Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XXXIII
CHAPTER XXXIII.
OF INCONSTANCY OF HEART, AND OF HAVING OUR FINAL INTENTIONS DIRECTED UNTO GOD.
Y son, trust not to thy feeling, for whatever it be now, it will quickly be changed towards some other thing.
As long as thou livest, thou art subject to change, even against thy will; so that thou art at one time merry, at another sad; at one time quiet, at another troubled; now devout, now undevout; now diligent, now listless; now grave, and now light.
But he that is wise and well instructed in the Spirit standeth fast upon these changing things; not heeding what he feeleth in himself; but that the whole intent of his mind may be to the right and the best end.
For thus he will be able to continue one and the same and unshaken, in the midst of so many various events directing the single eye of his intent unto Me.
2. And the purer the eye of the intent is, with so much the more constancy doth a man pass through the several kinds of storms which assail him.
But in many the eye of a pure intent waxes dim, for it is quickly drawn aside to any pleasurable object.
For it is rare to find one who is wholly free from all self-seeking.
So of old the Jews came to Bethany to Martha and Mary, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see also Lazarus.
The eye of our intent therefore is to be purified, that it may be single and right, and is to be directed unto Me, beyond all various earthly objects which come between.