Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter LIII
CHAPTER LIII.
THAT THE GRACE OF GOD DOES NOT UNITE WITH THOSE WHO RELISH EARTHLY THINGS.
Y son, My grace is precious, it suffereth not itself to be mingled with outward things, nor with earthly consolations.
Thou oughtest therefore to cast away all hindrances to grace, if thou desire to receive the inpouring thereof.
Choose a secret place to thyself, love to live alone with thyself, desire the conversation of none; but pour out devout prayer unto God, that thou mayest keep thy soul contrite, and thy conscience pure.
Esteem thou the whole world as nothing; prefer attendance upon God before all outward things.
For thou wilt not be able to attend upon Me, and at the same time to take delight in things transitory.
Thou oughtest to remove thyself away from thine acquaintance and friends, and to depend not on temporal comfort.
So the blessed apostle S. Peter beseecheth, that the faithful of Christ would keep themselves in this world as strangers and pilgrims.
2. O how great a confidence shall he have at the hour of death, whom no affection to any thing earthly detaineth in the world.
But having a heart so retired, the unspiritual mind doth not as yet comprehend; nor doth the carnal man know the liberty of the spiritual man.
Notwithstanding, if he desire to be truly spiritual he ought to renounce those who are far off, as well as those who are near unto him, and to beware of no man more than of himself.
If thou perfectly overcome thyself, thou shalt very easily bring all else under the yoke.
The perfect victory is, to triumph over ourselves.
For he that keepeth himself subject, in such sort that his affections be obedient to reason, and his reason in all things obedient to Me; he truly is conqueror of himself and lord of the world.
3. If thou desire to mount unto this height, thou must set out courageously, and lay the axe to the root, that thou mayest pluck up and destroy both the hidden inclination to self, and all love of private and earthly good.
On this sin dependeth almost all, whatsoever is thoroughly to be overcome; which evil being once vanquished and subdued, there will presently ensue great peace and tranquillity.
But because few labour to die perfectly unto themselves, or altogether to go out of themselves, therefore in themselves they remain entangled, nor can be lifted up in spirit above themselves.
But him that desireth to walk freely with me, it is necessary that he mortify all his corrupt and inordinate affections, and that he do not earnestly cleave to any creature with particular love.