forward to that awful hour, and kept the contemplation of future
happiness and everlasting punishment immovable from their hearts,
and pained themselves to labour, that they might not lose eternal
glory. They became passionless as the Angels, and now they weave
the dance in their fellowship, whose lives also they imitated.
Blessed, yea, thrice blessed are they, because with sure
spiritual vision they discerned the vanity of this present world
and the uncertainty and inconstancy of mortal fortune, and cast
it aside, and laid up for themselves everlasting blessings, and
laid hold of that life which never faileth, nor is broken by
death.

"These then are the marvellous holy men whose examples we, that
are poor and vile, strive to imitate, but cannot attain to the
high level of the life of these heavenly citizens. Nevertheless,
so far as is possible for our weakness and feeble power, we take
the stamp of their lives, and wear their habit: even though we
fail to equal their works; for we are assured that this holy
profession is a means to perfection and an aid to the
incorruption given us by holy baptism. So, following the
teachings of these blessed Saints, we utterly renounce these
corruptible and perishable things of life, wherein may be found
nothing stable or constant, or that continueth in one stay; but
all things are vanity and vexation of spirit, and many are the
changes that they bring in a moment; for they are slighter than
dreams and a shadow, or the breeze that bloweth the air. Small
and short-lived is their charm, that is after all no charm, but
illusion and deception of the wickedness of the world; which
world we have been taught to love not at all, but rather to hate
with all our heart. Yea, and verily it is worthy of hatred and