Be alone in a separate place near a chief city, if thy conscience is not prepared to be in common with the crowd.
Be always naked in imitation of Christ and the Evangelists.
Whatsoever little or much you possess of anything, whether clothing, or food, or drink, let it be at the command of the senior and at his disposal, for it is not befitting a religious to have any distinction of property with his own free brother.
Let a fast place, with one door, enclose you.
A few religious men to converse with you of God and his Testament; to visit you on days of solemnity; to strengthen you in the Testaments of God, and the narratives of the Scriptures.
A person too who would talk with you in idle words, or of the world; or who murmurs at what he cannot remedy or prevent, but who would distress you more should he be a tattler between friends and foes, you shal not admit him to you, but at once give him your benediction should he deserve it.
Let your servant be a discreet, religious, not tale-telling man, who is to attend continually on you, with moderate labour of course, but always ready.
Yield submission to every rule that is of devotion.
A mind prepared for red martyrdom [that is death for the faith].
A mind fortified and steadfast for white martyrdom. [that is ascetic practices] Forgiveness from the heart of every one.
Constant prayers for those who trouble you.
Fervour in singing the office for the dead, as if every faithful dead was a particular friend of yours.
Hymns for souls to be sung standing.
Let your vigils be constant from eve to eve, under the direction of another person.
Three labours in the day, viz., prayers, work, and reading.
The work to be divided into three parts, viz., your own work, and the work of your place, as regards its real wants; secondly, your share of the brethen’s [work]; lastly, to help the neighbours, viz., by instruction or writing, or sewing garments, or whatever labour they may be in want of, ut Dominus ait, “Non apparebis ante Me vacuus [as the Lord says, “You shall not appear before me empty.”].
Everything in its proper order; Nemo enim coronabitur nisi qui legitime certaverit. [For no one is crowned except he who has striven lawfully.]
Follow alms-giving before all things.
Take not of food till you art hungry.
Sleep not till you feel desire.
Speak not except on business.
Every increase which comes to you in lawful meals, or in wearing apparel, give it for pity to the brethren that want it, or to the poor in like manner.
The love of God with all your heart and all your strength;
The love of your neighbour as thyself
Abide in the Testament of God throughout all times.
Your measure of prayer shall be until your tears come;
Or your measure of work of labour till your tears come;
Or your measure of your work of labour, or of genuflexions, until your perspiration often comes, if your tears are not free.
