THE OBEDIENCE OF ONE HUMBLY SUBJECT TO THE EXAMPLE
OF JESUS CHRIST
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, he who attempts to escape obeying withdraws himself
from grace. Likewise he who seeks private benefits for himself loses
those which are common to all. He who does not submit himself freely
and willingly to his superior, shows that his flesh is not yet
perfectly obedient but that it often rebels and murmurs against him.
Learn quickly, then, to submit yourself to your superior if you
wish to conquer your own flesh. For the exterior enemy is more quickly
overcome if the inner man is not laid waste. There is no more
troublesome, no worse enemy of the soul than you yourself, if you are
not in harmony with the spirit. It is absolutely necessary that you
conceive a true contempt for yourself if you wish to be victorious
over flesh and blood.
Because you still love yourself too inordinately, you are
afraid to resign yourself wholly to the will of others. Is it such a
great matter if you, who are but dust and nothingness, subject
yourself to man for the sake of God, when I, the All-Powerful, the
Most High, Who created all things out of nothing, humbly subjected
Myself to man for your sake? I became the most humble and the lowest
of all men that you might overcome your pride with My humility.
Learn to obey, you who are but dust! Learn to humble yourself,
you who are but earth and clay, and bow down under the foot of every
man! Learn to break your own will, to submit to all subjection! Be
zealous against yourself! Allow no pride to dwell in you, but prove
yourself so humble and lowly that all may walk over you and trample
upon you as dust in the streets!
What have you, vain man, to complain of? What answer can you
make, vile sinner, to those who accuse you, you who have so often
offended God and so many times deserved hell? But My eye has spared
you because your soul was precious in My sight, so that you might know
My love and always be thankful for My benefits, so that you might give
yourself continually to true subjection and humility, and might
patiently endure contempt. |
Of the obedience of one in lowly subjection after
the example of Jesus Christ
"My Son, he who striveth to withdraw himself from
obedience, withdraweth himself also from grace, and he who seeketh
private advantages, loseth those which are common unto all. If a man
submit not freely and willingly to one set over him, it is a sign that
his flesh is not yet perfectly subject to himself, but often resisteth
and murmureth. Learn therefore quickly to submit thyself to him who
is over thee, if thou seekest to bring thine own flesh into
subjection. For the outward enemy is very quickly overcome if the
inner man have not been laid low. There is no more grievous and
deadly enemy to the soul than thou art to thyself, if thou art not led
by the Spirit. Thou must not altogether conceive contempt for
thyself, if thou wilt prevail against flesh and blood. Because as yet
thou inordinately lovest thyself, therefore thou shrinkest from
yielding thyself to the will of others.
2. "But what great thing is it that thou, who art
dust and nothingness, yieldest thyself to man for God's sake, when I,
the Almighty and the Most High, who created all things out of nothing,
subjected Myself to man for thy sake? I became the most humble and
despised of men, that by My humility thou mightest overcome thy
pride. Learn to obey, O dust! Learn to humble thyself, O earth and
clay, and to bow thyself beneath the feet of all. Learn to crush thy
passions, and to yield thyself in all subjection.
3. "Be zealous against thyself, nor suffer pride
to live within thee, but so show thyself subject and of no reputation,
that all may be able to walk over thee, and tread thee down as the
clay in the streets. What hast thou, O foolish man, of which to
complain? What, O vile sinner, canst thou answer those who speak
against thee, seeing thou hast so often offended God, and many a time
hast deserved hell? But Mine eye hath spared thee, because thy soul
was precious in My sight; that thou mightest know My love, and
mightest be thankful for My benefits; and that thou mightest give
thyself altogether to true subjection and humility, and patiently bear
the contempt which thou meritest." |