the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第13节
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God。 Reckon as altogether vain whatsoever consolation comes to thee
from a creature。 The soul that loveth God looketh not to anything that is
beneath God。 God alone is eternal and incomprehensible； filling all
things； the solace of the soul； and the true joy of the heart。
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CHAPTER 30
Of the joy of a good conscience
The testimony of a good conscience is the glory of a good man。 Have a
good conscience and thou shalt ever have joy。 A good conscience is able
to bear exceeding much； and is exceeding joyful in the midst of adversities；
an evil conscience is ever fearful and unquiet。 Thou shalt rest sweetly if
thy heart condemn thee not。 Never rejoice unless when thou hast done
well。 The wicked have never true joy； nor feel internal peace； for there is
no peace； saith my God； to the wicked。（1） And if they say 〃we are in
peace； there shall no harm happen unto us； and who shall dare to do us
hurt？〃 believe them not； for suddenly shall the wrath of God rise up
against them； and their deeds shall be brought to nought； and their
thoughts shall perish。
2。 To glory in tribulation is not grievous to him who loveth； for such
glorying is glorying in the Cross of Christ。 Brief is the glory which is
given and received of men。 Sadness always goeth hand in hand with the
glory of the world。 The glory of the good is in their conscience； and not
in the report of men。 The joy of the upright is from God and in God； and
their joy is in the truth。 He who desireth true and eternal glory careth not
for that which is temporal； and he who seeketh temporal glory； or who
despiseth it from his heart； is proved to bear little love for that which is
heavenly。 He who careth for neither praises nor reproaches hath great
tranquillity of heart。
3。 He will easily be contented and filled with peace； whose conscience
is pure。 Thou art none the holier if thou art praised； nor the viler if thou
art reproached。 Thou art what thou art； and thou canst not be better than
God pronounceth thee to be。 If thou considerest well what thou art
inwardly； thou wilt not care what men will say to thee。 Man looketh on
the outward appearance； but the Lord looketh on the heart：（2） man looketh
on the deed； but God considereth the intent。 It is the token of a humble
spirit always to do well； and to set little by oneself。 Not to look for
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consolation from any created thing is a sign of great purity and inward
faithfulness。
4。 He that seeketh no outward witness on his behalf； showeth plainly
that he hath committed himself wholly to God。 For not he that
commendeth himself is approved； as St。 Paul saith； but whom the Lord
commendeth。（3） To walk inwardly with God； and not to be held by any
outer affections； is the state of a spiritual man。
（1） Isaiah lvii。 21。 （2） 1 Samuel xvi。 7。 （3） 2 Corinthians x。 18。
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CHAPTER 31
Of loving Jesus above all things
Blessed is he who understandeth what it is to love Jesus； and to
despise himself for Jesus' sake。 He must give up all that he loveth for his
Beloved； for Jesus will be loved alone above all things。 The love of
created things is deceiving and unstable； but the love of Jesus is faithful
and lasting。 He who cleaveth to created things will fall with their
slipperiness； but he who embraceth Jesus will stand upright for ever。
Love Him and hold Him for thy friend； for He will not forsake thee when
all depart from thee； nor will he suffer thee to perish at the last。 Thou
must one day be separated from all； whether thou wilt or wilt not。
2。 Cleave thou to Jesus in life and death； and commit thyself unto His
faithfulness； who； when all men fail thee； is alone able to help thee。 Thy
Beloved is such； by nature； that He will suffer no rival； but alone will
possess thy heart； and as a king will sit upon His own throne。 If thou
wouldst learn to put away from thee every created thing； Jesus would
freely take up His abode with thee。 Thou wilt find all trust little better
than lost which thou has placed in men； and not in Jesus。 Trust not nor
lean upon a reed shaken with the wind； because all flesh is grass； and the
goodliness thereof falleth as the flower of the field。（1）
3。 Thou wilt be quickly deceived if thou lookest only upon the outward
appearance of men； for if thou seekest thy comfort and profit in others；
thou shalt too often experience loss。 If thou seekest Jesus in all things
thou shalt verily find Jesus； but if thou seekest thyself thou shalt also find
thyself； but to thine own hurt。 For if a man seeketh not Jesus he is more
hurtful to himself than all the world and all his adversaries。
（1） Isaiah xl。 6。
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CHAPTER 32
Of the intimate love of Jesus
When Jesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth hard； but when
Jesus is not present everything is hard。 When Jesus speaketh not within；
our comfort is nothing worth； but if Jesus speaketh but a single word great
is the comfort we experience。 Did not Mary Magdalene rise up quickly
from the place where she wept when Martha said to her； The Master is
come and calleth for thee？（2） Happy hour when Jesus calleth thee from
tears to the joy of the spirit！ How dry and hard art thou without Jesus！
How senseless and vain if thou desire aught beyond Jesus！ Is not this
greater loss than if thou shouldst lose the whole world？
2。 What can the word profit thee without Jesus？ To be without Jesus
is the nethermost hell； and to be with Jesus is sweet paradise。 If Jesus
were with thee no enemy could hurt thee。 He who findeth Jesus findeth a
good treasure； yea； good above all good； and he who loseth Jesus loseth
exceeding much； yea； more than the whole world。 Most poor is he who
liveth without Jesus； and most rich is he who is much with Jesus。
3。 It is great skill to know how to live with Jesus； and to know how to
hold Jesus is great wisdom。 Be thou humble and peaceable and Jesus
shall be with thee。 Be godly and quiet； and Jesus will remain with thee。
Thou canst quickly drive away Jesus and lose His favour if thou wilt turn
away to the outer things。 And if thou hast put Him to flight and lost Him；
to whom wilt thou flee； and whom then wilt thou seek for a friend？
Without a friend thou canst not live long； and if Jesus be not thy friend
above all thou shalt be very sad and desolate。 Madly therefore doest thou
if thou trusteth or findest joy in any other。 It is preferable to have the
whole world against thee； than Jesus offended with thee。 Therefore of all
that are dear to thee； let Jesus be specially loved。
4。 Let all be loved for Jesus' sake； but Jesus for His own。 Jesus Christ
alone is to be specially loved； for He alone is found good and faithful
above all friends。 For His sake and in Him let both enemies and friends
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be dear to thee； and pray for them all that they may all know and love Him。
Never desire to be specially praised or loved； because this belongeth to
God alone； who hath none like unto Himself。
