by Thomas Kempis

My son, says our Savior Christ, you are not yet a strong and a wise lover.

Why, Lord?

Because of a little adversity you soon leave off what you had begun in My service, and with great yearning you seek outward consolation. But a strong and faithful lover of God stands unshaken in all adversities, and gives little heed to the deceitful persuasions of the enemy. As I please such a lover in prosperity, so I do not displease him in adversity. A wise lover does not so much consider the gift of his lover as he does the love of the giver. He regards more the love than the gift, and accounts all gifts little in comparison  with his beloved, who gives them to him. A noble lover does not rest in the gift, but rests in Me, above all gifts.

But all is not lost, though you sometimes feel less devotion to Me and to my saints than you would feel. On the other hand, the sweet spiritual desire you sometimes feel toward your Lord Jesus is the manifest gift of grace given for your comfort in this life, and a taste of heavenly glory in the life to come. But it is not good for you to lean overmuch on such comforts, for they easily come and go, according to the will of the Giver. To strive always without ceasing against all evil motions of sin and to despise all suggestions of the enemy is a token of perfect love, of great merit and singular grace.

Let no vanities or strange fantasies trouble you, no matter what they concern. Keep your intention and your purpose  always whole and strong toward Me, and do not think that it is an illusion you are suddenly lifted up to sublime thoughts, and you are soon after turned again to your first levity  of heart; for you suffer such levity of heart  against your will rather than with your will, and so, if you are displeased by it, it will be of great merit for you, and no loss.

I know, says our Lord, that the old ancient enemy, the devil, will try to hinder your good will and to extinguish the good desire you have toward Me and to all goodness, as far as he can. And he will also hinder you from all good works and devout exercises, if he can, that is to say, from the honor and worship you are bound to give Me and My saints. He will try to hinder you from remembrance of My Passion, and from the recollection of your own sins, from a diligent keeping of your heart in good meditation, and from a steadfast purpose to advance in virtue. He will put into your mind many idle thoughts, to make you soon weary with prayer and with reading, and with all other good, virtuous works. A humble confession displeases him much; if he can, he will hinder a man from making his confession.  Do not believe him, and do not regard him, though he assail you ever so much.

Make all the devil's malice turn back upon him and say to him: Go from me, you wicked spirit, and be ashamed, for you are foul and ugly who would bring such things into my mind. Go from me, you false deceiver of mankind. You shall never have part in me, for my Savior Jesus stands besides me like a mighty warrior and a strong companion, and you shall fly away to your confusion. I had rather suffer the most cruel death than consent to your malicious stories. Be still, you cursed  fiend, and cease your malice, for I will never assent to you, though you vex me ever so much. Our Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I dread? He is the defender of my life; what shall I fear? If a host of men arise against me, my heart will not dread, for God is my Helper and my Redeemer.

Then, says our Lord again to such a soul: Strive always like a true knight against all the stirrings of the enemy, and if sometimes through your frailty you are overcome, rise soon again, and take more strength than you had first, and trust truly to have more grace and more comfort from God than you had before. But beware always of vainglory and pride, for by them many persons have fallen into great errors and into great blindness of soul to such an extent that their ill has been well nigh incurable. Let the fall and ruin of such proud folk therefore be a great example and a matter of perpetual humility to you-such proud folk who have foolishly presumed of themselves, and have in the end perished by their presumption.