4. Thanks be unto thee, from whom all things proceed, whensoever it is well with me. But I am in thy sight mere vanity and nothing, a man weak, and never continuing in one stay. Whereof then can I glory? or for what do I desire to be respected? is it for that I am nothing? yet this is most vain. Mere empty glory is in truth an evil pest, a very great vanity; because it draweth a man from true glory, and robbeth him of heavenly grace. For whilst he pleaseth himself, he displeaseth thee; whilst he gapeth after the praise of men, he is deprived of true virtues. 5. But the true glory and holy exultation is for a man to glory in thee, and not in himself; to rejoice in thy name, not in his own strength, and not to delight in any creature but for thy sake. Praised be thy Name, not mine; magnified be thy work, not mine. Let thy holy Name be blessed, but to me let no part of men's praises be given. Thou art my glory, thou art the joy of my heart. In thee will I glory and rejoice all the day, but as for myself, I will not glory, but in my infirmities. 6. Let the Jews seek honor one of another, I will seek that which cometh from God alone. For all human glory, all temporal honor, all worldly height, compared to thy eternal glory, is vanity and folly. O my God, my Truth, and my Mercy, O Blessed Trinity, to thee alone be praise, honor, power, and glory forever and ever. OF THE CONTEMPT OF ALL TEMPORAL HONOR. My son, trouble not thyself, if thou see others honored and advanced, whilst thou art contemned and debased. Lift up thy heart into heaven to me, and the contempt of men on earth shall not grieve thee. Lord, we are blind, and are quickly misled by vanity. If I look rightly into myself, I cannot say that any creature hath ever done me wrong; and therefore I cannot justly complain before thee. 2. But because I have often and grievously sinned against thee, all creatures do justly take arms against me. Unto me, therefore, shame and contempt is justly due, but unto thee praise, honor, and glory. And unless I prepare myself with cheerful willingness to be despised and forsaken of all creatures, and to be esteemed altogether nothing, I cannot obtain inward peace and stability, nor be spiritually enlightened, nor be fully united unto thee. THAT OUR PEACE IS NOT TO BE SET ON MEN. My son, if thou rest thy peace on any because of the opinion which thou hast of him, or because of thine intimate acquaintance with him, thou shalt ever be inconstant and inthralled. But if thou have recourse unto the ever-living and abiding Truth, the departure or death of a friend shall not grieve thee. Thy regard for thy friend ought to be grounded in me; and for my sake is he to be beloved, whosoever he be that thou thinkest well of, and who is very dear unto thee in this life. Without me friendship hath no strength, and no continuance; neither is that love true and pure, which is not knit by me. Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections towards thy friends, that (as much as appertaineth unto thee) thou shouldst be willing to be without all human friendship. Man approacheth so much the nearer unto God, the farther he departeth from all earthly comfort. And the lower he descendeth in himself, and the meaner he becometh in his own sight, the higher he ascendeth towards God. But he that attributeth any good unto himself, hindereth the entry of God's grace; for the grace of the Holy Spirit ever seeketh an humble heart. If thou knewest perfectly to annihilate thyself, and to empty thyself of all created love, then should I be constrained to flow into thee with great abundance of grace. When thou hast regard unto creatures, the sight of the Creator is withdrawn from thee. Learn in all things to overcome thyself, for the love of thy Creator, and then shalt thou be able to attain to divine knowledge. How small soever anything be, if it be inordinately loved and regarded, it keepeth thee back from the highest good, and defileth the soul. AGAINST VAIN AND SECULAR KNOWLEDGE. My son, let not the sayings of men move thee, however fair and ingenious they may be. "For the kingdom of God consisteth not in word, but in power." Observe well my words, for they inflame the heart, and enlighten the mind; they cause compunction, and carry with them many a consolation. Never read the word of God in order to appear more learned or more wise. Be studious for the mortification of thy sins; for this will profit thee more than the knowledge of many difficult questions. 2. When thou shalt have read and known many things, thou oughtest ever to return to the one beginning and principle. I am He that teacheth man knowledge; and I give unto little children a clearer understanding than can be taught by man. He therefore, to whom I speak, shall quickly be wise, and shall profit much in the Spirit. Woe be to them that inquire many curious things of men, and little care about the way of serving me! The time will come, when the Master of masters shall appear, Christ the Lord of angels, to hear the lessons of all, that is, to examine the consciences of every one. And then will he search Jerusalem with candles; and the hidden things of darkness shall be laid open, and the arguings of men's tongues shall be silent. 3. I am he who in one instant do raise up the humble mind, so that a man shall understand more reasonings of eternal truth, than if he had studied ten years in the schools. I teach without noise of words, without confusion of opinions, without the desire of honor, without bandying of arguments. I am he who instructeth men to despise earthly things, to loathe things present, to seek things heavenly, to relish things eternal, to flee honors, to endure offenses, to place all hope in me, out of me to desire nothing, and above all things ardently to love me. 4. A certain one by loving me entirely, became instructed in divine things, and was wont to speak that which was admirable. He profiteth more by forsaking all things, than by studying subtleties. But to some men I speak common things, to others things uncommon; to some I appear sweetly by signs and figures, but to some I reveal mysteries with much light. The voice of books is indeed one, but it instructs not all alike; for I am the teacher of the truth within, I am the searcher of the heart, the discerner of the thoughts, the mover of actions, distributing to every man as I judge meet. OF NOT ATTRACTING TO OURSELVES OUTWARD THINGS. My son, in many things it is thy duty to be ignorant, and to esteem thyself as dead upon earth, and as one to whom the whole world is crucified. Thou must also pass by many things with a deaf ear, and rather think of those which belong unto thy peace. It is more useful to turn away one's eyes from unpleasing things, and to leave every one to his own opinion, than to be a slave to contentious discourses. If all stand well betwixt thee and God, and if thou hast his judgment in thy mind, thou shalt the more easily endure to be overcome. 2. O Lord, to what a pass are we come! Behold, we bewail a temporal loss: for a pitiful gain we toil and run; and the spiritual losses of our soul are forgotten, and hardly at last return to the memory. That which little or nothing profiteth we heed; and that which is especially necessary, we slightly pass over; because the whole man doth slide off into outward things; and unless he speedily repent, he settleth down in them, and that willingly. ON THE JOYS OF HEAVEN. (From "The Voice of Christian Life in Song: or, Hymns and Hymn-Writers of Many Lands and Ages.") HIGH the angel choirs are raising Heart and voice in harmony; The Creator King still praising, Whom in beauty there they see. Sweetest strains, from soft hearts stealing; Radiant wings and white stoles gleaming, Up the steps of glory streaming; Where the heavenly bells are ringing, Holy, holy, holy! singing To the mighty Trinity! Holy, holy, holy crying; Every voice is there harmonious, Whom adore the seraphim, Aye with love eternal burning; To their fount of honor turning; Oh how beautiful that region, Where thus men and angels blend! Glorious will that city be, Full of deep tranquillity, Light and peace from end to end! All the happy dwellers there Shine in robes of purity, Labor finds them not, nor care. Nothing tempt them, nothing vex; ON CHRISTIAN PATIENCE. (From "Hymns and Poems.") Adversa mundi tolera. FOR Christ's dear sake with courage bear Whatever ills betide; Prosperity is oft a snare, And puffs the heart with pride. |