Book III, Chapter XLIII

Against Vain and Worldly Learning

1. Son, be not moved with the fine and quaint sayings of men; for the kingdom of God consists not in talk, but in virtue. Attend to my words, which inflame the heart, and enlighten the mind; which excite to compunction, and afford manifold consolations. Never read any thing that thou may appear more learned or more wise. Study, therefore, to mortify thy vices, for this will avail thee more than the knowledge of many hard questions.

2. When thou shalt have read, and shah know many things, thou must always return to one beginning. I am he that teacheth man knowledge, and I give a more clear understanding to little ones than can be taught by man. He to whom I speak will quickly be wise, and will make great progress in spirit Woe to them that inquire of men after many curious things, and are little curious of the way to serve me.

The time will come, when Christ, the Master of masters, the Lord of angels, shall appear, to hear the lessons of all men; that is, to examine the consciences of every one. And then he will search Jerusalem with candles, and the hidden things of darkness shall be brought to light, and the arguments of tongues shall be silent.

3. 1 am he that in an instant elevates a humble mind, to comprehend more reasons of the eternal truth than could be got by ten years’ study in the schools.

I teach without noise of words, without confusion of opinions, without ambition of honor, without contention of arguments. I teach to despise all earthly things, to loathe things present, to seek things eternal, to relish things eternal, to fly honors, to endure scandals, to repose all hope in me, to desire nothing out of me, and above all things ardently to love me.

4. For a certain person, by loving me, entirely learned divine things, and spoke wonders. He profited more by forsaking all things, than by studying subtilties. But to some I speak things common, to others, things more particular; to some, I sweetly appear in signs and figures; to others, in great light I reveal mysteries. The voice of the books is the same, but it teacheth not all men alike; because I within am the teacher of truth, the searcher of hearts, the understander of thoughts, the promoter of actions, distributing to every one as I judge fitting.

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