67. To Lambert, Abbot of St Bertinus

Anselm, servant of the Church of Canterbury, to his dearest friend, to Lambert, reverend abbot of the monastery of St Bertinus, sends greeting and love, with prayers.

Since the Church of Rheims desires and demands your reverence (as you write me word) for the post of To Muriardachus, King of Ireland. 2 1 7 its archbishop, your prudence asks advice of my littleness as to what you should do in so important, burden some, and perilous an affair. In the first place, I pray God that He would allow nothing to be done with you but what He pleases and what is good for you. But since you ask my advice; so far as I can see, it appears to me best for you that your will, so far as in you lies, should give consent to, you should say, do, nothing which might conduce to this end, that you should be withdrawn by any means from the burden to which you are called. No necessity compels you, beyond obedience pure and simple. Now you need acknow ledge no obligation to obedience save to the lord abbot of Cluny, under whom you placed yourself. But what you say, that you would rather incur the sin of disobedience than undertake so burdensome a charge, so laborious a burden, is not my advice. For disobedience not followed by penitence is more dangerous than obedience which in the hope of God's mercy under takes even that which seems impossible. Because, the power and merit of obedience, when that alone urges one into danger, either defends one from sin, or if per chance one does err, it is but a slight error if ever attended by repentance. But not one of the good deeds of him who lives in a state of disobedience is done without a stain being left upon it.