# Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter LVIII

CHAPTER LVIII.
OF NOT INQUIRING INTO HIGH MATTERS, AND INTO GOD'S SECRET JUDGMENTS.
EWARE thou dispute not of high matters, nor of the secret judgments of God, why this man is so left, and that man taken into such great favour; why also one man is so much afflicted, and another so greatly exalted.
These things are beyond the reach of man, neither is it in the power of any reason or disputation to search out the judgments of God.
​When therefore the enemy suggesteth these things unto thee, or some curious people raise the question, let thy answer be that of the prophet, "Thou art just, o Lord, and Thy judgment is right."
And again, "The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
My judgments are to be feared, not to be discussed; for they are such as cannot be comprehended by the understanding of man.
2. In like manner I advise thee not to inquire, nor dispute of the merits of holy men, as to which is holier than the other, or which shall be the greater in the kingdom of heaven.
These things oftentimes breed strife and contentions, they also nourish pride and vain-glory; from whence spring envy and dissensions.
To desire to search out such things answereth no good end, and is painful to the righteous; for I am not the God of dissension, but of peace; which peace consisteth rather in true humility, than in self-exaltation.
3. Some are carried with zeal of affection towards these or those; but this is rather human love than divine.
I am He Who made all the saints; I gave them grace; I obtain for them glory.
I know what every one hath deserved; I have prevented them with the blessing of My goodness.
I foreknew My beloved ones before the beginning of the world.
I chose them out of the world: they chose not Me first.
​I called them by grace, I drew them by mercy, I led them safely through many temptations.
I have poured into them glorious consolations, I gave them perseverance, I crowned their patience.
4. I acknowledge both the first and the last; I embrace all with inestimable love.
I am to be praised in all My saints; I am to be blessed above all things, and to be honoured in everyone whom I have thus gloriously exalted and predestinated, without any merits of their own.
He therefore that despiseth one of the least of Mine, honoureth not the greatest; for that I made both the small and the great.
And he that disparageth any of My saints, disparageth Me also, and all the rest in the kingdom of heaven.
These all are one through the bond of love; their thought is the same, their will is the same, and they are in charity one with another.
5. But still, which is far higher, they love Me more than themselves or any merits of their own.
For being ravished above self and self-love, they are wholly carried out to love Me, in Whom also they rest in fall fruition.
Nothing can turn them back, nothing can press them down; for being full of the eternal truth, they burn with the fire of unquenchable charity.
Let therefore carnal and natural men who can love nothing but their own selfish joys, forbear to dispute of the state of God's saints. Such men add and take away according to their own fancies, not as it pleaseth the eternal truth.
​6. Many are ignorant, especially those who are but little enlightened; and these can seldom love any with a perfect spiritual love.
They are as yet much drawn by a natural affection and human friendship to this man or to that. And according to the experience they have of themselves in their earthly affections, so do they frame imaginations of things heavenly.
But there is an incomparable distance between the things which the imperfect imagine and the things which they that are enlightened are enabled to behold through revelation from above.
7. Therefore, My son, handle not with vain curiosity things which exceed thy knowledge; but rather let this be thy great business and endeavour to attain if it be but the meanest place in the kingdom of God.
Even if any man should know who exceeds another in sanctity, or who is accounted the greatest in the kingdom of heaven; what would this wisdom profit him, unless he should humble himself the more in My sight, and then should rise up to give the greater praise to My name, in proportion to his knowledge.
Far more acceptable to God is he that thinketh of the greatness of his own sins, and the smallness of his virtues, and how far he is from the perfection of saints, than he who disputeth of their worth.
8. They are well, yea right well, contented, if men would but content themselves, and refrain from vain discourses.
They glory not of their own merits, inasmuch as ​they ascribe no goodness to themselves, but attribute all to Me, who of mine infinite love have given them all things.
They are filled with so great love of God, and with such an overflowing joy, that there is no glory nor happiness that is or that can be wanting unto them.
All the saints, the higher they are in glory, the more humble are they in themselves, and the nearer and dearer unto Me.
And therefore it is written, "That they did cast their crowns before God, and fell down on their faces before the Lamb, and adored Him that liveth for ever and ever."
9. Many inquire, who is the greatest in the kingdom of God, who know not whether they shall ever be numbered among the least.
It is a great thing to be even the least in heaven, where all are great; for they all shall be called, and shall be, the sons of God.
"The least shall become a thousand," and "the sinner of an hundred years shall die."
For when the disciples asked who should be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, they received such an answer as this: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven: whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
10. Woe be unto them who disdain to humble themselves willingly with little children; because the low gate of the kingdom of heaven will not give them entrance.
​Woe also to the rich, who have here there consolation; for whilst the poor enter into the kingdom of God, they shall stand lamenting without.
Rejoice ye that be humble, and ye poor be ye filled with joy, for yours is the kingdom of God, if at least ye walk according to the truth.