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.
