Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter IV
CHAPTER IV.
THAT WE OUGHT TO LIVE IN TRUTH AND HUMILITY BEFORE GOD.
Y son, walk thou before Me in truth, and ever seek me in simplicity of thy heart.
He that walketh before Me in truth, shall be defended from the assaults of evil, and the truth shall set him free from seducers, and from the slanders of unjust men.
If the truth shall have made thee free, thou shalt be free indeed, and shalt not care for the vain words of men.
O Lord, it is true. According as Thou sayest: so, I beseech thee, let it be with me; let Thy truth teach me, guard me, and preserve me safe to the end.
Let it set me free from all evil affection and inordinate love; and I shall walk with thee in great liberty of heart.
2. I will teach thee (saith the Truth) those things which are right and pleasing in My sight.
Reflect on thy sins with great displeasure and grief; and never esteem thyself to be anything, because of any good works.
In truth thou art a sinner; thou art subject to and encumbered with many passions. Of thyself thou always tendest to nothing: speedily art thou cast down, speedily overcome, speedily disordered, speedily dissolved.
Thou hast nothing whereof thou canst glory, but many things for which thou oughtest to account thyself vile; for thou art much weaker than thou art able to comprehend.
3. And therefore let nothing seem much unto thee whatsoever thou doest.
Let nothing seem great, nothing precious and wonderful, nothing worthy of estimation, nothing high, nothing truly commendable, and to be desired, but that alone which is eternal.
Let the eternal truth be above all things pleasing to thee: Let thine own extreme unworthiness be always displeasing to thee.
Fear nothing, blame nothing, flee nothing, so much as thy vices and sins; which ought to be more unpleasing to thee than any losses whatsoever of earthly things.
Some walk not sincerely in My sight, but of curiosity and pride desire to know My secrets, and to understand the high things of God, neglecting themselves and their own salvation.
These oftentimes, when I resist them, for their pride and curiosity, do fall into great temptations and sins.
4. Fear thou the judgments of God, and dread the wrath of the Almighty. Discuss not thou the works of the Most High, but search diligently thine own iniquities, in how great things thou hast offended, and how many good things thou hast neglected.
Some have their devotion only in books, some in pictures, some in outward signs and figures.
Some have Me in their mouths, but little in their hearts.
Others there are who, being illuminated in their understanding, and purged in their affection, do always pant after eternal things, are unwilling to hear of the things of this world, and serve the necessities of nature with grief; and these perceive what the Spirit of truth speaketh in them.
For He teacheth them to despise earthly, and to love heavenly, things; to neglect the world and to desire heaven all the day and night.