After Thomas Kempis

    I.

    Who follows Jesus shall not walk
    In darksome road with danger rife;
    But in his heart the Truth will talk,
    And on his way will shine the Life.

    So, on the story we must pore
    Of him who lives for us, and died,
    That we may see him walk before,
    And know the Father in the guide.


    II.

    In words of truth Christ all excels,
    Leaves all his holy ones behind;
    And he in whom his spirit dwells
    Their hidden manna sure shall find.

    Gather wouldst thou the perfect grains,
    And Jesus fully understand?
    Thou must obey him with huge pains,
    And to God's will be as Christ's hand.


    III.

    What profits it to reason high
    And in hard questions court dispute,
    When thou dost lack humility,
    Displeasing God at very root!

    Profoundest words man ever spake
    Not once of blame washed any clear;
    A simple life alone could make
    Nathanael to his master dear.


    IV.

    The eye with seeing is not filled,
    The ear with hearing not at rest;
    Desire with having is not stilled;
    With human praise no heart is blest.

    Vanity, then, of vanities
    All things for which men grasp and grope!
    The precious things in heavenly eyes
    Are love, and truth, and trust, and hope.


    V.

    Better the clown who God doth love
    Than he that high can go
    And name each little star above
    But sees not God below!

    What if all things on earth I knew,
    Yea, love were all my creed,
    It serveth nothing with the True;
    He goes by heart and deed.


    VI.

    If thou dost think thy knowledge good,
    Thy intellect not slow,
    Bethink thee of the multitude
    Of things thou dost not know.

    Why look on any from on high
    Because thou knowest more?
    Thou need'st but look abroad, to spy
    Ten thousand thee before.

    Wouldst thou in knowledge true advance
    And gather learning's fruit,
    In love confess thy ignorance,
    And thy Self-love confute.


    VII.

    This is the highest learning,
    The hardest and the best--
    From self to keep still turning,
    And honour all the rest.

    If one should break the letter,
    Yea, spirit of command,
    Think not that thou art better,
    Thou may'st not always stand!

    We all are weak--but weaker
    Hold no one than thou art;
    Then, as thou growest meeker,
    Higher will go thy heart.


    VIII.

    Sense and judgment oft indeed
    Spy but little and mislead,
    Ground us on a shelf!

    Happy he whom Truth doth teach,
    Not by forms of passing speech,
    But her very self!

    Why of hidden things dispute,
    Mind unwise, howe'er astute,
    Making that thy task
    Where the Judge will, at the last,
    When disputing all is past,
    Not a question ask?

    Folly great it is to brood
    Over neither bad nor good,
    Eyes and ears unheedful!
    Ears and eyes, ah, open wide
    For what may be heard or spied
    Of the one thing needful!