Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XXXVII
CHAPTER XXXVII.
OF PURE AND ENTIRE RESIGNATION OF SELF FOR THE OBTAINING FREEDOM OF HEART.
ORSAKE thyself, and thou shalt find Me.
Neither choose any thing, nor appropriate anything whatever to thyself, and thou shalt always be a gainer.
For greater grace shall be added to thee, the moment thou dost resign thyself.
Lord, how often shall I resign myself, and wherein shall I forsake myself?
Always and at every hour; as well in small things as in great. I except nothing, but do desire that thou be found naked of all things.
Otherwise, how canst thou be Mine, and I thine, unless thou be stripped of all self-will, both within and without?
The sooner thou doest this, the better it will be with thee; and the more fully and sincerely thou doest it, so much the more shalt thou please Me, and so much the greater shall be thy gain.
2. Some there are who resign themselves, but with exceptions: for they put not their whole trust in God, therefore they study how to provide for themselves.
Some also at first do offer all, but afterwards, being assailed with temptation, they return again to their own ways, and therefore make no progress in virtue.
These shall not attain to the true liberty of a pure heart, nor to the favour of My friendship, unless they first make an entire resignation and a daily oblation of themselves.
3. I have very often said unto thee, and now again I say the same, Forsake thyself, resign thyself and thou shalt enjoy much inward peace.
Give all for all; seek nothing, ask back nothing; abide purely and with a firm confidence in Me, and thou shalt possess Me; thou shalt be free in heart, and darkness shall not tread thee down.
Let this be thy whole endeavour, this be thy prayer, this thy desire; that being stripped of all selfishness, thou mayest with entire simplicity follow Jesus only, and, dying to thyself, live eternally to Me.
Then all vain imaginations, evil perturbations, and superfluous cares shall fly from thee.
Then also immoderate fear shall leave thee, and inordinate love shall die.