Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/John Cassian/The Twelve Books/Book XII/Chapter 31

Chapter XXXI.

How we can overcome pride and attain perfection.

if we wish the summit of our building to be perfect and to rise well-pleasing to God, we should endeavour to lay its foundations not in accordance with the desires of our own lust, but according to the rules of evangelical strictness: which can only be the fear of God and humility, proceeding from kindness and simplicity of heart. But humility cannot possibly be acquired without giving up everything: and as long as a man is a stranger to this, he cannot possibly attain the virtue of obedience, or the strength of patience, or the serenity of kindness, or the perfection of love; without which things our hearts cannot possibly be a habitation for the Holy Spirit: as the Lord says through the prophet: &#8220;Upon whom shall My spirit rest, but on him that is humble and quiet and hears My words,&#8221; or according to those copies which express the Hebrew accurately: &#8220;To whom shall I have respect, but to him that is poor and little and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at My words?&#8221;