HUMILITY
BE NOT troubled about those who are with you or against you,
but take care that God be with you in everything you do. Keep your
conscience clear and God will protect you, for the malice of man
cannot harm one whom God wishes to help. If you know how to suffer in
silence, you will undoubtedly experience God's help. He knows when and
how to deliver you; therefore, place yourself in His hands, for it is
a divine prerogative to help men and free them from all distress.
It is often good for us to have others know our faults and
rebuke them, for it gives us greater humility. When a man humbles
himself because of his faults, he easily placates those about him and
readily appeases those who are angry with him.
It is the humble man whom God protects and liberates; it is the
humble whom He loves and consoles. To the humble He turns and upon
them bestows great grace, that after their humiliation He may raise
them up to glory. He reveals His secrets to the humble, and with kind
invitation bids them come to Him. Thus, the humble man enjoys peace in
the midst of many vexations, because his trust is in God, not in the
world. Hence, you must not think that you have made any progress until
you look upon yourself as inferior to all others. |
Of lowly submission
Make no great account who is for thee or against
thee, but mind only the present duty and take care that God be with
thee in whatsoever thou doest. Have a good conscience and God will
defend thee, for he whom God will help no man's perverseness shall be
able to hurt. If thou knowest how to hold thy peace and to suffer,
without doubt thou shalt see the help of the Lord. He knoweth the
time and the way to deliver thee, therefore must thou resign thyself
to Him. To God it belongeth to help and to deliver from all
confusion. Oftentimes it is very profitable for keeping us in greater
humility, that others know and rebuke our faults.
2. When a man humbleth himself for his defects,
he then easily pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are
angered against him. God protecteth and delivereth the humble man, He
loveth and comforteth the humble man, to the humble man He inclineth
Himself, on the humble He bestoweth great grace, and when he is cast
down He raiseth him to glory: to the humble He revealeth His secrets,
and sweetly draweth and inviteth him to Himself. The humble man
having received reproach, is yet in sufficient peace, because he
resteth on God and not on the world. Reckon not thyself to have
profited in anywise unless thou feel thyself to be inferior to all. |