the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第27节
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what thou mayest not have； do not have what is able to hinder thee； and to
rob thee of inward liberty。 It is wonderful that thou committest not
thyself to Me from the very bottom of thy heart； with all things which thou
canst desire or have。
2。 〃Why art thou consumed with vain sorrow？ Why art thou wearied
with superfluous cares？ Stand thou by My good pleasure； and thou shalt
suffer no loss。 If thou seekest after this or that； and wilt be here or there；
according to thine own advantage or the fulfilling of thine own pleasure；
thou shalt never be in quiet； nor free from care； because in everything
somewhat will be found lacking； and everywhere there will be somebody
who opposeth thee。
3。 〃Therefore it is not gaining or multiplying of this thing or that which
advantageth thee； but rather the despising it and cutting it by the root out
of thy heart； which thou must not only understand of money and riches；
but of the desire after honour and vain praise； things which all pass away
with the world。 The place availeth little if the spirit of devotion is
wanting； nor shall that peace stand long which is sought abroad； if the
state of thy heart is without the true foundation； that is； if it abide not in
Me。 Thou mayest change； but thou canst not better thyself； for when
occasion ariseth and is accepted thou shalt find what thou didst fly from；
yea more。〃
A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING OF THE HEART AND FOR
HEAVENLY WISDOM
4。 Strengthen me； O God； by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit。 Give me
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virtue to be strengthened with might in the inner man； and to free my heart
from all fruitless care and trouble； and that I be not drawn away by various
desires after any things whatsoever； whether of little value or great； but
that I may look upon all as passing away； and myself as passing away with
them； because there is no profit under the sun； and all is vanity and
vexation of spirit。（1） Oh how wise is he that considereth thus！
5。 Give me； O Lord； heavenly wisdom； that I may learn to seek Thee
above all things and to find Thee； to relish Thee above all things and to
love Thee； and to understand all other things； even as they are； according
to the order of Thy wisdom。 Grant me prudently to avoid the flatterer；
and patiently to bear with him that opposeth me； for this is great wisdom；
not to be carried by every wind of words； nor to give ear to the wicked
flattering Siren； for thus do we go safely on in the way we have begun。
（1） Ecclesiastes ii。 11。
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 63
Against the tongues of detractors
〃My Son； take it not sadly to heart； if any think ill of thee； and say of
thee what thou art unwilling to hear。 Thou oughtest to think worse of
thyself； and to believe no man weaker than thyself。 If thou walkest
inwardly； thou wilt not weigh flying words above their value。 It is no
small prudence to keep silence in an evil time and to turn inwardly unto
Me； and not to be troubled by human judgment。
2。 〃Let not thy peace depend upon the word of men； for whether they
judge well or ill of thee； thou art not therefore any other man than thyself。
Where is true peace or true glory？ Is it not in Me？ And he who seeketh
not to please men； not feareth to displease； shall enjoy abundant peace。
From inordinate love and vain fear ariseth all disquietude of heart； and all
distraction of the senses。〃
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CHAPTER 64
How when tribulation cometh we must call upon and bless God
Blessed by thy name； O Lord； for evermore； who hast willed this
temptation and trouble to come upon me。 I cannot escape it； but have
need to flee unto Thee； that Thou mayest succour me and turn it unto me
for good。 Lord； now am I in tribulation； and it is not well within my
heart； but I am sore vexed by the suffering which lieth upon me。 And
now； O dear Father； what shall I say？ I am taken among the snares。 Save
me from this hour； but for this cause came I unto this hour；（1） that Thou
mightest be glorified when I am deeply humbled and am delivered through
Thee。 Let it be Thy pleasure to deliver me；（2） for what can I do who am
poor； and without Thee whither shall I go？ Give patience this time also。
Help me； O Lord my God； and I will not fear how much soever I be
weighed down。
2。 And now amid these things what shall I say？ Lord； Thy will be
done。 I have well deserved to be troubled and weighed down。 Therefore
I ought to bear； would that it be with patience； until the tempest be
overpast and comfort return。 Yet is Thine omnipotent arm able also to
take this temptation away from me； and to lessen its power that I fall not
utterly under it； even as many a time past thou has helped me； O God； my
merciful God。 And as much as this deliverance is difficult to me； so
much is it easy to Thee； O right hand of the most Highest。
（1） John xii。 27。 （2） Psalm xl。 16。
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CHAPTER 65
Of seeking diving help and the confidence of obtaining grace
〃My Son； I the Lord am a stronghold in the day of trouble。（1） Come
unto Me； when it is not well with thee。
〃This it is which chiefly hindereth heavenly consolation； that thou too
slowly betakest thyself unto prayer。 For before thou earnestly seek unto
Me； thou dost first seek after many means of comfort； and refresheth
thyself in outward things； so it cometh to pass that all things profit thee but
little until thou learn that it is I who deliver those who trust in Me； neither
beside Me is there any strong help； nor profitable counsel； nor enduring
remedy。 But now； recovering courage after the tempest； grow thou strong
in the light of My mercies； for I am nigh； saith the Lord； that I may restore
all things not only as they were at the first； but also abundantly and one
upon another。
2。 〃For is anything too hard for Me； or shall I be like unto one who
saith and doeth not？ Where is thy faith？ Stand fast and with
perseverance。 Be long…suffering and strong。 Consolation will come
unto thee in its due season。 Wait for Me； yea； wait； I will come and heal
thee。 It is temptation which vexeth thee； and a vain fear which terrifieth
thee。 What doth care about future events bring thee； save sorrow upon
sorrow。 Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof。（2） It is vain and
useless to be disturbed or lifted up about future things which perhaps will
never come。
3。 〃But it is the nature of man to be deceived by fancies of this sort；
and it is a sign of a mind which is still weak to be so easily drawn away at
the suggestion of the enemy。 For he careth not whether he deceive and
beguile by true means or false； whether he throw thee down by the love of
the present or fear of the future。 Therefore let not thy heart be troubled；
neither let it be afraid。 Believe in Me； and put thy trust in My mercy。（3）
When thou thinkest thyself far removed from Me； I am often the nearer。
When thou reckonest that almost all is lost； then often is greater
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opportunity of gain at hand。 All is not lost when something goeth
contrary to thy wishes。 Thou oughtest not to judge according to present
feeling； nor so to take or give way to any grief which befalleth thee； as if
all hope of escape were taken away。
4。 〃Think not thyself totally abandoned； although for the time I have
sent to thee some
