by Thomas A. Kempis

Charity, not eloquence, is to be sought in Holy Scripture, and it should be read in the same spirit with which it was first made.

We ought to seek in Holy Scripture spiritual profit rather than elegance of style, and to read simple and devout books as gladly as books of high learning and wisdom. Do not let the authority of the author irk you, whether he be of great learning or little, but let the love of every pure truth stir you to read.

Ask not: "Who said this?" But heed well what is said. Man pass lightly away, but the truth of God endures forever (Gita 7:23).

The Almighty God speaks to us in His Scriptures in various manners, without regard for persons, but our curiosity often hinders us in reading Scripture when we reason and argue things we should humbly and simply pass over. If you will profit by reading Scripture, read humbly, simply, and faithfully, and never desire to gain by your reading the name of learned. Ask gladly and heed humbly the saying of saints, and do not disdain the parables of ancient Fathers, for they were not spoken without great cause.