Chap. IX That All Things Are to Be Referred to God, as to Our Last End
1. My Son, I must be thy chief and last end, if thou desirest to be truly happy.
By this intention shall thy affections be purified, which too often are irregularly bent upon thyself, and things created.
For if in any thing thou seek thyself, thou presently faintest away within thyself, and growest dry.
Refer therefore all things principally to me, for it is I that have given thee all.
Consider every thing as flowing from the sovereign good: and therefore they must all be returned to me as to their origin.
2. Out of me both little and great, poor and rich, as out of a living fountain, draw living water; and they that freely and willingly serve me shall receive grace for grace.
But he that would glory in any thing else besides me, or delight in any good as his own [not referred to me] shall not be established in true joy, nor enlarged in his heart, but in many kinds shall meet with hindrances and anguish:
Therefore thou must not ascribe any thing of good to thyself, nor attribute virtue to any man; but give all to God, without whom man has nothing.
I have given all, I will have all returned to me again, and I very strictly require thanks for all that I give.
3. This is that truth, by which all vain glory is put to flight:
And if heavenly grace and true charity come in, there shall be no envy nor narrowness of heart, nor shall self-love keep its hold.
For divine charity overcomes all, and dilates all the forces of the soul.
If thou art truly wise, thou wilt rejoice in me alone, thou wilt hope in me alone: for none is good but God alone, (Luke xviii.) who is to be praised above all, and to be blessed in all.