ante oderas, dilige illos quibus iniustis obtrectationibus inuidebas.
Love those whom you previously hated; cherish those whom you envied with unjust detractions.
bonos imitare, si sectari potes: si sectari non potes, conlaetare certe et gratulare melioribus.
Imitate the good, if you can follow them; if you cannot follow them, at least rejoice with and congratulate those who are better.
fac te illis adunata dilectione participem, fac te consortio caritatis et firaternitatis uinculo coheredem.
Make yourself a participant with them by united love; make yourself a co-heir by the fellowship of charity and the bond of brotherhood.
dimittentur tibi debita, quando ipse dimiseris: accipientur sacrificia tua, cum pacificus ad Deum ueneris. sensus adque actus tui diuinitus dirigentur, quando ea quae diuina et iusta sunt cogitaueris, sicut scriptum est: cor uiri cogitet iusta, ut a Deo dirigantur gressus eius.
Your debts will be forgiven you when you yourself forgive; your sacrifices will be accepted when you come to God as a peacemaker. Your senses and actions will be directed divinely when you think of those things which are divine and just, as it is written: Let the heart of a man think just things, so that his steps may be directed by God.
§18Habes autem multa quae cogites.
But you have many things to think of.
paradisum cogita, quo Cain non redit qui zelo fratrem peremit.
Think of paradise, where Cain does not return, who through envy slew his brother.
cogita caeleste regnum, ad quod non nisi concordes adque unanimes Dominus admittit.
Think of the heavenly kingdom, into which the Lord does not admit any but those who are harmonious and of one mind.
cogita quod filii Dei hi soli possint uocari qui sint pacifici, qui natiuitate et lege diuina ad similitudinem Dei patris et Christi respondeant adunati.
Think that those alone can be called the sons of God who are peacemakers, who, by divine birth and law, correspond in unity to the likeness of God the Father and of Christ.
cogita sub oculis nos Dei stare, spectante ac iudicante ipso conuersationis ac uitae nostrae curricula decurrere, peruenire nos tunc demum posse, ut eum uidere contingat, si ipsum nunc uidentem delectemus actibus nostris, si nos dignos gratiae eius et indulgentiae praebeamus, si placituri semper in regno in hoc mundo ante placeamus.
Think that we stand under the eyes of God, that while He Himself beholds and judges, we run the course of our conversation and life, and that we can only then at last arrive to happen to see Him, if we now please Him who sees us by our actions, if we show ourselves worthy of His grace and indulgence, if, being about to please Him always in His kingdom, we first please Him in this world.