Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XXXII
CHAPTER XXXII.
OF SELF-DENIAL, AND RENOUNCING EVERY EVIL APPETITE.
HOU canst not possess perfect liberty unless thou wholly renounce thyself.
They are but in fetters who merely seek their own interest, and are lovers of themselves. Covetous are they, curious, wanderers, always seeking what is soft and delicate, not the things of Jesus Christ, but oftentimes devising and framing that which will not continue.
For all that is not of God shall perish.
Keep this short and complete saying: "Forsake all and thou shalt find all." Forego desire and thou shalt find rest.
Consider this well, and when thou hast fulfilled it, thou shalt understand all things.
O Lord, this is not the work of one day, nor children's sport; yea, rather in this short word is included all religious perfection.
My son, thou oughtest not to turn back, nor at once to be cast down, when thou hearest of the way of the perfect; but rather to be stirred up to higher things, and at least in longing desire to sigh after them.
I would it were so with thee, and thou wert arrived at this, to be no longer a lover of thyself, but to stand merely at My beck, and at His Whom I have appointed a father over thee; then thou shouldst exceedingly please Me, and all thy life would pass away in joy and peace.
Thou hast yet many things to part with, which unless thou wholly resign thou shalt not attain to that which thou desirest.
"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest become rich;" that is, heavenly wisdom, which treadeth under foot all lower things.
Set little by earthly wisdom, and study not to please others.
3. I said, that mean things must be bought with things which seem precious and of great esteem among men.
For true heavenly wisdom doth seem very mean, of small account, and almost forgotten among men, as having no high thoughts of itself, nor seeking to be magnified upon earth. Many indeed praise it with their lips, but in their life they are far from it; yet is it the precious pearl, which is hidden from many.
