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Excerpt from Three Months in an English Monastery: A Personal Narrative
Therefore,' saith he, there hath been institute-d in the Church of Christ two ways or manners of living. The one, raised above the ordinary state of nature and common ways of living, rejects wedlocks, possessions and worldly goods, and being wholly separate and removed from the ordinary conversation of common life, is appropriated and devoted solely to the worship and service of God, through an exceeding degree of heavenly love.
They who are of this order of people seem dead to the life of this world, and having their bodies only upon earth, are in their minds and contemplations dwelling in heaven, from whence, like so many heavenly inhabitants, they look down upon human life, making intercessions and oblations to Almighty God for the whole race of mankind; and this not with the blood of beasts, but with the highest exercises of true piety, with cleansed and purified hearts, and with a whole form of life strictly devoted to virtue. These are their sacrifices, which they, continually offering unto God, implore His mercy and favour for themselves and fellow creatures.
Christianity receives this as a perfect manner of life. The other is of lower form, and suiting itself more to the conditions of human nature, admits chaste wedlock, care of children and family, of trade and business, and goes through all the employments of life, under a sense of piety and fear of God.
Now all they who have chosen this manner of life have their set times for retirement and spiritual exercises, and particular days are set apart for their hearing and learning the Word of God; and this order of people are considered in the second state of piety.'
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