Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XXVII
CHAPTER XXVII.
THAT IT IS SELF-LOVE WHICH MOST HINDERS FROM THE CHIEFEST GOOD.
Y son, thou oughtest to give all for all, and to be in nothing thyself.
Know thou that the love of thyself doth hurt thee more than any thing in the world.
According to the love and affection thou bearest to anything, so doth it cleave unto thee more or less.
If thy love be pure, simple, and well-ordered, thou shalt be free from bondage.
Do not covet that which it is not lawful for thee to have. Do not have that which may hinder thee, and may deprive thee of inward liberty.
Strange it is that thou committest not thyself wholly unto Me from the bottom of thy heart, together with all things thou canst have or desire.
2. Why dost thou consume thyself with vain grief? why weariest thyself with needless cares?
Submit to My will, and thou shalt not suffer.
If thou seek this or that, and wouldst be here or there, the better to enjoy thine own profit and pleasure, thou shalt never be at peace nor free from trouble. For in every case somewhat will be wanting, and in every place there will be something to cross thee.
Man profiteth not therefore to obtain and multiply any outward things, but rather to despise them, and utterly to root them out of his heart.
And this thou must understand not of wealth only, but of seeking after honour also, and of the desire of vain praise, which all must pass away with this world.
No place availeth if the spirit of fervour be wanting, neither shall that peace long continue, which is sought from without.
If the state of thy heart be destitute of a true foundation, if thou stand not steadfast in Me, thou mayest change, but shalt not better thyself.
For when occasion ariseth and is laid hold of, thou wilt find more than that which thou didst flee from.
A Prayer for a Clean Heart, and Heavenly Wisdom.
4. Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit.
Grant me to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and to empty my heart of all useless care, that I be not drawn away with sundry desires of any thing, whether mean or precious, but that I look on all things as passing away, on myself also as soon to pass away with them.
For nothing abideth under the sun, where all things are vanity and vexation of spirit. O how wise is he that so considereth them?
5. O Lord, grant me heavenly wisdom, that I may learn above all things to seek and to find Thee, above all things to enjoy and love Thee, and to think of all other things as they really are, according to Thy wisdom.
Grant me prudently to avoid him that flattereth me, and to endure patiently him that contradicts me.
Because it is a great part of wisdom not to be moved with every wind of words, nor to give ear to a flatterer; for thus we shall walk securely.