144 ^J^ atttle jFlotoers of 



a life of a6lion and of contemplation, and 

 withal had fuch exceeding meeknefs, that 

 he held himfelf as the greateft of finners : 

 which meeknefs fan6lified and ftrengthened 

 him in grace, and made him grow continu- 

 ally in virtue and in the favor of God, and 

 never let him fall into any manner of fin." 

 Brother Maximus hearing fuch marvellous 

 things concerning meeknefs, and knowing 

 that it was a treafure of eternal life, began 

 to be fo inflamed with love and longing 

 for this virtue of meeknefs, that, raifing his 

 eyes with great fervor to Heaven, he made 

 a vow and moft certain promife never more 

 to be merry in this world until he ftiould 

 feel the faid virtue abiding perfe6lly within 

 him ; and from that time forth he would 

 pafs almofb the entire day fliut up within 

 his cell, mortifying himfelf with fafts, vig- 

 ils, prayers, and extreme lamentations and 

 tears before God, to the end that he might 

 wring from Him this virtue, wanting which 

 he held himfelf worthy of Hell, and with 

 which that friend of God, as he had heard, 

 was fo plentifully endowed. And Brother 

 Maximus, cherilhing thus this defire for 

 many days, it came to pafs that he one day 

 entered into a wood, and in the fervor of his 



fpirit 



