That personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good
“My Son, thou must give all for all, and be nothing of thine own. Know
thou that the love of thyself is more hurtful to thee than anything in
the world. According to the love and inclination which thou hast,
everything more or less cleaveth to thee. If thy love be pure, sincere,
well-regulated, thou shalt not be in captivity to anything. Do not
covet what thou mayest not have; do not have what is able to hinder
thee, and to rob thee of inward liberty. It is wonderful that thou
committest not thyself to Me from the very bottom of thy heart, with
all things which thou canst desire or have.
2. “Why art thou consumed with vain sorrow? Why art thou wearied with
superfluous cares? Stand thou by My good pleasure, and thou shalt
suffer no loss. If thou seekest after this or that, and wilt be here or
there, according to thine own advantage or the fulfilling of thine own
pleasure, thou shalt never be in quiet, nor free from care, because in
everything somewhat will be found lacking, and everywhere there will be
somebody who opposeth thee.
3. “Therefore it is not gaining or multiplying of this thing or that
which advantageth thee, but rather the despising it and cutting it by
the root out of thy heart; which thou must not only understand of money
and riches, but of the desire after honour and vain praise, things
which all pass away with the world. The place availeth little if the
spirit of devotion is wanting; nor shall that peace stand long which is
sought from abroad, if the state of thy heart is without the true
foundation, that is, if it abide not in Me. Thou mayest change, but
thou canst not better thyself; for when occasion ariseth and is
accepted thou shalt find what thou didst fly from, yea more.”
A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING OF THE HEART AND FOR HEAVENLY WISDOM
4. Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. Give me
virtue to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and to free my
heart from all fruitless care and trouble, and that I be not drawn away
by various desires after any things whatsoever, whether of little value
or great, but that I may look upon all as passing away, and myself as
passing away with them; because there is no profit under the sun, and
all is vanity and vexation of spirit.(1) Oh how wise is he that
considereth thus!
5. Give me, O Lord, heavenly wisdom, that I may learn to seek Thee
above all things and to find Thee; to relish Thee above all things and
to love Thee; and to understand all other things, even as they are,
according to the order of Thy wisdom. Grant me prudently to avoid the
flatterer, and patiently to bear with him that opposeth me; for this is
great wisdom, not to be carried by every wind of words, nor to give ear
to the wicked flattering Siren; for thus do we go safely on in the way
we have begun.
(1) Ecclesiastes ii. 11.