Chapter XCI. How he rebuked a brother that was sad and admonished him as to his behaviour

128. He once saw a companion of his wearing a sad and listless look, and said to him with no little displeasure: "It is not seemly for a servant of God to show himself sad and dull before men, though his demeanour should always be decorous. Examine thine offences in thy chamber and weep and groan before thy God there. When thou returnest to the brethren put gloom aside and be like the rest." And after a little he said: "They who are jealous of the salvation of men envy me sore and are always trying to trouble in my companions [the joy] that they cannot trouble in me". Now so much did he love a man full of spiritual joy that at a certain chapter he had these words written down for a general admonition: "Let the brethren beware of showing themselves outwardly sullen and gloomy hypocrites, but let them show themselves rejoicing in the Lord, merry, and joyful, and gracious, as is meet".