Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter IX
CHAPTER IX.
THAT ALL THINGS ARE TO BE REFERRED UNTO GOD, AS THEIR LAST END.
Y son, I ought to be thy supreme and ultimate end, if thou desire to be truly blessed.
By this intention thy affections will be purified, which are too often inordinately inclined to selfishness and unto creatures.
For if in anything thou seekest thyself, immediately thou faintest and driest up.
I would therefore thou shouldst refer all things principally unto Me, for I am He Who hast given all.
Consider every thing as flowing from the Highest Good; and therefore unto Me as their original all must return.
2. From Me, as from a living fountain, the small and the great, the poor and the rich, do draw the water of life; and they that willingly and freely serve Me shall receive grace for grace.
But he who desires to glory in things out of Me, or to take pleasure in some private good, shall not be grounded in true joy, nor be enlarged in his heart, but shall many ways be encumbered and straitened.
Thou oughtest therefore to ascribe nothing of good to thyself, nor do thou attribute goodness unto any man; but give all unto God, without Whom man hath nothing.
I have given all on thee, and My will is to have thee all again; and with great strictness do I exact from thee a return of thanks.
3. This is the truth whereby vain-glory is put to flight.
And if true charity and heavenly grace enter in, there will be no envy nor narrowness of heart, neither will self-love busy itself.
For divine charity overcometh all things, and enlargeth all the powers of the soul.
If thou rightly judge, thou wilt rejoice in Me alone, in Me alone thou wilt hope; for none is good save God alone, Who is to be praised above all things, and in all to be blessed.