Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XIII
CHAPTER XIII.
OF HUMBLE OBEDIENCE AFTER JESUS CHRIST.
Y son, he that endeavoureth to withdraw himself from obedience, withdraweth himself from grace; and he who seeketh for himself private benefits, loseth those which are common.
He that doth not cheerfully and freely submit himself to his superior, showeth that his flesh is not brought into subjection, but oftentimes struggleth and murmurs against him.
Learn thou therefore quickly to submit thyself to thy superior, if thou desire to keep thine own flesh under the yoke.
For more speedily is the outward enemy overcome, if the inward man be not disordered.
There is no worse enemy, nor one more troublesome to the soul, than thou art unto thyself, if thou be not in harmony with the Spirit.
It is altogether necessary that thou have a true contempt for thyself, if thou desire to prevail against flesh and blood.
2. Because thou still lovest thyself too inordinately, thou art afraid to resign thyself wholly to the will of others.
And yet, what great matter is it, if thou, who art but dust and nothing, subject thyself to a man for God's sake, when I, the Almighty and the Most Highest, Who created all things of nothing, humbly subjected Myself to man for thy sake ?
I became of all men the most humble and the most abject, that thou mightest overcome thy pride with my humility.
O dust, learn to be obedient. Learn to humble thyself, thou earth and clay, and to bow thyself down under the feet of all men.
Learn to break thine own will, and to yield thyself to subjection.
3. Suffer no pride to dwell in thee: but show thyself so humble and so lowly, that all may be able to walk over thee, and to tread thee down as the mire of the streets. Vain man, what hast thou to complain of?
What canst thou answer, vile sinner, to them that upbraid thee, thou who hast so often offended God, and so many times deserved hell?
But Mine eyes spared thee, because thy soul was precious in My sight; that thou mightest know My love, and ever be thankful for My benefits;
Also that thou mightest continually give thyself to true humility and subjection, and endure patiently to be despised.