the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第18节
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things； art over all things； fillest all things； leaving empty only the sinner。
Call to mind Thy tender mercies； and fill my heart with Thy grace； Thou
who wilt not that Thy work should return to Thee void。
7。 How can I bear this miserable life unless Thy mercy and grace
strengthen me？ Turn not away Thy face from me； delay not Thy
visitation。 Withdraw not Thou Thy comfort from me； lest my soul 〃gasp
after thee as a thirsty land。〃 Lord； teach me to do Thy will； teach me to
walk humbly and uprightly before Thee； for Thou are my wisdom； who
knowest me in truth； and knewest me before the world was made and
before I was born into the world。
（1） John vi。 63。 （2） Psalm xciv。 13。 （3） Isaiah xxiii。 4。
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 39
How we must walk in truth and humility before God
〃My Son！ walk before Me in truth； and in the simplicity of thy heart
seek Me continually。 He who walketh before Me in the truth shall be
safe from evil assaults； and the truth shall deliver him from the wiles and
slanders of the wicked。 If the truth shall make thee free； thou shalt be
free indeed； and shalt not care for the vain words of men。〃
2。 Lord； it is true as Thou sayest let it； I pray Thee； be so with me； let
Thy truth teach me； let it keep me and preserve me safe unto the end。 Let
it free me from all evil and inordinate affection； and I will walk before
Thee in great freedom of heart。
3。 〃I will teach thee；〃 saith the Truth； 〃the things which are right and
pleasing before Me。 Think upon thy sins with great displeasure and
sorrow； and never think thyself anything because of thy good works。
Verily thou art a sinner； liable to many passions； yea； tied and bound with
them。 Of thyself thou always tendest unto nothing； thou wilt quickly fall；
quickly be conquered； quickly disturbed； quickly undone。 Thou hast
nought whereof to glory； but many reasons why thou shouldest reckon
thyself vile； for thou art far weaker than thou art able to comprehend。
4。 〃Let； therefore； nothing which thou doest seem to thee great； let
nothing be grand； nothing of value or beauty； nothing worthy of honour；
nothing lofty； nothing praiseworthy or desirable； save what is eternal。
Let the eternal truth please thee above all things； let thine own great
vileness displease thee continually。 Fear； denounce； flee nothing so much
as thine own faults and sins； which ought to be more displeasing to thee
than any loss whatsoever of goods。 There are some who walk not
sincerely before me； but being led by curiosity and pride； they desire to
know my secret things and to understand the deep things of God； whilst
they neglect themselves and their salvation。 These often fall into great
temptations and sins because of their pride and curiosity； for I am against
them。
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5。 〃Fear thou the judgments of God； fear greatly the wrath of the
Almighty。 Shrink from debating upon the works of the Most High； but
search narrowly thine own iniquities into what great sins thou hast fallen；
and how many good things thou hast neglected。 There are some who carry
their devotion only in books； some in pictures； some in outward signs and
figures； some have Me in their mouths but little in their hearts。 Others
there are who； being enlightened in their understanding and purged in their
affections； continually long after eternal things； hear of earthly things with
unwillingness； obey the necessities of nature with sorrow。 And these
understand what the Spirit of truth speaketh in them； for He teacheth them
to despise earthly things and to love heavenly； to neglect the world and to
desire heaven all the day and night。〃
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 40
Of the wonderful power of the Divine Love
I bless Thee； O Heavenly Father； Father of my Lord Jesus Christ； for
that Thou hast vouchsafed to think of me； poor that I am。 O； Father of
Mercies and God of all comfort；（1） I give thanks unto Thee； who
refreshest me sometimes with thine own comfort； when I am unworthy of
any comfort。 I bless and glorify Thee continually； with thine only
begotten Son and the Holy Ghost； the Paraclete； for ever and ever。 O
Lord God； Holy lover of my soul； when Thou shalt come into my heart； all
my inward parts shall rejoice。 Thou art my glory and the joy of my heart。
Thou art my hope and my refuge in the day of my trouble。
2。 But because I am still weak in love and imperfect in virtue； I need to
be strengthened and comforted by Thee； therefore visit Thou me often and
instruct me with Thy holy ways of discipline。 Deliver me from evil
passions； and cleanse my heart from all inordinate affections； that； being
healed and altogether cleansed within； I may be made ready to love； strong
to suffer； steadfast to endure。
3。 Love is a great thing； a good above all others； which alone maketh
every heavy burden light； and equaliseth every inequality。 For it beareth
the burden and maketh it no burden； it maketh every bitter thing to be
sweet and of good taste。 The surpassing love of Jesus impelleth to great
works； and exciteth to the continual desiring of greater perfection。 Love
willeth to be raised up； and not to be held down by any mean thing。 Love
willeth to be free and aloof from all worldly affection； lest its inward
power of vision be hindered； lest it be entangled by any worldly prosperity
or overcome by adversity。 Nothing is sweeter than love； nothing stronger；
nothing loftier； nothing broader； nothing pleasanter； nothing fuller or better
in heaven nor on earth； for love was born of God and cannot rest save in
God above all created things。
4。 He who loveth flyeth； runneth； and is glad； he is free and not
hindered。 He giveth all things for all things； and hath all things in all
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things； because he resteth in One who is high above all； from whom every
good floweth and proceedeth。 He looketh not for gifts； but turneth
himself to the Giver above of all good things。 Love oftentimes knoweth
no measure； but breaketh out above all measure； love feeleth no burden；
reckoneth not labours； striveth after more than it is able to do； pleadeth not
impossibility； because it judgeth all things which are lawful for it to be
possible。 It is strong therefore for all things； and it fulfilleth many things；
and is successful where he who loveth not faileth and lieth down。
5。 Love is watchful； and whilst sleeping still keepeth watch； though
fatigued it is not weary； though pressed it is not forced； though alarmed it
is nor terrified； but like the living flame and the burning torch； it breaketh
forth on high and securely triumpheth。 If a man loveth； he knoweth what
this voice crieth。 For the ardent affection of the soul is a great clamour in
the ears of God； and it saith： My God； my Beloved！ Thou art all mine；
and I am all Thine。
6。 Enlarge Thou me in love； that I may learn to taste with the
innermost mouth of my heart how sweet it is to love； to be dissolved； and
to swim in love。 Let me be holden by love； mounting above myself
through exceeding fervour and admiration。 Let me sing the song of love；
let me follow Thee my Beloved on high； let my soul exhaust itself in Thy
praise； exulting with love。 Let me love Thee more than myself； not
loving myself except for Thy sake； and all men in Thee who truly
