With God
Maxims and Counsels of Saints and Spiritual Writers
1
IF you wish to raise a lofty edifice of perfection, take humility for your foundation. — St. Thomas Aquinas: Sermon X.
2
Cast thy heart firmly on the Lord, and fear not the judgment of man, when thy conscience gives testimony of thy piety and innocence.
Though St. Paul endeavored to please all in the Lord and made himself all unto all; though he labored for the edification and salvation of others as much as he could — nevertheless, he could not prevent his being sometimes judged or despised by others; yet he made little account of his being judged by the judgment of men (i Cor. iv. 3). He committed all to God, Who knows all, and defended himself by patience and humility against the tongues of those who spoke evil, or that thought and gave out at pleasure vain and faulty things of him; however, he answered them sometimes, lest his silence might give occasion of scandal to the weak.
"Who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a mortal man?" (Is. li. 12). To-day he is and tomorrow he appears no more (i Mach. ii. 63). Fear God, and thou shalt have no need of being afraid of man. Look up to Me (to the Lord thy God) in heaven, Who am able to deliver thee from all confusion and wrongs, and to repay every one according to his works (Matt. xvi. 27). — Thomas d Kempis: Book III, Ch. XXXVI.
