STRENGTH AGAINST SLANDER
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, do not take it to heart if some people think badly of
you and say unpleasant things about you. You ought to think worse
things of yourself and to believe that no one is weaker than yourself.
Moreover, if you walk in the spirit you will pay little heed to
fleeting words. It is no small prudence to remain silent in evil
times, to turn inwardly to Me, and not to be disturbed by human
opinions. Do not let your peace depend on the words of men. Their
thinking well or badly of you does not make you different from what
you are. Where are true peace and glory? Are they not in Me? He who
neither cares to please men nor fears to displease them will enjoy
great peace, for all unrest and distraction of the senses arise out of
disorderly love and vain fear. |
Against the tongues of detractors
"My Son, take it not sadly to heart, if any think
ill of thee, and say of thee what thou art unwilling to hear. Thou
oughtest to think worse of thyself, and to believe no man weaker than
thyself. If thou walkest inwardly, thou wilt not weigh flying words
above their value. It is no small prudence to keep silence in an evil
time and to turn inwardly unto Me, and not to be troubled by human
judgment.
2. "Let not thy peace depend upon the word of
men; for whether they judge well or ill of thee, thou art not
therefore any other man than thyself. Where is true peace or true
glory? Is it not in Me? And he who seeketh not to please men, nor
feareth to displease, shall enjoy abundant peace. From inordinate
love and vain fear ariseth all disquietude of heart, and all
distraction of the senses." |