Thomas á Kempis. The imitation of Christ. Book 2.

Loving Jesus above all things

Blessed are they who appreciate what it is to love Jesus and who despise themselves for the sake of Jesus. Give up all other love for His, since he wishes to be loved alone above all things. […]

Love him, then; keep him as a friend. He will not leave you as others do, or let you suffer lasting death. Sometime, whether you will or not, you will have to part with everything. Cling, therefore, to Jesus in life and death; trust yourself to the glory of him who alone can help you when all others fail. […]

You will find, apart from him, that nearly all the trust you place in others is a total loss. Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a wind-shaken reed, for "all flesh is grass" (Isaiah 15.6) and all its glory, like the flower of grass, will fade away.

You will quickly be deceived if you look only to the outward human appearance, and you will often be disappointed if you seek comfort and gain in them. If, however, you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find him. […] For those who does not seek Jesus do themselves much greater harm than the whole world and all their enemies could ever do.