true good, to fear God and do his will; for this I saw to be the
sum of all good. This also is called the beginning of wisdom,
and perfect wisdom. For life is without pain and reproach to
those that hold by her, and safe to those who lean upon her as
upon the Lord. So, when I had set my reason on the unerring way
of the commandments of the Lord, and had surely learned that
there is nothing froward or perverse therein, and that it is not
full of chasms and rocks, nor of thorns and thistles, but lieth
altogether smooth and even, rejoicing the eyes of the traveller
with the brightest sights, making beautiful his feet, and shoeing
them with `the preparation of the Gospel of peace,' that he may
walk safely and without delay, this way, then, I rightly chose
above all others, and began to rebuild my soul's habitation,
which had fallen into ruin and decay.

"In such wise was I devising mine estate, and establishing mine
unstable mind, when I heard the words of a wise teacher calling
loudly to me thus, `Come ye out,' said he, `all ye that will to
be saved. Be ye separate from the vanity of the world, for the
fashion thereof quickly passeth away, and behold it shall not be.
Come ye out, without turning back, not for nothing and without
reward, but winning supplies for travelling to life eternal, for
ye are like to journey a long road, needing much supplies from
hence, and ye shall arrive at the place eternal that hath two
regions, wherein are many mansions; one of which places God hath
prepared for them that love him and keep his commandments, full
of all manner of good things; and they that attain thereto shall
live for ever in incorruption, enjoying immortality without
death, where pain and sorrow and sighing are fled away. But the
other place is full of darkness and tribulation and pain,