the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第21节
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wouldest give Thyself unto him。
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
4。 What shall I render unto Thee for all these Thy manifold mercies？
Oh that I were able to serve Thee all the days of my life！ Oh that even
for one day I were enabled to do Thee service worthy of Thyself！ For
verily Thou art worthy of all service； all honour； and praise without end。
Verily Thou art my God； and I am Thy poor servant； who am bound to
serve Thee with all my strength； nor ought I ever to grow weary of Thy
praise。 This is my wish； this is my exceeding great desire； and
whatsoever is lacking to me； vouchsafe Thou to supply。
5。 It is great honour； great glory to serve Thee； and to despise all for
Thy sake。 For they shall have great grace who of their own will shall
submit themselves to Thy most holy service。 They who for Thy love
have cast away every carnal delight shall find the sweetest consolation of
the Holy Ghost。 They who enter the narrow way of life for Thy Name's
sake； and have put away all worldly cares； shall attain great liberty of
spirit。
6。 Oh grateful and delightsome service of God； whereby man is made
truly free and holy！ Oh sacred condition of the religious servant； which
maketh man equal to the Angels； well…pleasing unto God； terrible to evil
spirits； and acceptable to all faithful ones！ Oh service to be embraced
and ever desired； in which the highest good is promised； and joy is gained
which shall remain for evermore！
（1） Psalm xxxi。 21。
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 46
That the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed
〃My Son； thou hast still many things to learn； which thou hast not well
learned yet。〃
2。 What are they； Lord？
3。 〃To place thy desire altogether in subjection to My good pleasure；
and not to be a lover of thyself； but an earnest seeker of My will。 Thy
desires often excite and urge thee forward； but consider with thyself
whether thou art not more moved for thine own objects than for My
honour。 If it is Myself that thou seekest； thou shalt be well content with
whatsoever I shall ordain； but if any pursuit of thine own lieth hidden
within thee； behold it is this which hindereth and weigheth thee down。
4。 〃Beware； therefore； lest thou strive too earnestly after some desire
which thou hast conceived； without taking counsel of Me； lest haply it
repent thee afterwards； and that displease thee which before pleased； and
for which thou didst long as for a great good。 For not every affection
which seemeth good is to be forthwith followed； neither is every opposite
affection to be immediately avoided。 Sometimes it is expedient to use
restraint even in good desires and wishes； lest through importunity thou
fall into distraction of mind； lest through want of discipline thou become a
stumbling…block to others； or lest by the resistance of others thou be
suddenly disturbed and brought to confusion。
5。 〃Sometimes； indeed； it is needful to use violence； and manfully to
strive against the sensual appetite； and not to consider what the flesh may
or not will； but rather to strive after this； that it may become subject；
however unwillingly； to the spirit。 And for so long it ought to be
chastised and compelled to undergo slavery； even until it be ready for all
things； and learn to be contented with little； to be delighted with things
simple； and never to murmur at any inconvenience。〃
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CHAPTER 47
Of the inward growth of patience； and of the struggle against evil
desires
O Lord God； I see that patience is very necessary unto me； for many
things in this life fall out contrary。 For howsoever I may have contrived
for my peace； my life cannot go on without strife and trouble。
2。 〃Thou speakest truly； My Son。 For I will not that thou seek such a
peace as is without trials； and knoweth no adversities； but rather that thou
shouldest judge thyself to have found peace； when thou art tried with
manifold tribulations； and proved by many adversities。 If thou shalt say
that thou art not able to bear much； how then wilt thou sustain the fire
hereafter？ Of two evils we should always choose the less。 Therefore；
that thou mayest escape eternal torments hereafter； strive on God's behalf
to endure present evils bravely。 Thinkest thou that the children of this
world suffer nought； or but little？ Thou wilt not find it so； even though
thou find out the most prosperous。
3。 〃'But；' thou wilt say； 'they have many delights； and they follow their
own wills； and thus they bear lightly their tribulations。'
4。 〃Be it so； grant that they have what they list； but how long； thinkest
thou will it last？ Behold； like the smoke those who are rich in this world
will pass away； and no record shall remain of their past joys。 Yea； even
while they yet live； they rest not without bitterness and weariness and fear。
For from the very same thing wherein they find delight； thence they
oftentimes have the punishment of sorrow。 Justly it befalleth them； that
because out of measure they seek out and pursue pleasures； they enjoy
them not without confusing and bitterness。 Oh how short； how false；
how inordinate and wicked are all these pleasures！ Yet because of their
sottishness and blindness men do not understand； but like brute beasts； for
the sake of a little pleasure of this corruptible life； they incur death of the
soul。 Thou therefore； my son； go not after thy lusts； but refrain thyself
from thine appetites。（1） Delight thou in the Lord； and He shall give thee
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
thy heart's desire。（2）
5。 〃For if thou wilt truly find delight； and be abundantly comforted of
Me； behold in the contempt of all worldly things and in the avoidance of
all worthless pleasures shall be thy blessing； and fulness of consolation
shall be given thee。 And the more thou withdrawest thyself from all
solace of creatures； the more sweet and powerful consolations shalt thou
find。 But at the first thou shalt not attain to them； without some sorrow
and hard striving。 Long…accustomed habit will oppose； but it shall be
overcome by better habit。 The flesh will murmur again and again； but
will be restrained by fervour of spirit。 The old serpent will urge and
embitter thee； but will be put to flight by prayer； moreover； by useful
labour his entrance will be greatly obstructed。〃
（1） Ecclesiastes xviii。 30。 （2） Psalm xxxvii。 4。
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CHAPTER 48
Of the obedience of one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus
Christ
〃My Son； he who striveth to withdraw himself from obedience；
withdraweth himself also from grace； and he who seeketh private
advantages； loseth those which are common unto all。 If a man submit not
freely and willingly to one set over him； it is a sign that his flesh is not yet
perfectly subject to himself； but often resisteth and murmureth。 Learn
therefore quickly to submit thyself to him who is over thee； if thou seekest
to bring thine own flesh into subjection。 For the outward enemy is very
quickly overcome if the inner man have not been laid low。 There is no
more grievous and deadly enemy to the soul than thou art to thyself
