instruments of good works

from the rule of st. benedict

love the lord god with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole strength
love your neighbor as yourself
do not murder
do not commit adultery
do not steal
do not covet
do not bear false witness
honor all people
do not do to another what you would not have done to yourself
deny oneself in order to follow christ
chastise the body
do not become attached to pleasures
love fasting
relieve the poor
clothe the naked
visit the sick
bury the dead
be a help in times of trouble
console the sorrowing
be a stranger to the world's ways
prefer nothing more than the love of christ
do not give way to anger
do not nurse a grudge
do not entertain deceit in your heart
do not give a false peace
do not forsake charity
do not swear, for fear of perjuring yourself
utter only truth from heart and mouth
do not return evil for evil
do no wrong to anyone, and bear patiently wrongs done to yourself
love your enemies
do not curse those who curse you, but rather bless them
bear persecution for justice's sake
be not proud
be not addicted to wine
be not a great eater
be not drowsy
be not lazy
be not a grumbler
be not a detractor
put your hope in god
attribute to god, and not to self, whatever good you see in yourself
recognize always that evil is your own doing, and to impute it to yourself
fear the day of judgment
be in dread of hell
desire eternal life with all the passion of the spirit
keep death daily before your eyes
keep constant guard over the actions of your life
know for certain that god sees you everywhere
when wrongful thoughts come into your heart, dash them against christ immediately
disclose wrongful thoughts to your spiritual mentor
guard your tongue against evil and depraved speech
do not love much talking
speak no useless words or words that move to laughter
do not love much or boisterous laughter
listen willingly to holy reading
devote yourself frequently to prayer
daily in your prayers, with tears and sighs, confess your past sins to god, and amend them for the future
fulfill not the desires of the flesh; hate your own will
obey in all things the commands of those whom god has placed in authority over you even though they (which god forbid) should act otherwise, mindful of the lord's precept, "do what they say, but not what they do"
do not wish to be called holy before one is holy; but first to be holy, that you may be truly so called
fulfill god's commandments daily in your deeds
love chastity
hate no one
be not jealous, nor harbor envy
do not love quarreling
shun arrogance
respect your seniors
love your juniors
pray for your enemies in the love of christ
make peace with your adversary before the sun sets
never despair of god's mercy

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