Doctrine of Truth

Blessed is the man whom thou . . . teachest . . . out of thy law (Ps. 94:12) , not by figures and words that pass away, but as it is in itself. Our own opinion and our own sense often deceive us, and they discern but little.

What avails great cailing and disputing about dark and hidden things (Eccles. 3:9-11) , concerning which we shall not be reproved in the Judgment because we knew them not? It is great folly to neglect the things that are profitable and necessary, and to give our minds to things curious and hurtful: Eyes have they, but see they not (Ps. 115:5; Mark 8:18) . And what have we to do with genus and species? He to whom the eternal Word speaks is set free from many opinions. From that one Word are all things and all things speak; and this is the beginning, which also speaks to us. No man without that understands or judges rightly. He to whom all things are one, and who draws all things to one, and see all things in one, can be steadfast in heart, and peaceable repose in God.

O God, who are the truth, make me one with Thee in continual love! I am weary often to read and hear many things. In Thee is all that I desire and long for. Let all teachers hold their peace; let all creatures be silent in Thy sight; speak to me alone.

The more a man is at one within himself, and becomes single in heart, so much the more and higher things does he understand without labor; for he receives the light of understanding from above (Luke 10:21) . A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not distracted in a multitude of affairs, for it works all to the honor of God, and inwardly strives to be at rest from all self-seeking. Who hinders and troubles you more than the unmortified affections of your own heart? A good and devout man prepares beforehand the works which he is to do before the world. Neither do they draw him according to the desires of a sinful inclination, but he himself orders them according to the decision of right reason. Who has a harder struggle than he who labors to conquer himself? This ought to be our endeavor to conquer ourselves, and daily to wax stronger than ourselves, and to make some progress for good.

All perfection in this life has some imperfection bound up in it; and no knowledge of ours is without some darkness. A humble knowledge of self is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning. Yet learning is not to be blamed, nor the mere knowledge of anything whatsoever, for knowledge is good, considered in itself, and ordained by God; but a good conscience and a virtuous life are always to be preferred before it. But because many endeavor rather to know that to live well, therefore they are often deceived, and reap either none, or scanty fruit.

Oh, if men bestowed as much labor in the rooting out of vices and planting of virtues as they do in proposing questions, there would neither be such evils and slanders in the world, nor so much looseness among us.

Truly, when the day of judgment comes, we shall not be examined as to what we have read, but what we have done (Matt. 25) ; not how well we have spoken, but how we have lived.

Where are now all those masters and doctors with whom you were well acquainted while they lived and flourished in learning? Now others possess their livings, and perhaps scarecely ever think of them. In their lifetime they seemed to be somewhat, but now they are not spoken of. How quickly the glory of the world passes away (Eccles. 2:11) !

Oh, that their lives had been answerable to their learning! Then had their study and reading been to good purpose. How many perish by reason of vain learning (Titus 1:10, 11) in this world, who take little care of the serving of God! And because they rather choose to be great than humble, therefore they come to naught in their imaginations (Rom. 1:21) .

He is truly great, who is great in love. He is truly great who is little in himself, and who makes no account of any height of honor (Matt. 23:11) . He is truly wise who accounts all earthly things "but dung, that [he] may win Christ" (Phil. 3:8) . And he is truly very learned who does the will of God and forsakes his own will.

- Thomas of Kempis