If thou didst know the whole Bible, and the sayings of all the
philosophers, by heart, what would all that profit thee without the love
of God?
Vanity of vanities! all is vanity, but to love God and serve him only.
It is therefore vanity to seek after perishing riches.
It is also vanity to seek honors.
It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh, and to labor for that
for which thou must afterward suffer grievous punishment.
It is vanity to wish to live long, and to be careless to live well.
It is vanity to mind this present life, and not those things which are to
come.
It is vanity to set thy love on that which speedily passeth away, and not
to hasten thither, where everlasting joys remain.
All men naturally desire to know; but what availeth knowledge without the
fear of God?
Surely an humble husbandman that serveth God is better than a proud
philosopher, that, neglecting himself, studies the course of the heavens.
He that knoweth himself is vile in his own eyes, and is not pleased with
the praises of men.
If I understood all things in the world, and had not charity, what would
that help me in the sight of God, who will judge me according to my deeds.
There are many things, to know which doth little profit the soul.
And he is very unwise, that minds any other things than those that tend
to the welfare of his soul.
Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a pure conscience giveth
confidence toward God.
The more thou knowest, and the better thou understandest, the more
grievously shalt thou be judged, unless thy life be the more holy.
Be not therefore lifted up; but rather let the knowledge given thee make
thee afraid.
If thou thinkest that thou knowest much: yet there are many more things
which thou knowest not.
Be not over wise, but rather acknowledge thine own ignorance.
The highest and most profitable lesson is, the true knowledge of
ourselves.
It is great wisdom to esteem ourselves nothing, and to think always well
and highly of others.
We are all frail, but remember, none more frail than thyself.
[_December 9._]
It is good that we be sometimes contradicted; and that men think ill of
us, and this, although we do not intend well.
For then we more diligently seek God for our inward witness, when
outwardly we are contemned by men.
Wherefore a man should settle himself so fully in God, that he need not
seek comforts of men.
When a man is afflicted, tempted, or troubled with evil thoughts; then he
understandeth better the great need he hath of God.
So long as we live in this world, we can not be without temptation.
Hence it is written in Job, “The life of man is a warfare upon earth.”
Temptations are often very profitable to men, though they be troublesome
and grievous; for in them a man is humbled, purified, and instructed.
All the saints have passed through, and profited by, many tribulations,
and temptations:
And they that could not bear temptations, became reprobates and fell away.
There is no place so secret, where there are no temptations.
There is no man that is altogether secure from temptations while he
liveth.
When one temptation goeth away, another cometh; and we shall ever have
something to suffer.
Many seek to fly temptations, and fall more grievously into them.
By flight alone we can not overcome, but by patience and humility we
conquer all our enemies.
He that only avoideth them outwardly, and doth not pluck them up by the
roots, shall profit little: yea, temptations will soon return unto him,
and he shall feel them worse than before.
By patience (through God’s help) thou shalt more easily overcome, than by
harsh and disquieting efforts in thy own strength.
Often take counsel in temptations; and deal not roughly with him that is
tempted.
The beginning of temptation is inconstancy of mind, and little confidence
in God.
For as a ship without a rudder is tossed to and fro with the waves, so
the man that is negligent is many ways tempted.
Fire trieth iron, and temptation a just man.
We know not often what we are able to do: but temptations show us what we
are.
We must be watchful, especially in the beginning of the temptation; for
the enemy is then more easily overcome, if he be not suffered to enter
the door of your hearts, but be resisted without the gate at his first
knock.
Wherefore one said, “Withstand the beginning: for an after remedy comes
too late.”
First, there occurreth to the mind a simple evil thought; then a strong
imagination; afterward delight; and lastly consent.
And so by little and little our malicious enemy getteth entrance, while
he is not resisted in the beginning.
And the longer one is slack in resisting, the weaker he becomes daily,
and the enemy stronger against him.
Some suffer the greatest temptation in the beginning of their conversion;
others in the latter end.
Others again are much troubled almost throughout their life.
Some are but slightly tempted, according to the wisdom which weigheth the
states of men, and ordereth all things for the good of his elect.
We ought therefore, when we are tempted, so much the more fervently to
pray unto God; who surely will give with the temptation, a way to escape,
that we may be able to bear it.
Let us therefore humble ourselves under the hand of God, in all
temptations and tribulations; for he will exalt the humble in spirit.
In temptations and afflictions a man is proved how much he hath profited.
Neither is it any such great thing if a man be devout and fervent, when
he feeleth no affliction; but if in time of adversity he bear himself
patiently, there is hope then of great proficiency.
Some are kept from great temptations, and are overcome in small ones;
that being humbled, they may never trust themselves in great matters, who
are baffled in so small things.
[_December 16._]
Turn thine eyes unto thyself, and beware thou judge not the deeds of
other men.
In judging others a man laboreth in vain, often erreth, and easily
sinneth; but in judging and examining himself, he always laboreth
fruitfully.
We often judge of things according as we fancy them: for affection
bereaves us easily of a right judgment.
If God were always our desire, we should not be so much troubled when our
inclinations were opposed.
But oftentimes something lurks within, which draweth us after it.
Many secretly seek themselves in their actions, but know it not.
They live in peace of mind when things are done according to their will:
but if things succeed otherwise than they desire, they are straightway
troubled.
Diversity of inclinations and opinions often causes dissensions between
religious persons, between friends and countrymen.
An old custom is hardly broken, and no man is willing to be led farther
than himself can see.
If thou dost more rely upon thine own reason, than upon Jesus Christ,
late, if ever, shalt thou become illuminated.
The outward work without charity, profiteth nothing; but whatsoever is
done out of charity, be it ever so little and contemptible in the sight
of the world, is wholly fruitful.
For God weigheth more with how much love one worketh, than how much he
doeth.
He doth much that loveth much.
He doth much that doth a thing well.
He doth well that serveth his neighbor, and not his own will.
Often it seemeth to be charity, and it is rather carnality; because
natural inclinations, self-will, hope of reward, and desire of our own
interest, are motives that men are rarely free from.
He that hath true and perfect charity seeketh himself in nothing; but
only desireth in all things that God should be exalted.
He envieth none, because he seeketh not his own satisfaction; neither
rejoiceth in himself, but chooses God only for his portion.
He attributes nothing that is good to any man, but wholly referreth it
unto God, from whom, as from the fountain, all things proceed: in whom
finally all the saints rest.
O that he had but one spark of true charity, he would certainly discern
that all earthly things are full of vanity!
[_December 23._]
When one that was in great anxiety of mind, often wavering between fear
and hope, did once humbly prostrate himself in prayer, and said, O, if
I knew that I should persevere! he presently heard within him an answer
from God which said, If thou didst know it, what wouldst thou do? Do what
thou wouldst do then, and thou shalt be safe.
And being herewith comforted and strengthened, he committed himself
wholly to the will of God, and his anxiety ceased:
Neither had he any mind to search curiously farther what should befall
him; but rather labored to understand what was the perfect and acceptable
will of God, for the beginning and accomplishing every good work.
Hope in the Lord, and do good, saith the prophet, and inhabit the land,
and thou shalt be fed.
One thing there is that draweth many back from a spiritual progress, and
diligent amendment; the horror of the difficulty, or the labor of the
combat.
But they improve most in virtue, that endeavor most to overcome those
things which are grievous and contrary to them.
For there a man improveth more, and obtaineth greater grace, where he
more overcometh himself and mortifieth himself in spirit.
Gather some profit to thy soul wheresoever thou art; so if thou seest or
hearest of any good examples, stir up thyself to the imitation thereof.
But if thou seest anything worthy of reproof, beware thou doest not the
same.—And if at any time thou hast done it, labor quickly to amend it.
Be mindful of the profession thou hast made, and have always before thine
eyes the remembrance of thy Savior crucified.
Thou hast good cause to be ashamed, looking upon the life of Jesus
Christ, seeing thou hast as yet no more endeavored to conform thyself
unto him, though thou hast walked a long time in the way of God.
A religious person that exerciseth himself seriously and devoutly in
the most holy life and passion of our Lord shall there abundantly find
whatsoever is necessary and profitable for him; neither shall he need
seek any better thing out of Jesus.