Of the joy of a good conscience
OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
Book II Let there be nothing great, nothing high, nothing pleasant, nothing acceptable to you but only God Himself, or what comes from God.
Think it all vanity, whatever consolation you may meet with from any creature.
The soul that loves God despises all things that are less than God.
God only, the eternal and infinite, who fills all things, is the soul's solace and the true joy of the heart.
CHAPTER 6
OF THE JOY OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE
The glory of a good man is the testimony of a good conscience.^ Have a good conscience and you shall always have joy.
A good conscience can bear very much, and is very joyful in the midst of adversity.
But an evil conscience is always fearful and uneasy. Sweetly shall you rest, if your heart do not blame you.
Never rejoice, except when you have done well.
The wicked never have true joy, nor feel inward peace; because (says the Lord) there is no peace for the wicked.^ And if they say: We are in peace, and there shall no evil come upon us, and who is there shall dare to harm us?^ believe them not; for suddenly the anger of God shall arise, and their deeds shall be brought to nothing, and their thoughts shall perish.
2. To glory in tribulation is not hard for him that loves; for to glory so is to glory in the cross of the Lord.
Short-lived is the glory that is given and received by men.
The glory of this world is always attended by sorrow.
The glory of the good is in their own consciences and not in the mouths of men.
The joy of the just is from God and in God, and their rejoicing is in the truth.
He that longs after true and everlasting glory, cares not for that which is temporal.
And he that seeks temporal glory, or does not from his heart despise it, shows himself to have little love for the glory of heaven.
1 2 Corinthians i, 12.
* Isaias xlviii, 22.
"Micheas iii, 11.