TRUST IN GOD AGAINST SLANDER
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, stand firm and trust in Me. For what are words but
words? They fly through the air but hurt not a stone. If you are
guilty, consider how you would gladly amend. If you are not conscious
of any fault, think that you wish to bear this for the sake of God. It
is little enough for you occasionally to endure words, since you are
not yet strong enough to bear hard blows.
And why do such small matters pierce you to the heart, unless
because you are still carnal and pay more heed to men than you ought?
You do not wish to be reproved for your faults and you seek shelter in
excuses because you are afraid of being despised. But look into
yourself more thoroughly and you will learn that the world is still
alive in you, in a vain desire to please men. For when you shrink from
being abased and confounded for your failings, it is plain indeed that
you are not truly humble or truly dead to the world, and that the
world is not crucified in you.
Listen to My word, and you will not value ten thousand words of
men. Behold, if every malicious thing that could possibly be invented
were uttered against you, what harm could it do if you ignored it all
and gave it no more thought than you would a blade of grass? Could it
so much as pluck one hair from your head?
He who does not keep his heart within him, and who does not
have God before his eyes is easily moved by a word of disparagement.
He who trusts in Me, on the other hand, and who has no desire to stand
by his own judgment, will be free from the fear of men. For I am the
judge and discerner of all secrets. I know how all things happen. I
know who causes injury and who suffers it. From Me that word
proceeded, and with My permission it happened, that out of many hearts
thoughts may be revealed. I shall judge the guilty and the innocent;
but I have wished beforehand to try them both by secret judgment.
The testimony of man is often deceiving, but My judgment is
true -- it will stand and not be overthrown. It is hidden from many
and made known to but a few. Yet it is never mistaken and cannot be
mistaken even though it does not seem right in the eyes of the unwise.
To Me, therefore, you ought to come in every decision, not
depending on your own judgment. For the just man will not be
disturbed, no matter what may befall him from God. Even if an unjust
charge be made against him he will not be much troubled. Neither will
he exult vainly if through others he is justly acquitted. He considers
that it is I Who search the hearts and inmost thoughts of men, that I
do not judge according to the face of things or human appearances. For
what the judgment of men considers praiseworthy is often worthy of
blame in My sight.
THE DISCIPLE
O Lord God, just Judge, strong and patient, You Who know the
weakness and depravity of men, be my strength and all my confidence,
for my own conscience is not sufficient for me. You know what I do not
know, and, therefore, I ought to humble myself whenever I am accused
and bear it meekly. Forgive me, then, in Your mercy for my every
failure in this regard, and give me once more the grace of greater
endurance. Better to me is Your abundant mercy in obtaining pardon
than the justice which I imagine in defending the secrets of my
conscience. And though I am not conscious to myself of any fault, yet
I cannot thereby justify myself, because without Your mercy no man
living will be justified in Your sight. |
Of having confidence in God when evil words are
cast at us
"My Son, stand fast and believe in Me. For what
are words but words? They fly through the air, but they bruise no
stone. If thou are guilty, think how thou wouldst gladly amend
thyself; if thou knowest nothing against thyself, consider that thou
wilt gladly bear this for God's sake. It is little enough that thou
sometimes hast to bear hard words, for thou art not yet able to bear
hard blows. And wherefore do such trivial matters go to thine heart,
except that thou art yet carnal, and regardest men more than thou
oughtest? For because thou fearest to be despised, thou art unwilling
to be reproved for thy faults, and seekest paltry shelters of excuses.
2. "But look better into thyself, and thou shalt
know that the world is still alive in thee, and the vain love of
pleasing men. For when thou fleest away from being abased and
confounded for thy faults, it is plain that thou art neither truly
humble nor truly dead to the world, and that the world is not
crucified to thee. But hearken to My word, and thou shalt not care
for ten thousand words of men. Behold, if all things could be said
against thee which the utmost malice could invent, what should it hurt
thee if thou wert altogether to let it go, and make no more account of
it than of a mote? Could it pluck out a single hair of thy head?
3. "But he that hath no heart within him, and
hath not God before his eyes, is easily moved by a word of reproach;
but he who trusteth in Me, and seeketh not to abide by his own
judgment, shall be free from the fear of men. For I am the Judge and
the Discerner of all secrets; I know how the thing hath been done; I
know both the injurer and the bearer. From Me went forth that word,
by My permission this hath happened, that the thoughts of many hearts
may be revealed.(1) I shall judge the guilty and the innocent; but
beforehand I have willed to try them both by a secret judgment.
4. "The testimony of men often deceiveth. My
judgment is true; it will stand, and it shall not be overturned. It
commonly lieth hid, and only to few in certain cases is it made known;
yet it never erreth, nor can err, although it seem not right to the
eyes of foolish men. To Me, therefore, must men have recourse in all
judgment, and must not lean to their opinion. For there shall no evil
happen to the just,(2) whatsoever may be sent to him by God. Even
though some unjust charge be brought against him, he will care little;
nor, again, will he exult above measure, if through others he be
clearly vindicated. For he considereth that I am He who try the
hearts and reins,(3) who judge not outwardly and according to human
appearance; for often in Mine eyes that is found blameworthy which in
the judgment of men is held worthy of praise."
5. O Lord God, O Judge, just, strong, and
patient, who knowest the frailty and sinfulness of men, be Thou my
strength and my whole confidence; for my own conscience sufficeth me
not. Thou knowest what I know not; and therefore ought I under all
rebuke to humble myself, and to bear it meekly. Therefore mercifully
forgive me as often as I have not done this, and grant me the next
time the grace of greater endurance. For better unto me is Thine
abundant pity for the attainment of Thy pardon, than the righteousness
which I believe myself to have for defence against my conscience,
which lieth wait against me. Although I know nothing against myself,
yet I am not hereby justified,(4) because if Thy mercy were removed
away, in Thy sight should no man living be justified.(5) |