Chapter

  1 Prol|      resolute mind only to serve God, he sought for some place,
  2 1   |          understand, how greatly God's grace did work with him
  3 1   |          wearied with labour for God's sake, than to be exalted
  4 1   |       and serve him. ~The man of God, Bennet, coming to this
  5 1   |       ringing thereof the man of God might know when he came
  6 1   |          At length when almighty God was determined to ease Romanus
  7 1   |      give light to the Church of God, our Lord vouchsafed to
  8 1   |         he sought for the man of God amongst the steep hills,
  9 1   |       and sitting down had given God thanks, and had much spiritual
 10 1   |      Easter." To whom the man of God answered, and said: "I know
 11 1   |          found so much favour at God's hands as this day to enjoy
 12 1   |    together of such provision as God's goodness hath sent us."
 13 1   |   acquainted with the servant of God, many of them were by his
 14 2   |        concupiscence the soul of God's servant, which did so
 15 2   |           suddenly assisted with God's grace, he came to himself;
 16 2   |   Wherefore necessary it is that God's elect servants, whiles
 17 3   |        thus overcome, the man of God, like unto a piece of ground
 18 3   |        which accident the man of God by and by perceived that
 19 3   |        thus unto them: "Almighty God have mercy upon you, and
 20 3   |    occasions be offered of doing God presently better service
 21 3   |      holy man. ~GREGORY: When as God's servant daily increased
 22 3   |          the service of almighty God, so that by Christ's assistance
 23 3   |          him, for the service of God. Then also Evitius delivered
 24 4   |        monks knelt down to serve God, his manner was to go forth,
 25 4   |        he was sent to the man of God, who did likewise very much
 26 4   |          more sent to the man of God, by the father of the Abbey
 27 4   |        us pray," quoth he, "unto God, that you also may behold
 28 4   |     another day, when the man of God had ended his devotions,
 29 5   |        THE PRAYERS OF THE MAN OF GOD. ~Amongst the monasteries
 30 5   |         came unto the servant of God, Bennet, giving him to understand,
 31 5   |         other places. The man of God, comforting them with sweet
 32 5   |        little hole, for almighty God is able to bring forth water
 33 6   |       was received by the man of God; whom on a day he commanded
 34 6   | forthwith went to the servant of God, giving him to understand
 35 7   |       shoot an arrow. The man of God, being in his cell, by and
 36 8   |          the servant of almighty God, as it were for an holy
 37 8   |         holy present. The man of God received it with great thanks,
 38 8   |     after his manner, the man of God threw him the loaf which
 39 8   |        was commanded. The man of God again and again bade him,
 40 8   |        allowance from the man of God. ~But the venerable father,
 41 8   |      place. ~And thus the man of God, upon humility, gave place
 42 8   |         malice; but yet almighty God of justice did severely
 43 8   |        men. ~GREGORY: The man of god, Bennet, had the spirit
 44 8   |       the spirit of the one true God, who, by the grace of our
 45 8   |      received," [John 1:16]. For God's holy servants might receive
 46 8   |         gentiles, worshipped the god Apollo. Round about it likewise
 47 8   |     wicked sacrifice. The man of God coming thither, beat in
 48 8   |           and because the man of God vouchsafed him not any answer,
 49 8   |     enemy against the servant of God are to be looked for, against
 50 9   |         they sent for the man of God, to help them with his prayers
 51 10  |        KITCHEN. ~Then the man of God thought good that they should
 52 10  |         a noise, that the man of God, hearing it, came to see
 53 11  |        was requisite, the man of God in the meantime was in his
 54 11  |    a-working: whereof the man of God, in all haste, gave them
 55 11  |          brought unto the man of God, he bad them to lay him
 56 12  |        miracles which the man of God did, he began also to be
 57 13  |        THE MONK, WHOM THE MAN OF GOD BLAMED FOR EATING IN HIS
 58 13  |         to desire the prayers of God's servant, as also to visit
 59 13  |            to whom he answered: "God forbid: for eat I will not
 60 14  |     would try whether the man of God were a prophet, as it was
 61 14  |       were himself to the man of God; and to give the better
 62 14  |       presence of the servant of God, they should be next about
 63 14  |         at which time the man of God sat a little way off, and
 64 14  |       understand what the man of God said, then, in the hearing
 65 15  |      person went unto the man of God; and seeing him sitting
 66 15  |       holy man to commend him to God in his prayers, he departed:
 67 15  |          to visit the servant of God, whom the holy man dearly
 68 15  |   inhabited." To whom the man of God answered: "Rome," quoth
 69 16  |       holy martyrs for help: but God's holy martyrs would not
 70 16  |      grace was in the servant of God, Bennet: wherefore at length
 71 16  |       for a time what the man of God had given him in commandment.
 72 16  |          the words of the man of God, as though forgotten through
 73 16  |       know the secret counsel of God: for he saw that this clergyman
 74 16  |          not know the secrets of God, who kept the commandments
 75 16  |         kept the commandments of God: when as the scripture saith: "
 76 16  |       the things which belong to God, no man knoweth, but the
 77 16  |       knoweth, but the spirit of God." And to show also that
 78 16  |         such things as belong to God, he addeth straight after: "
 79 16  |       but the spirit which is of God." And for this cause, again
 80 16  |          man, those things which God hath prepared for them that
 81 16  |          them that love him, but God hath revealed to us by his
 82 16  |           then, the mysteries of God were revealed to the same
 83 16  |         Apostle by the spirit of God, why did he then, entreating
 84 16  |          wisdom and knowledge of God: how incomprehensible be
 85 16  |       affirmeth the judgments of God to be incomprehensible;
 86 16  |          flesh, they be not with God: and so in that they be
 87 16  |          the secret judgments of God, and in that they be separated
 88 16  |      that they be separated from God, they know them not: for
 89 16  |        for those judgments which God doth conceal they know not,
 90 16  |   together: for the judgments of God are incomprehensible; and
 91 17  |        SEVENTEEN: HOW THE MAN OF GOD, BENNET, DID FORETELL THE
 92 17  |      make an end (for the man of God used not in his prayers
 93 17  |         the judgment of almighty God delivered to the gentiles,
 94 17  |         scarce could I obtain of God to have their lives spared,
 95 17  |    retain there, and so almighty God fulfilled what he promised
 96 18  |          monastery of the man of God, to carry him two wooden
 97 18  |         confounded by the man of God, went his way, and coming
 98 19  |         NINETEEN: HOW THE MAN OF GOD KNEW THAT ONE OF HIS MONKS
 99 19  |         to the Abbey, the man of God very sharply rebuked, saying: "
100 20  |         spake against the man of God, secretly in his own heart.
101 21  |          FOUND BEFORE THE MAN OF GOD'S CELL. ~At another time,
102 21  |        cell door, which almighty God sent them: but by whom,
103 21  |         the monks saw, they gave God thanks, and by this learned
104 21  |          whether this servant of God had always the spirit of
105 21  |         temple for the honour of God, the prophet Nathan gave
106 21  |        her soul is in grief, and God hath concealed it from me,
107 21  |         27] Which thing almighty God of great piety so disposeth:
108 21  |        may know what they are by God's grace: and at other times,
109 22  |         night before, the man of God in sleep appeared to the
110 22  |         they expected the man of God himself in person, according
111 23  |         complained to the man of God, and told him with what
112 23  |          what message the man of God sent them whiles they were
113 23  |          signified to the man of God, who straightways with his
114 23  |        the invisible judgment of God? ~GREGORY: Was he not yet,
115 23  |       judge of spiritual things, God, who for man's sake was
116 23  |      from whence the strength of God was weakened under itself. ~
117 24  |          they went to the man of God, fell down at his feet,
118 24  |       favour. To whom the man of God with his own hands delivered
119 25  |         fault of his, the man of God did daily rebuke him, and
120 26  |         his father to the man of God, he was by him quickly restored
121 27  |       way to acquaint the man of God with his necessity: whereupon
122 27  |          the servant of almighty God, gave him to understand,
123 27  |      shillings: which the man of God caused to be given to him
124 27  |          leprosy: but the man of God restored him to his former
125 28  |          in Campania, the man of God had given away all the wealth
126 28  |        oil shed. Then the man of God did command it to be taken
127 29  |        so soon as the servant of God, Bennet, beheld, forthwith
128 29  |      shown the power of almighty God, as before he told him when
129 30  |        tormented him. The man of God coming from his prayers,
130 30  |        be the devout servants of God, when necessity requireth,
131 30  |     power to be made the sons of God." [John 1:12] They, then,
132 30  |          by power be the sons of God, what marvel is it, if by
133 30  |          the faithful servant of God, Bennet, did, in which it
134 30  |          one by that power which God gave him, and obtained the
135 31  |         ONLY SIGHT OF THE MAN OF GOD, WAS LOOSED FORM HIS BANDS. ~
136 31  |        of Bennet, the servant of God: and this he did, to the
137 31  |         in keeping." ~The man of God, hearing such a noise, straightways
138 31  |          fellow, whom the man of God, not with hands, but only
139 31  |         more familiar sort serve God, do sometime, by certain
140 31  |         by prayer he obtained at God s hands. ~
141 32  |        the same time, the man of God was returning homeward from
142 32  |          me my son!" ~The man of God, amazed at these words,
143 32  |        to life." ~The servant of God, hearing him speak in that
144 32  |        Where is he, then?" quoth God's servant. ~He answered
145 32  |      which place when the man of God came with his monks, he
146 32  |       they please, and obtain at God's hands whatsoever they
147 33  |        is in greater favour with God than St. Paul was: who yet
148 33  |      brother. To whom the man of God went not far from the gate,
149 33  |      whole day in the praises of God and spiritual talk: and
150 33  |          her prayers to almighty God: and lifting her head from
151 33  |        down the rain. The man of God, seeing that he could not
152 33  |          of his sister, saying: "God forgive you, what have you
153 33  |        if you can now depart, in God's name return to your monastery,
154 33  |         by the power of almighty God, a woman's prayers had wrought.
155 33  |         the saying of St. John, "God is charity" [1 John 4:8]
156 34  |          Nunnery, and the man of God to his Abbey: who three
157 34  |          gave thanks to almighty God, and did impart the news
158 34  |         souls were always one in God whiles they lived, so their
159 35  |        come and visit the man of God: and the reason why he came
160 35  |   disciples did lie. ~The man of God, Bennet, being diligent
161 35  |          his prayers to almighty God. Standing there, all on
162 35  |         crying out of the man of God, went up in all haste, and
163 35  |      great a miracle, the man of God told him all in order what
164 35  |     instant, in which the man of God beheld him ascending up
165 35  |      soul is enlarged, and is in God so extended, that it is
166 35  |          rapt up in the light of God, it is inwardly in itself
167 35  |       not comprehend. The man of God, therefore, who saw the
168 35  |       things but in the light of God: what marvel, then, is it,
169 35  |         enlarged, which, rapt in God, might without difficulty
170 35  |          see that which is under God, and therefore in that light
171 36  |    ignorant, but that the man of God amongst so many miracles,
172 37  |     which the beloved servant of God, Bennet, is ascended up
173 38  |        he whose mind is fixed in God, hath so much the greater