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Peace in Man
Goodness
and Peace in Man
FIRST
keep peace with yourself; then you will be able to bring peace to others. A
peaceful man does more good than a learned man. Whereas a passionate man turns
even good to evil and is quick to believe evil, the peaceful man, being good
himself, turns all things to good.
The
man who is at perfect ease is never suspicious, but the disturbed and
discontented spirit is upset by many a suspicion. He neither rests himself nor
permits others to do so. He often says what ought not to be said and leaves
undone what ought to be done. He is concerned with the duties of others but
neglects his own.
Direct
your zeal, therefore, first upon yourself; then you may with justice exercise it
upon those about you. You are well versed in colouring your own actions with
excuses which you will not accept from others, though it would be more just to
accuse yourself and excuse your brother. If you wish men to bear with you, you
must bear with them. Behold, how far you are from true charity and humility
which does not know how to be angry with anyone, or to be indignant save only
against self!
It
is no great thing to associate with the good and gentle, for such association is
naturally pleasing.
Everyone
enjoys a peaceful life and prefers persons of congenial habits. But to be able
to live at peace with harsh and perverse men, or with the undisciplined and
those who irritate us, is a great grace, a praiseworthy and manly thing.
Some
people live at peace with themselves and with their fellow men, but others are
never at peace with themselves nor do they bring it to anyone else. These latter
are a burden to everyone, but they are more of a burden to themselves. A few,
finally, live at peace with themselves and try to restore it to others.
Now,
all our peace in this miserable life is found in humbly enduring suffering
rather than in being free from it. He who knows best how to suffer will enjoy
the greater peace, because he is the conqueror of himself, the master of the
world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.
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