LISTEN HUMBLY TO THE WORDS OF GOD. MANY DO NOT HEED
THEM
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, hear My words, words of greatest sweetness surpassing
all the knowledge of the philosophers and wise men of earth. My words
are spirit and life, and they are not to be weighed by man's
understanding. They are not to be invoked in vanity but are to be
heard in silence, and accepted with all humility and with great
affection.
THE DISCIPLE
"Happy is the man whom Thou admonishest, O Lord, and teachest
out of Thy law, to give him peace from the days of evil,"[31] and that
he be not desolate on earth.
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
I taught the prophets from the beginning, and even to this day
I continue to speak to all men. But many are hardened. Many are deaf
to My voice. Most men listen more willingly to the world than to God.
They are more ready to follow the appetite of their flesh than the
good pleasure of God. The world, which promises small and passing
things, is served with great eagerness: I promise great and eternal
things and the hearts of men grow dull. Who is there that serves and
obeys Me in all things with as great care as that with which the world
and its masters are served?
"Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea speaketh."[32] And if
you ask why, listen to the cause: for a small gain they travel far;
for eternal life many will scarcely lift a foot from the ground. They
seek a petty reward, and sometimes fight shamefully in law courts for
a single piece of money. They are not afraid to work day and night for
a trifle or an empty promise. But, for an unchanging good, for a
reward beyond estimate, for the greatest honor and for glory
everlasting, it must be said to their shame that men begrudge even the
least fatigue. Be ashamed, then, lazy and complaining servant, that
they should be found more eager for perdition than you are for life,
that they rejoice more in vanity than you in truth.
Sometimes indeed their expectations fail them, but My promise
never deceives, nor does it send away empty-handed him who trusts in
Me. What I have promised I will give. What I have said I will fulfill,
if only a man remain faithful in My love to the end. I am the rewarder
of all the good, the strong approver of all who are devoted to Me.
Write My words in your heart and meditate on them earnestly,
for in time of temptation they will be very necessary. What you do not
understand when you read, you will learn in the day of visitation. I
am wont to visit My elect in two ways -- by temptation and by
consolation. To them I read two lessons daily -- one reproving their
vices, the other exhorting them to progress in virtue. He who has My
words and despises them has that which shall condemn him on the last
day.
A PRAYER FOR THE GRACE OF DEVOTION
O Lord my God, You are all my good. And who am I that I should
dare to speak to You? I am Your poorest and meanest servant, a vile
worm, much more poor and contemptible than I know or dare to say. Yet
remember me, Lord, because I am nothing, I have nothing, and I can do
nothing. You alone are good, just, and holy. You can do all things,
You give all things, You fill all things: only the sinner do You leave
empty-handed. Remember Your tender mercies and fill my heart with Your
grace, You Who will not allow Your works to be in vain. How can I bear
this life of misery unless You comfort me with Your mercy and grace?
Do not turn Your face from me. Do not delay Your visitation. Do not
withdraw Your consolation, lest in Your sight my soul become as desert
land. Teach me, Lord, to do Your will. Teach me to live worthily and
humbly in Your sight, for You are my wisdom Who know me truly, and Who
knew me even before the world was made and before I was born into it. |
How all the words of God are to be heard with
humility, and how many consider them not
"My Son, hear My words, for My words are most
sweet, surpassing all the knowledge of the philosophers and wise men
of this world. My words are spirit, and they are life,(1) and are not
to be weighed by man's understanding. They are not to be drawn forth
for vain approbation, but to be heard in silence, and to be received
with all humility and with deep love."
2. And I said, "Blessed is the man whom Thou
teachest, O Lord, and instructest him in Thy law, that Thou mayest
give him rest in time of adversity,(2) and that he be not desolate in
the earth."
3. "I," saith the Lord, "taught the prophets from
the beginning, and even now cease I not to speak unto all; but many
are deaf and hardened against My voice; many love to listen to the
world rather than to God, they follow after the desires of the flesh
more readily than after the good pleasure of God. The world promiseth
things that are temporal and small, and it is served with great
eagerness. I promise things that are great and eternal, and the
hearts of mortals are slow to stir. Who serveth and obeyeth Me in all
things, with such carefulness as he serveth the world and its rulers?
Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, saith the sea;(3) And
if thou reason seekest, hear thou me.
For a little reward men make a long journey; for
eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground. Mean
reward is sought after; for a single piece of money sometimes there is
shameful striving; for a thing which is vain and for a trifling
promise, men shrink not from toiling day and night."
4. "But, O shame! for an unchangeable good, for
an inestimable reward, for the highest honour and for a glory that
fadeth not away, it is irksome to them to toil even a little. Be thou
ashamed therefore, slothful and discontented servant, for they are
found readier unto perdition than thou unto life. They rejoice more
heartily in vanity than thou in the truth. Sometimes, indeed, they are
disappointed of their hope, but my promise faileth no man, nor sendeth
away empty him who trusteth in Me. What I have promised I will give;
what I have said I will fulfil; if only a man remain faithful in My
love unto the end. Therefore am I the rewarder of all good men, and a
strong approver of all who are godly.
5. "Write My words in thy heart and consider them
diligently, for they shall be very needful to thee in time of
temptation. What thou understandest not when thou readest, thou shalt
know in the time of thy visitation. I am wont to visit Mine elect in
twofold manner, even by temptation and by comfort, and I teach them
two lessons day by day, the one in chiding their faults, the other in
exhorting them to grow in grace. He who hath My words and rejecteth
them, hath one who shall judge him at the last day."
A PRAYER FOR THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION
6. O Lord my God, Thou art all my good, and who
am I that I should dare to speak unto Thee? I am the very poorest of
Thy servants, an abject worm, much poorer and more despicable than I
know or dare to say. Nevertheless remember, O Lord, that I am
nothing, I have nothing, and can do nothing. Thou only art good, just
and holy; Thou canst do all things, art over all things, fillest all
things, leaving empty only the sinner. Call to mind Thy tender
mercies, and fill my heart with Thy grace, Thou who wilt not that Thy
work should return to Thee void.
7. How can I bear this miserable life unless Thy
mercy and grace strengthen me? Turn not away Thy face from me, delay
not Thy visitation. Withdraw not Thou Thy comfort from me, lest my
soul "gasp after thee as a thirsty land." Lord, teach me to do Thy
will, teach me to walk humbly and uprightly before Thee, for Thou art
my wisdom, who knowest me in truth, and knewest me before the world
was made and before I was born into the world. |