Of the Imitation of Christ/Book II/Chapter XI
CHAPTER XI.
OF THE FEWNESS OF THE LOVERS OF THE CROSS OF JESUS.
ANY love the heavenly kingdom of Jesus, but few care to bear His Cross.
He hath many desirous of consolation, but few of tribulation.
He findeth many companions of His table, but few of His abstinence.
All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to endure anything for or with Him.
Many follow Jesus unto the breaking of bread; but few to the drinking of the cup of His passion.
Many reverence His miracles, few follow the ignominy of His cross.
Many love Jesus so long as no adversities befall them.
Many praise and bless Him so long as they receive any consolation from Him.
But if Jesus hide Himself, and leave them but a little while, they fall either into complaining, or into too much dejection of mind.
2. But they who love Jesus for his own sake, and not for some special comfort, bless Him in all tribulation and anguish of heart, as well as in the state of highest comfort.
Yea although He should never be willing to give them comfort, they notwithstanding would ever praise Him, and wish to be always giving thanks.
3. O how powerful is the pure love of Jesus, which is mixed up with no self-interest, or self-love!
Are not all those to be called mercenary, who are ever seeking consolations?
Do they not show themselves to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ, who are always thinking of their own profit and advantage?
Where shall one be found who is willing to serve God for nought?
4. Rarely is any one found so spiritual as to be stripped of all earthly things.
For where is any man to be found that is indeed poor in spirit, and thoroughly void of all leaning on creatures? "From afar, yea from the ends of the earth, is his value."
If a man should give all his substance, yet it is nothing.
And if he should practise great repentance, still it is little.
And if he should attain to all knowledge, he is still afar off.
And if he should be of great virtue, and of very fervent devotion, yet there is much wanting; especially one thing, which is most necessary for him.
What is that? That leaving all, he forsake himself, and go wholly from himself, and retain no self-love.
And when he hath done all that is to be done, so far as he knoweth, let him think that he hath done nothing.
5. Let him not think that of great weight, which is greatly esteemed; but let him in truth pronounce himself to be an unprofitable servant, as the Truth Himself saith, "When you shall have done all things that are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants."
Then may he be truly poor and naked in spirit, and say with the Prophet, "I am desolate and afflicted."
Yet none is richer than that man, no man more powerful, no man more free; for he knoweth how to leave all things, and to set himself in the lowest place.