Chap. XXVII That Self-Love Chiefly Keeps a Person Back From the Sovereign Good
1. My Son, thou must give all for all, and be nothing of thy own.
Know that the love of thyself is more hurtful to thee than any thing in the world.
Every thing, according to the love and inclination which thou hast to it, cleaveth to thee more or less.
If thy love be pure, simple, and well ordered, thou shalt not be a captive to any thing.
Covet not that which thou mayest not have.
Seek not to have that which may hinder thee and rob thee of inward liberty.
It is wonderful that thou wilt not from the very bottom of thy heart commit thyself wholly to me, with all things that thou canst desire to have.
2. Why dost thou pine away with vain grief? why tirest thou thyself with useless cares?
Stand resigned to my good pleasure, and thou shalt suffer no loss.
If thou seekest this, or that, or wouldst be here or there, for the sake of thy own interest, or the pleasing thy own will, thou shall never be at rest, nor free from solicitude; for in every thing thou shalt find some defect, and in every place there will be some one that will cross thee.
8. It is not therefore the obtaining or multiplying things exteriorly that avails thee, but rather the despising of them, and cutting them up by the root out of thy heart; which I would not have thee to understand only with regard to money and riches, and also with regard to ambition and honour, and the desire of empty praise: all which things pass away with the world.
The place avails little, if the spirit of fervour be wanting; neither shall that peace stand long which is sought from abroad, if the state of thy heart want the true foundation, that is, if thou stand not in me: thou mayest change, but not better thyself.
For when occasion happens, thou shalt find that which thou didst fly from, and more.
A Prayer
For the cleansing of the Heart,
and the obtaining heavenly wisdom.
4. Confirm me, O God, by the grace of thy holy spirit. Give me power to be strengthened in the inward man, and to cast out of my heart all unprofitable care and trouble; let me not be drawn away with various desires of any thing whatsoever, whether it be of little or great value; but may I look upon all things as passing away, and upon my self as passing along with them.
For nothing is lasting under the sun, where all is vanity and affliction of spirit. O how wise is he who considers things in this manner!
5. Give me, O Lord, heavenly wisdom, that I may learn above all things to seek thee, and to find thee; above all things to relish thee, and to love thee, and to understand all other things, as they are, according to the order of thy wisdom.
Grant that I may prudently decline him that flatters me, and patiently bear with him that contradicts me.
For this is great wisdom, not to be moved with every wind of words, nor to give ear to the wicked flattering Siren; for thus shall we go on securely in the way we have begun.