Out of this grows the love of our neighbor, for it now esteems them, and no longer judges them as it used to do, when it looked upon itself as exceed… - John of the Cross

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Out of this grows the love of our neighbor, for it now esteems them, and no longer judges them as it used to do, when it looked upon itself as exceedingly fervent, and upon others as not. Now it sees nothing but its own misery, which it keeps so constantly before its eyes that it can look upon nothing else. This state is admirably shown by David himself, when in this dark night, saying, “I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things, and my sorrow was renewed.”19 All the good of his soul seemed to him so mean that he could not speak of it; he was silent as to the good of others, because of the pain of the knowledge of his own wretchedness. 14. In this state, too, men are submissive and obedient in the spiritual way, for when they see their own wretchedness they not only listen to instruction, but desire to have it from anyone who will guide their steps and tell them what they ought to do. That selfish20 presumption which sometimes possessed them in their prosperity is now gone; and, finally, all those imperfections are swept clean away to which I referred when I was treating of spiritual pride.