The divine life in three treatises

7. Pride will have great advantage in private, and Repentance great disadvantage, while our sins seem to be all dead, because there is not a temptation to draw them out, or an observer to reprove them. [Tam diu pations quisque sibi videtur & humilis, donec nullius hominum consortio commiscetur; ad naturam pristinam reversurus quum interpellaverit cujuslibet occasionis commotio, inquit Cassianus] Many a man seems to himself patient and humble, while he keeps out of company; who would return to his own nature if the commotion of any occasion did but provoke him.] It's hard to know what sin or grace is in us, if we have not such trials as are not to be found in Solitude.

7. Pride will have great advantage in private, and Repentance great disadvantage, while our sins seem to be all dead, because there is not a temptation to draw them out, or an observer to reprove them. [Tam diu pations quisque sibi videtur & humilis, donec nullius hominum consortio commiscetur; ad naturam pristinam reversurus quum interpellaverit cujuslibet occasionis commotio, inquit Cassianus] Many a man seems to himself patient and humble, while he keeps out of company; who would return to his own nature if the commotion of any occasion did but provoke him.] It's hard to know what sin or grace is in us, if we have not such tryals as are not to be found in Solitude.

8. Flying from the observation and judgement of others, is a kind of self-accusation; as if we confessed our selves so bad as that we cannot stand the trial of the Light. [Bona conscientia turbam advocate: Mala in solitudine anxia est & sollicita: si honesta sunt quae facis, omnes sciant: si turpia, quid refert neminem scire: cum tu scias! O te miserum si contemnis hunc testem: inquit Seneca.] That is [A good conscience will call in the crowd (or witnesses, not caring who seeth:) A bad conscience is anxious and solicitous even in solitude: If they be things honest which thou dost, let all men know: If they be dishonest, what good doth it thee that no man else knoweth it, when thou knowest it thy self! O miserable man if thou despise this witness! Something is suspected to be amiss with those that are always in their Chambers, and are never seen. Tell not men that you cannot bear the light: It is he that doth evil that hateth the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.