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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Twentieth Chapter
THE LOVE OF SOLITUDE AND SILENCE
SEEK a suitable time for leisure and meditate often on the favors of God. Leave
curiosities alone. Read such matters as bring sorrow to the heart rather than
occupation to the mind. If you withdraw yourself from unnecessary talking and
idle running about, from listening to gossip and rumors, you will find enough
time that is suitable for holy meditation.
Very many great saints avoided the company of men wherever possible and chose to
serve God in retirement. "As often as I have been among men," said one writer,
"I have returned less a man." We often find this to be true when we take part in
long conversations. It is easier to be silent altogether than not to speak too
much. To stay at home is easier than to be sufficiently on guard while away.
Anyone, then, who aims to live the inner and spiritual life must go apart, with
Jesus, from the crowd.
No man appears in safety before the public eye unless he first relishes
obscurity. No man is safe in speaking unless he loves to be silent. No man rules
safely unless he is willing to be ruled. No man commands safely unless he has
learned well how to obey. No man rejoices safely unless he has within him the
testimony of a good conscience.
More than this, the security of the saints was always enveloped in the fear of
God, nor were they less cautious and humble because they were conspicuous for
great virtues and graces. The security of the wicked, on the contrary, springs
from pride and presumption, and will end in their own deception.
Never promise yourself security in this life, even though you seem to be a good
religious, or a devout hermit. It happens very often that those whom men esteem
highly are more seriously endangered by their own excessive confidence. Hence,
for many it is better not to be too free from temptations, but often to be tried
lest they become too secure, too filled with pride, or even too eager to fall
back upon external comforts.
If only a man would never seek passing joys or entangle himself with worldly
affairs, what a good conscience he would have. What great peace and tranquillity
would be his, if he cut himself off from all empty care and thought only of
things divine, things helpful to his soul, and put all his trust in God.
No man deserves the consolation of heaven unless he persistently arouses himself
to holy contrition. If you desire true sorrow of heart, seek the privacy of your
cell and shut out the uproar of the world, as it is written: "In your chamber
bewail your sins." There you will find what too often you lose abroad.
Your cell will become dear to you if you remain in it, but if you do not, it
will become wearisome. If in the beginning of your religious life, you live
within your cell and keep to it, it will soon become a special friend and a very
great comfort.
In silence and quiet the devout soul advances in virtue and learns the hidden
truths of Scripture. There she finds a flood of tears with which to bathe and
cleanse herself nightly, that she may become the more intimate with her Creator
the farther she withdraws from all the tumult of the world. For God and His holy
angels will draw near to him who withdraws from friends and acquaintances.
It is better for a man to be obscure and to attend to his salvation than to
neglect it and work miracles. It is praiseworthy for a religious seldom to go
abroad, to flee the sight of men and have no wish to see them.
Why wish to see what you are not permitted to have? "The world passes away and
the concupiscence thereof." Sensual craving sometimes entices you to wander
around, but when the moment is past, what do you bring back with you save a
disturbed conscience and heavy heart? A happy going often leads to a sad return,
a merry evening to a mournful dawn. Thus, all carnal joy begins sweetly but in
the end brings remorse and death.
What can you find elsewhere that you cannot find here in your cell? Behold
heaven and earth and all the elements, for of these all things are made. What
can you see anywhere under the sun that will remain long? Perhaps you think you
will completely satisfy yourself, but you cannot do so, for if you should see
all existing things, what would they be but an empty vision?
Raise your eyes to God in heaven and pray because of your sins and shortcomings.
Leave vanity to the vain. Set yourself to the things which God has commanded you
to do. Close the door upon yourself and call to you Jesus, your Beloved. Remain
with Him in your cell, for nowhere else will you find such peace. If you had not
left it, and had not listened to idle gossip, you would have remained in greater
peace. But since you love, sometimes, to hear news, it is only right that you
should suffer sorrow of heart from it.
