Chapter XXXIII.
Remedies against the evil of pride.
And
when men remain in this
condition, there is no doubt that this quiet and secure state of
humility will follow, so that considering ourselves inferior to every
one else we shall bear everything offered to us, even if it is hurtful,
and saddening, and damaging—with the utmost patience, as if it
came from those who are our superiors. And these things we shall not
only bear with the greatest ease, but we shall consider them trifling
and mere nothings, if we constantly bear in mind the passion of our
Lord and of all His Saints: considering that the injuries by which we
are tried are so much less than theirs, as we are so far behind their
merits and their lives: remembering also that we shall shortly depart
out of this world, and soon by a speedy end to our life here become
sharers of their lot. For considerations such as these are a sure end
not only to pride but to all kinds of sins. Then, next after this we
must keep a firm grasp of this same humility towards God: which we must
so secure as not only to acknowledge that we cannot possibly perform
anything connected with the attainment of perfect virtue without His
assistance and grace, but also truly to believe that this very fact
that we can understand this, is His own gift.