He does not ask you to give up
wife, child, property, or any of the good things of this life. He only
asks you to give up that selfishness which will prevent you enjoying
wife, child, or property, or anything else in earth, or in heaven either.
He asks you not to give up anything which is AROUND you, for that which
cometh from without defileth not a man; but to give up something which is
within you, for that which cometh from within, that defileth a man.
He asks you to give up selfishness and all the evil tempers which that
selfishness breeds. To give up the tongue which speaks evil of your
fellow-men; and the lips which utter deceit; and the brain which imagines
cunning; and the heart which quarrels with your neighbour. To give these
up and to seek peace, and pursue it by all means reasonable or
honourable; peace with all around you, which comes by having first peace
with God; next, peace with your own conscience. This is the peace which
passeth understanding; for if you have it, men will not be able to
understand why you have it. They will see you at peace when men admire
you and praise you, and at peace also when they insult you and injure
you; at peace when you are prosperous and thriving, and at peace also
when you are poor and desolate.
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