Wherein firm peace of heart and true profit consist
“My Son, I have said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you,
not as the world giveth give I unto you.(1) All men desire peace, but
all do not care for the things which belong unto true peace. My peace
is with the humble and lowly in heart. Thy peace shall be in much
patience. If thou heardest Me, and didst follow My voice, thou
shouldest enjoy much peace.”
2. What then shall I do, Lord?
3. “In everything take heed to thyself what thou doest, and what thou
sayest; and direct all thy purpose to this, that thou please Me alone,
and desire or seek nothing apart from Me. But, moreover, judge nothing
rashly concerning the words or deeds of others, nor meddle with matters
which are not committed to thee; and it may be that thou shalt be
disturbed little or rarely. Yet never to feel any disquiet, nor to
suffer any pain of heart or body, this belongeth not to the present
life, but is the state of eternal rest. Therefore count not thyself to
have found true peace, if thou hast felt no grief; nor that then all is
well if thou hast no adversary; nor that this is perfect if all things
fall out according to thy desire. Nor then reckon thyself to be
anything great, or think that thou art specially beloved, if thou art
in a state of great fervour and sweetness of spirit; for not by these
things is the true lover of virtue known, nor in them doth the profit
and perfection of man consist.”
4. In what then, Lord?
5. “In offering thyself with all thy heart to the Divine Will, in not
seeking the things which are thine own, whether great or small, whether
temporal or eternal; so that thou remain with the same steady
countenance in giving of thanks between prosperity and adversity,
weighing all things in an equal balance. If thou be so brave and
long-suffering in hope that when inward comfort is taken from thee,
thou even prepare thy heart for the more endurance, and justify not
thyself, as though thou oughtest not to suffer these heavy things, but
dost justify Me in all things that I appoint, and dost bless My Holy
Name, then dost thou walk in the true and right way of peace, and shalt
have a sure hope that thou shalt again behold My face with joy. For if
thou come to an utter contempt of thyself, know that then thou shalt
enjoy abundance of peace, as much as is possible where thou art but a
wayfaring man.”
(1) John xiv. 27.