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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Fourth Chapter
PURITY OF MIND AND UNITY OF PURPOSE
A MAN is raised up from the earth by two wings -- simplicity and purity. There
must be simplicity in his intention and purity in his desires. Simplicity leads
to God, purity embraces and enjoys Him.
If your heart is free from ill-ordered affection, no good deed will be difficult
for you. If you aim at and seek after nothing but the pleasure of God and the
welfare of your neighbor, you will enjoy freedom within.
If your heart were right, then every created thing would be a mirror of life for
you and a book of holy teaching, for there is no creature so small and worthless
that it does not show forth the goodness of God. If inwardly you were good and
pure, you would see all things clearly and understand them rightly, for a pure
heart penetrates to heaven and hell, and as a man is within, so he judges what
is without. If there be joy in the world, the pure of heart certainly possess
it; and if there be anguish and affliction anywhere, an evil conscience knows it
too well.
As iron cast into fire loses its rust and becomes glowing white, so he who turns
completely to God is stripped of his sluggishness and changed into a new man.
When a man begins to grow lax, he fears a little toil and welcomes external
comfort, but when he begins perfectly to conquer himself and to walk bravely in
the ways of God, then he thinks those things less difficult which he thought so
hard before.
