BEWARE VAIN AND WORLDLY KNOWLEDGE
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, do not let the fine-sounding and subtle words of men
deceive you. For the kingdom of heaven consists not in talk but in
virtue. Attend, rather, to My words which enkindle the heart and
enlighten the mind, which excite contrition and abound in manifold
consolations. Never read them for the purpose of appearing more
learned or more wise. Apply yourself to mortifying your vices, for
this will benefit you more than your understanding of many difficult
questions.
Though you shall have read and learned many things, it will
always be necessary for you to return to this one principle: I am He
who teaches man knowledge, and to the little ones I give a clearer
understanding than can be taught by man. He to whom I speak will soon
be wise and his soul will profit. But woe to those who inquire of men
about many curious things, and care very little about the way they
serve Me.
The time will come when Christ, the Teacher of teachers, the
Lord of angels, will appear to hear the lessons of all -- that is, to
examine the conscience of everyone. Then He will search Jerusalem with
lamps and the hidden things of darkness will be brought to light and
the arguings of men's tongues be silenced.
I am He Who in one moment so enlightens the humble mind that it
comprehends more of eternal truth than could be learned by ten years
in the schools. I teach without noise of words or clash of opinions,
without ambition for honor or confusion of argument.
I am He Who teaches man to despise earthly possessions and to
loathe present things, to ask after the eternal, to hunger for heaven,
to fly honors and to bear with scandals, to place all hope in Me, to
desire nothing apart from Me, and to love Me ardently above all
things. For a certain man by loving Me intimately learned divine
truths and spoke wonders. He profited more by leaving all things than
by studying subtle questions.
To some I speak of common things, to others of special matters.
To some I appear with sweetness in signs and figures, and to others I
appear in great light and reveal mysteries. The voice of books is but
a single voice, yet it does not teach all men alike, because I within
them am the Teacher and the Truth, the Examiner of hearts, the
Understander of thoughts, the Promoter of acts, distributing to each
as I see fit. |
Against vain and worldly knowledge
"My Son, let not the fair and subtle sayings of
men move thee. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in
power.(1) Give ear to My words, for they kindle the heart and
enlighten the mind, they bring contrition, and they supply manifold
consolations. Never read thou the word that thou mayest appear more
learned or wise; but study for the mortification of thy sins, for this
will be far more profitable for thee than the knowledge of many
difficult questions.
2. "When thou hast read and learned many things,
thou must always return to one first principle. I am He that teacheth
man knowledge,(2) and I give unto babes clearer knowledge than can be
taught by man. He to whom I speak will be quickly wise and shall grow
much in the spirit. Woe unto them who inquire into many curious
questions from men, and take little heed concerning the way of My
service. The time will come when Christ will appear, the Master of
masters, the Lord of the Angels, to hear the lessons of all, that is
to examine the consciences of each one. And then will He search
Jerusalem with candles,(3) and the hidden things of darkness(4) shall
be made manifest, and the arguings of tongues shall be silent.
3. "I am He who in an instant lift up the humble
spirit, to learn more reasonings of the Eternal Truth, than if a man
had studied ten years in the schools. I teach without noise of words,
without confusion of opinions, without striving after honour, without
clash of arguments. I am He who teach men to despise earthly things,
to loathe things present, to seek things heavenly, to enjoy things
eternal, to flee honours, to endure offences, to place all hope in Me,
to desire nothing apart from Me, and above all things to love Me
ardently.
4. "For there was one, who by loving Me from the
bottom of his heart, learned divine things, and spake things that were
wonderful; he profited more by forsaking all things than by studying
subtleties. But to some I speak common things, to others special; to
some I appear gently in signs and figures, and again to some I reveal
mysteries in much light. The voice of books is one, but it informeth
not all alike; because I inwardly am the Teacher of truth, the
Searcher of the heart, the Discerner of the thoughts, the Mover of
actions, distributing to each man, as I judge meet." |