Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XLIII
CHAPTER XLIII.
AGAINST VAIN AND SECULAR LEARNING.
ET not the sayings of men move thee, however fair and ingenious they may be. "For the kingdom of God consisteth not in word, but in power."
Consider well My words, for they inflame the heart, and enlighten the mind; they cause compunction, and carry with them much consolation.
Never read the word of God in order to appear more leaned or more wise.
Be studious for the mortification of thy sins; for this will profit thee more than the knowledge of many difficult questions.
2. When thou shalt have read and known many things, thou must ever return to the one beginning and principle.
I am He that teacheth man knowledge; and I give to little children a clearer understanding than can be taught by man.
Therefore he, to whom I speak, shall quickly be wise, and shall profit much in the Spirit.
Woe be to them that enquire many curious things of men, and care little about the way of serving Me.
The time will come, when the Master of masters, Christ the Lord, shall appear, to hear the lessons of all, that is, to examine the consciences of every one.
And then will He search Jerusalem with candles; and the hidden things of darkness shall be laid open, and the arguings of men's tongues shall be silent.
3. I am He who in one instant do raise up the humble mind, so that a man shall understand more of the eternal truth, than if he had studied ten years in the schools.
I teach without noise of words, without confusion of opinions, without the desire of honour, without arguments.
I am He who instructs men to despise earthly things, to loathe things present, to seek things heavenly, to flee honours, to endure offences, to place all hope in Me, out of Me to desire nothing, and above all things ardently to love Me.
4. A certain one by entirely loving Me, became instructed in divine things, and was wont to speak admirable truths.
He profited more by forsaking all things, than by studying niceties.
But to some men I speak common things, to others things uncommon; to some I appear sweetly by signs and figures, and to some I reveal mysteries with much light.
The voice of books is indeed one, but it instructs not all alike; I am the teacher of the truth, I am the searcher of the heart, the discerner of the thoughts, the mover of actions, distributing to every man as I judge meet.