the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第19节
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loving myself except for Thy sake； and all men in Thee who truly love
Thee； as the law of love commandeth which shineth forth from Thee。
7。 Love is swift； sincere； pious； pleasant； gentle； strong； patient；
faithful； prudent； long…suffering； manly； and never seeking her own； for
wheresoever a man seeketh his own； there he falleth from love。 Love is
circumspect； humble； and upright； not weak； not fickle； nor intent on vain
things； sober； chaste； steadfast； quiet； and guarded in all the senses。 Love
is subject and obedient to all that are in authority； vile and lowly in its own
sight； devout and grateful towards God； faithful and always trusting in
Him even when God hideth His face； for without sorrows we cannot live
in love。
8。 He who is not ready to suffer all things； and to conform to the will
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of the Beloved； is not worthy to be called a lover of God。 It behoveth
him who loveth to embrace willingly all hard and bitter things for the
Beloved's sake； and not to be drawn away from Him because of any
contrary accidents。
（1） 2 Corinthians i。 3。
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CHAPTER 41
Of the proving of the true lover
〃My Son； thou art not yet strong and prudent in thy love。〃
2。 Wherefore； O my Lord？
3。 〃Because for a little opposition thou fallest away from thy
undertakings； and too eagerly seekest after consolation。 The strong lover
standeth fast in temptations； and believeth not the evil persuasions of the
enemy。 As in prosperity I please him； so in adversity I do not displease。
4。 〃The prudent lover considereth not the gift of the lover so much as
the love of the giver。 He looketh for the affection more than the value；
and setteth all gifts lower than the Beloved。 The noble lover resteth not in
the gift； but in Me above every gift。
5。 〃All is not lost； though thou sometimes think of Me or of My saints；
less than thou shouldest desire。 That good and sweet affection which
thou sometimes perceivest is the effect of present grace and some foretaste
of the heavenly country； but hereon thou must not too much depend； for it
goeth and cometh。 But to strive against the evil motions of the mind which
come to us； and to resist the suggestions of the devil； is a token of virtue
and great merit。
6。 〃Therefore let not strange fancies disturb thee； whencesoever they
arise。 Bravely observe thy purpose and thy upright intentions towards
God。 It is not an illusion when thou art sometimes suddenly carried away
into rapture； and then suddenly art brought back to the wonted vanities of
thy heart。 For thou dost rather unwillingly undergo them than cause
them； and so long as they displease thee and thou strivest against them； it
is a merit and no loss。
7。 〃Know thou that thine old enemy altogether striveth to hinder thy
pursuit after good； and to deter thee from every godly exercise； to wit； the
contemplation of the Saints； the pious remembrance of My passion； the
profitable recollection of sin； the keeping of thy own heart； and the
steadfast purpose to grow in virtue。 He suggesteth to thee many evil
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thoughts； that he may work in thee weariness and terror； and so draw thee
away from prayer and holy reading。 Humble confession displeaseth him；
and if he were able he would make thee to cease from Communion。
Believe him not； nor heed him； though many a time he hath laid for thee
the snares of deceit。 Account it to be from him； when he suggesteth evil
and unclean thoughts。 Say unto him； 'Depart unclean spirit； put on
shame； miserable one； horribly unclean art thou； who bringest such things
to mine ears。 Depart from me； detestable deceiver； thou shalt have no
part in me； but Jesus shall be with me； as a strong warrior； and thou shalt
stand confounded。 Rather would I die and bear all suffering； than
consent to thee。 Hold thy peace and be dumb； I will not hear thee more；
though thou plottest more snares against me。 The Lord is my light and
my salvation： whom then shall I fear？ Though a host of men should rise
up against me； yet shall not my heart be afraid。 The Lord is my strength
and my Redeemer。'（1）
8。 〃Strive thou like a good solider； and if sometimes thou fail through
weakness； put on thy strength more bravely than before； trusting in My
more abundant grace； and take thou much heed of vain confidence and
pride。 Because of it many are led into error； and sometimes fall into
blindness well…nigh irremediable。 Let this ruin of the proud； who foolishly
lift themselves up； be to thee for a warning and a continual exhortation to
humility。〃
（1） Psalm xxvii。 1…3； xix。 14。
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CHAPTER 42
Of hiding our grace under the guard of humility
〃My Son； it is better and safer for thee to hide the grace of devotion；
and not to lift thyself up on high； nor to speak much thereof； nor to value it
greatly； but rather to despise thyself； and to fear as though this grace were
given to one unworthy thereof。 Nor must thou depend too much upon
this feeling； for it can very quickly be turned into its opposite。 Think
when thou art in a state of grace how miserable and poor thou art wont to
be without grace。 Nor is there advance in spiritual life in this alone； that
thou hast the grace of consolation； but that thou humbly and unselfishly
and patiently takest the withdrawal thereof； so that thou cease not from the
exercise of prayer； nor suffer thy other common duties to be in anywise
neglected； rather do thy task more readily； as though thou hadst gained
more strength and knowledge； and do not altogether neglect thyself
because of the dearth and anxiety of spirit which thou feelest。
2。 〃For there are many who； when things have not gone prosperous
with them； become forthwith impatient or slothful。 For the way of a man
is not in himself；（1） but it is God's to give and to console； when He will；
and as much as He will； and whom He will； as it shall please Him； and no
further。 Some who were presumptuous because of the grace of devotion
within them； have destroyed themselves； because they would do more than
they were able； not considering the measure of their own littleness； but
rather following the impulse of the heart than the judgment of reason。
And because they presumed beyond what was well…pleasing unto God；
therefore they quickly lost grace。 They became poor and were left vile；
who had built for themselves their nest in heaven； so that being humbled
and stricken with poverty； they might learn not to fly with their own wings；
but to put their trust under My feathers。 They who are as yet new and
unskilled in the way of the Lord； unless they rule themselves after the
counsel of the wise； may easily be deceived and led away。
3。 〃But if they wish to follow their own fancies rather than trust the
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experience of others； the result will be very dangerous to them if they still
refuse to be drawn away from their own notion。 Those who are wise in
their own conceits； seldom patiently endure to be ruled by others。 It is
better to have a small portion of wisdom with humility； and a slender
understanding； than great treasures of sciences with vain self…esteem。 It
is better for thee to have less than much of what may make thee proud。
H
