Of the Imitation of Christ/Book II/Chapter VII
CHAPTER VII.
OF THE LOVE OF JESUS ABOVE ALL THINGS.
LESSED is he that understandeth what it is to love Jesus, and to despise himself for Jesus' sake.
Thou oughtest to leave thy beloved for the beloved; for Jesus must be loved alone above all things.
The love of things created is deceitful and inconstant; the love of Jesus is faithful and constant.
He that cleaveth unto creatures, shall fall with that which is subject to fall; he that embraceth Jesus shall stand firm for ever.
Love Him, and keep Him for thy friend, Who, when all go away, will not forsake thee, nor suffer thee to perish.
Sometime or other thou must be separated from all, whether thou wilt or no.
2. Keep close to Jesus both in life and in death, and commit thyself unto His faithfulness. Who, when all fail, can alone help thee.
Thy Beloved is of such nature, that He will admit of no rival; but will have thy heart alone, and sit on His own Throne as King.
If thou couldst empty thyself perfectly from all things created, Jesus would willingly dwell with thee.
Whatsoever trust thou reposest in men, out of Jesus, is all little better than lost.
Trust not nor lean upon a reed shaken by the wind; for that all flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof shall wither away as the flower of the field.
3. Thou wilt quickly be deceived, if thou only look to the outward appearance of men.
For, if in others thou seekest thy comfort and thy profit, thou shalt often feel loss.
If thou seekest Jesus in all things, thou shalt surely find Jesus.
But if thou seekest thyself, thou shalt also find thyself, to thine own destruction.
For if a man do not seek Jesus, he doth more hurt himself, than could the whole world and all his enemies.