Of the Imitation of Christ/Book II/Chapter II
CHAPTER II.
OF HUMBLE SUBMISSION.
EGARD not much who is for thee, or who against thee: but give all thy care to this, that God be with thee in every thing thou doest.
Have a good conscience, and God will well defend thee.
For whom God will help, no malice of man shall be able to hurt.
If thou canst be silent and suffer, without doubt thou shalt see that the Lord will help thee.
He knoweth the time and how to deliver thee, and therefore thou oughtest to resign thyself unto Him.
To God it belongeth to help and to deliver from all confusion.
To keep us more humble it is very profitable that others know and rebuke our faults.
2. When a man humbleth himself for his failings, then he easily pacifieth others, and quickly satisfieth those that are offended with him.
God protecteth the humble and delivereth him: the humble He loveth and comforteth; unto the humble man He inclineth Himself; unto the humble He giveth great grace; and after his humiliation He raiseth him to glory.
Unto the humble He revealeth his secrets, and sweetly draweth and inviteth him unto Himself.
The humble man, though he suffer confusion, hath
yet much peace; for that he resteth on God, and not on the world.
Do not think that thou hast made any progress, unless thou esteem thyself inferior to all.