Chap. VII Of the Love of Jesus Above All Things
1. Blessed is he who knows what it is to love Jesus, and to despise himself for the sake of Jesus.
We must quit what we love for this Beloved, because Jesus will be loved alone above all things.
The love of things created is deceitful and inconstant: the love of Jesus is faithful and perseverant.
He that cleaveth to creatures shall fall with them.
He that embraceth Jesus shall stand firm for ever.
Love him, and keep him for thy friend; who, when all go away, will not leave thee, nor suffer thee to perish in the end.
Thou must at last be separated from all things else, whether thou wilt or not.
2. Keep thyself with Jesus both in life and death, and commit thyself to his trust who alone can help thee, when all others fail.
Thy beloved is of such a nature, that he will admit of no other: but will have thy heart to himself, and sit there like a king on his own throne.
If thou couldst but purge thyself well from affection to creatures, Jesus would willingly dwell with thee.
Thou wilt find all that in a manner loss, which thou hast placed in men out of Jesus.
Do not trust nor rely upon a windy reed: For all flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof shall fade like the flower of the grass. Isaiah xl.
3. Thou wilt soon be deceived, if thou only regard the outward shew of men.
For if thou seek thy comfort and thy gain in others, thou wilt often meet with loss.
If in all thou seek Jesus, doubtless thou wilt find Jesus.
But if thou seek thyself, thou wilt indeed find thyself, but to thy own ruin.
For a man does himself more harm if he seek not Jesus, than the whole world and all his enemies could do him.