Chapter 08. Of a low estimation of self in the sight of God (Book 3. On Inward Consolation as a Gift of God) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas)

1. I will speak to my Lord who am but dust and ashes. If I count myself more, behold You stand against me, and my iniquities bear true testimony, and I cannot gainsay it. But if I abase myself, and bring myself to nought, and shrink from all self-esteem, and grind myself to dust, which I am, Your grace will be favourable to me, and Your light will be near to my heart; and all self-esteem, how little soever it be, shall be swallowed up in the depths of my nothingness, and shall perish for ever. There You show to me myself, what I am, what I was, and whither I have come: so foolish was I and ignorant. If I am left to myself, behold I am nothing, I am all weakness; but if suddenly You look upon me, immediately I am made strong, and filled with new joy. And it is great marvel that I am so suddenly lifted up, and so graciously embraced by You, since I am always being carried to the deep by my own weight.

2. This is the doing of Your love which freely goes before me and succours me in so many necessities, which guards me also in great dangers and snatches me, as I may truly say, from innumerable evils. For truly, by loving myself amiss, I lost myself, and by seeking and sincerely loving You alone, I found both myself and You, and through love I have brought myself to yet deeper nothingness: because You, O most sweet Lord, deal with me beyond all merit, and above all which I dare ask or think.

3. Blessed be You, O my God, because though I be unworthy of all Your benefits, Your bountiful and infinite goodness never ceass to do good even to ingrates and to those who are turned far from You. Turn You us to Yourself, that we may be grateful, humble, and godly, for You are our salvation, our courage, and our strength.

Psalm lxxiii. 22.