6. To Hugo

Brother Anslem, for Hugo his master honoured for holiness, and brother loved for his charity, wishes that he may pass this life prosperously in holiness, and the next in happiness for eternity.

I am answering the letter of your blessedness briefly, because I have just now little opportunities of dictating much. If you are really unable to hold your office amicably with him with whom you have to do, it is better for both, that you humbly asking, and he grant ing, leave, you should be relieved from the anxiety of that charge, than that both disagreeing under that burden, should irritate each other. But if he should refuse to grant you leave, it were better for you to bear the burden even uselessly in obedience than to reject it impatiently in disobedience. And if you have found that by your advice he is not improved but irritated, it were even better "keeping silence even from good words," that "so far as in you lies," according to the Apostle, "you should live peaceably with all men," than that by saying good words to no purpose you should give occasion to the ill-disposed. For since the head ship of the charge was committed not to you but to him, it will not be required of you if, your advice being neglected, by the shepherd's fault the flock is not well governed. Nor is it advisable, so long as he does not compel you to turn from good to evil, for you to venture (unless he allowed it) to evade that subjection and life of perseverance which you once freely promised, by changing your abode; that is if you find yourself enabled by any plan or means at all to live aright under him. For if his rule, though in some ways an impediment to your progress, doth yet not obstruct the way of salvation, it is in the hidden judgment of God sufficient that, judging yourself unworthy of greater favour, you should live humbly without sin under fewer blessings rather than strive after greater by mortal sin. For no one ought willingly to sacrifice his life unless it happen that he cannot otherwise escape a worse death. The Almighty God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, "Wonderful, Counsellor," and Angel of great counsel, so teach you to do His will, that He may give you to see His glory, holy master and brother beloved.