Chapter XI. The necessity for self-examination

Let me beg you, then, in this consideration of yourself to walk with caution. Let perfect equity be your companion, so that you may not allow yourself more than is due, nor deprive yourself of more than is right. Now you fall into the first of these errors not only by claiming goodness which you have not, but also by taking credit for goodness which you have. Carefully distinguish how far you are what you are through your^ own efforts, and how far through the gift of God, and let there be no deceit in your spirit. Deceit there will be unless you faithfully separate what belongs to yourself, and honestly surrender to God the things which are God's. I do not doubt that you are fully convinced that what is evil in you comes from yourself, your goodness from the Lord. Certainly while we consider what manner of man you are, we must also recall to memory the sort of man you were ; we must compare the end with the beginning. We must see whether you have advanced in virtue, in wisdom, in under standing, in sweetness of character, or whether, which God forbid ! you have fallen away. We must note whether you will not be innocent if you either punish him to whom, it may be, mercy should be shown, or spare him who ought to have been punished.