Of the love of Jesus above all things
Chapter
seek jesus only
He has great tranquillity of heart who cares nothing for praise or blame.
3. He will easily be contented and at peace whose conscience is clean.
You are not more holy for being praised, nor worse for being blamed.
What you are, that you are; nor can words make you greater than you are in God's sight.
If you consider what you are inwardly, you will not care what men say of you.
Man looks on the face, but God sees into the heart.
Man considers the actions, but God weighs the intentions.
Always to do well, and to esteem oneself of small account, is the mark of a humble soul.
To refuse consolation from any creature is a sign of great purity and of inward confidence.
4. He that seeks no outward testimony for himself, shows plainly that he has committed himself wholly to God.
For Saint Paul says: Not he that commends himself is approved, but he whom God commends.^ To walk within with God, and to be bound by no outward affection: this is the state of the truly inward man.
CHAPTER 7
OF THE LOVE OF JESUS ABOVE ALL THINGS
Blessed is he that understands what it is to love Jesus, and to despise himself for the sake of Jesus.
We must quit what is beloved for the sake of the Beloved; for Jesus will be loved alone and above all things.
The love of things created is deceitful and inconstant; the love of Jesus is faithful and enduring.
He that clings to the creature shall fall with its falling.
He that embraces Jesus shall stand firm for ever.
Love Him, and keep Him for your friend, who, when all go away, will not forsake you, nor suffer you to perish finally.
Sooner or later you must be separated from all, whether you will or no.
In life and in death keep yourself near to Jesus, and entrust yourself to His fidelity, who alone can help you when all others fail.
The nature of your Beloved is such that He will not admit *2 Corinthians x, 18.