That our peace is not to be placed in men
“My Son, if thou set thy peace on any person because thou hast high
opinion of him, and art familiar with him, thou shalt be unstable and
entangled. But if thou betake thyself to the ever-living and abiding
Truth, the desertion or death of a friend shall not make thee sad. In
Me ought the love of thy friend to subsist, and for My sake is every
one to be loved, whosoever he be, who appeareth to thee good, and is
very dear to thee in this life. Without Me friendship hath no strength
or endurance, neither is that love true and pure, which I unite not.
Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloved friends, that
as far as in thee lieth, thou wouldst rather choose to be without any
companionship of men. The nearer a man approacheth to God, the further
he recedeth from all earthly solace. The deeper also he descendeth into
himself, and the viler he appeareth in his own eyes, the higher he
ascendeth towards God.
2. “But he who attributeth anything good to himself, hindereth the
grace of God from coming to him, because the grace of the Holy Ghost
ever seeketh the humble heart. If thou couldst make thyself utterly
nothing, and empty thyself of the love of every creature, then should
it be My part to overflow unto thee with great grace. When thou settest
thine eyes upon creatures, the face of the Creator is withdrawn from
thee. Learn in all things to conquer thyself for thy Creator’s sake,
then shalt thou be able to attain unto divine knowledge. How small
soever anything be, if it be loved and regarded inordinately, it
holdeth us back from the highest good, and corrupteth.”