CHAPTER X.
Of the Admonition and Correction of the Brethren,
Let the Brothers who are the Ministers and Servants of the other Brethren visit and admonish them, and humbly and charitably correct them, not commanding them anything contrary to the good of their soul or our Form of life. But let the Brothers who are subject remember that for the love of God they have renounced their own will. Therefore I strictly command them to obey their Ministers in all things which they have promised the Lord to observe, and which are not against their own soul and the Rule. And in whatever place those Brothers may be, who know and acknowledge that they cannot observe the Rule spiritually, they may and ought to have recourse to their Ministers. Let the Ministers, indeed, receive them kindly and charitably, and show themselves so familiar with them, that they may speak and act with them as masters with their servants ; for so it ought to be, the Ministers ought to be the servants of all the Brethren. I exhort and admonish my Brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they carefully avoid all pride, vainglory, envy, avarice, care and solicitude for the things of the world, detraction and murmuring. Let those who cannot read not seek to learn, but let them consider that they should above all things desire to have the spirit of the Lord, and its holy operation to pray to Him always with a pure heart, to have humility and patience in persecutions and infirmities, and to love those who ill-treat, reprove, and contradict them, for Our Lord says : ‘Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute and calumniate you. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice’sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. He who perseveres to the end, the same shall be saved.’