Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/86

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72
Of a Good Conscience.

He that desireth true and everlasting glory, careth not for that which is temporal.

And he that seeketh temporal glory, or despiseth it not from his soul, sheweth himself to have but little esteem of the glory of heaven.

He enjoyeth great tranquillity of heart, that careth neither for the praise, nor dispraise of men.

3. He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.

Thou art not the more holy though thou be praised; nor the more worthless for being dispraised.

What thou art, that thou art; neither by words canst thou be made greater than what thou art in the sight of God.

If thou consider what thou art in thyself, thou wilt not care what men talk of thee.

Man looketh on the countenance, but God on the heart. Man considereth the deeds, but God weigheth the intentions.

To be always doing good, and to esteem little of one's self, is the sign of an humble soul.

To be unwilling to be comforted by any creature, is a sign of great purity and inward confidence.

4. He that seeketh no witness for his behalf from without, doth shew that he hath wholly committed himself unto God.

"For not he that commendeth himself is approved (saith Saint Paul), but whom God commendeth."

To walk in the heart with God, and not to be held in bondage by any outward affection, is the state of a spiritual man.