CHAPTER III.

_Of a good and peaceable man._

FIRST keep thyself in peace, and then mayst thou pacify others.

A peaceable man doth more good than a learned one.

A passionate man turneth good into evil, and easily believeth the worst.

A peaceable man turneth all things into good.

He that is in peace, is not suspicious of any:

But he that is discontented, is neither quiet himself, nor suffereth others to be quiet.

He often speaketh that which he ought not to speak, and omitteth that which he ought to do.

He considereth what others are bound to do; and neglects that which he is bound to do himself.

*First therefore have a careful zeal over thyself, and then shew thyself zealous for thy neighbour’s good.

2. Thou knowest well how to excuse thine own deeds, and thou wilt not receive the excuses of others.

It were more just to accuse thyself, and excuse thy brother.

If thou wilt be borne with, bear also with another.

Behold, how far thou art yet from true charity and humility, which knoweth not how to be angry with any, but one’s self. It is no great matter to live peaceable with the good and gentle; for every one willingly enjoyeth peace, and loveth those that are of his own mind:

But to be able to live peaceably with unquiet and perverse men, or with the disorderly, or such as cross us, is a great grace.

3. Some there are that keep themselves in peace, and are in peace also with others.

And there are some, that neither are in peace themselves, nor suffer others to be in peace; who are troublesome to others, but always more troublesome to themselves;

And others there are, that keep themselves in peace, and labour to bring others unto peace.

*Our whole peace in this life consisteth rather in humble _suffering_, than in not feeling _adversities_.

*He that knows best how to suffer, will best keep himself in peace. He is a conqueror of himself, a lord of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.