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The Voice of Christ
My child, you can never be perfectly free unless you
completely renounce self, for all who seek their own
interest and who love themselves are bound in
fetters. They are unsettled by covetousness and
curiosity, always searching for ease and not for the
things of Christ, often devising and framing that
which will not last, for anything that is not of God
will fail completely.Hold to this short and
perfect advice, therefore: give up your desires and
you will find rest. Think upon it in your heart, and
when you have put it into practice you will
understand all things.
The Disciple
But this, Lord, is not the work of one day, nor is it
mere child's play; indeed, in this brief sentence is
included all the perfection of holy persons.
The Voice of Christ
My child, you should not turn away or be downcast
when you hear the way of the perfect. Rather you
ought to be spurred on the more toward their sublime
heights, or at least be moved to seek perfection.
I would this were the case with you -- that you had
progressed to the point where you no longer loved
self but simply awaited My bidding and his whom I
have placed as father over you. Then you would please
Me very much, and your whole life would pass in peace
and joy. But you have yet many things which you must
give up, and unless you resign them entirely to Me
you will not obtain that which you ask.
"I counsel thee to buy of me gold, fire-tried,
that thou mayest be made rich"(1) -- rich in heavenly
wisdom which treads underfoot all that is low. Put
aside earthly wisdom, all human self-complacency.
I have said: exchange what is precious and valued
among men for that which is considered contemptible.
For true heavenly wisdom -- not to think highly of
self and not to seek glory on earth -- does indeed
seem mean and small and is well-nigh forgotten, as
many men praise it with their mouths but shy far away
from it in their lives. Yet this heavenly wisdom is a
pearl of great price, which is hidden from many.
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