the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第29节
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（1） Revelation iii。 18。
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 68
Of instability of heart； and of directing the aim towards God
〃My Son； trust not thy feeling； for that which is now will be quickly
changed into somewhat else。 As long as thou livest thou art subject to
change； howsoever unwilling； so that thou art found now joyful； now sad；
now at peace； now disquieted； now devout； now indevout； now studious；
now careless； now sad； now cheerful。 But the wise man； and he who is
truly learned in spirit； standeth above these changeable things； attentive
not to what he may feel in himself； or from what quarter the wind may
blow； but that the whole intent of his mind may carry him on to the due
and much…desired end。 For thus will he be able to remain one and the
same and unshaken； the single eye of his desire being steadfastly fixed；
through the manifold changes of the world； upon Me。
2。 〃But according as the eye of intention be the more pure； even so will
a man make his way steadfastly through the manifold storms。 But in
many the eye of pure intention waxeth dim； for it quickly resteth itself
upon anything pleasant which occurreth； and rarely is any many found
altogether free from the blemish of self…seeking。 So the Jews of old came
to Bethany； to the house of Martha and Mary； that they might see not Jesus；
but Lazarus； whom he had raised from the dead。（1） Therefore must the
eye of the intention be cleansed； that it may be single and right； and above
all things which come in its way； may be directed unto Me。〃
（1） John xii。 9。
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CHAPTER 69
That to him who loveth God is sweet above all things and in all
things
Behold； God is mine； and all things are mine！ What will I more； and
what more happy thing can I desire？ O delightsome and sweet world！
that is； to him that loveth the Word； not the world； neither the things that
are in the world。（2） My God； my all！ To him that understandeth； that
word sufficeth； and to repeat it often is pleasing to him that loveth it。
When Thou art present all things are pleasant； when Thou art absent； all
things are wearisome。 Thou makest the heart to be at rest； givest it deep
peace and festal joy。 Thou makest it to think rightly in every matter； and
in every matter to give Thee praise； neither can anything please long
without Thee but if it would be pleasant and of sweet savour； Thy grace
must be there； and it is Thy wisdom which must give unto it a sweet
savour。
2。 To him who tasteth Thee； what can be distasteful？ And to him who
tasteth Thee not； what is there which can make him joyous？ But the
worldly wise； and they who enjoy the flesh； these fail in Thy wisdom； for
in the wisdom of the world is found utter vanity； and to be carnally minded
is death。 But they who follow after Thee through contempt of worldly
things； and mortfication of the flesh； are found to be truly wise because
they are carried from vanity to verity； from the flesh to the spirit。 They
taste that the Lord is good； and whatsoever good they find in creatures；
they count it all unto the praise of the Creator。 Unlike； yea； very unlike is
the enjoyment of the Creator to enjoyment of the Creature； the enjoyment
of eternity and of time； of light uncreated and of light reflected。
3。 O Light everlasting； surpassing all created lights； dart down Thy ray
from on high which shall pierce the inmost depths of my heart。 Give
purity； joy； clearness； life to my spirit that with all its powers it may cleave
unto Thee with rapture passing man's understanding。 O when shall that
blessed and longed…for time come when Thou shalt satisfy me with Thy
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presence； and be unto me All in all？ So long as this is delayed； my joy
shall not be full。 Still； ah me！ the old man liveth in me： he is not yet all
crucified； not yet quite dead； still he lusteth fiercely against the spirit；
wageth inward wars； nor suffereth the soul's kingdom to be in peace。
4。 But Thou who rulest the raging of the sea； and stillest the waves
thereof when they arise； rise up and help me。 Scatter the people that
delight in war。（2） Destroy them by Thy power。 Show forth； I beseech
Thee； Thy might； and let Thy right hand be glorified； for I have no hope；
no refuge； save in Thee； O Lord my God。
（2） I John ii。 15。 （2） Psalm lxviii。 30。
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CHAPTER 70
That there is no security against temptation in this life
〃My Son； thou art never secure in this life； but thy spiritual armour
will always be needful for thee as long as thou livest。 Thou dwellest
among foes； and art attacked on the right hand and on the left。 If
therefore thou use not on all sides the shield of patience； thou wilt not
remain long unwounded。 Above all； if thou keep not thy heart fixed upon
Me with steadfast purpose to bear all things for My sake； thou shalt not be
able to bear the fierceness of the attack； nor to attain to the victory of the
blessed。 Therefore must thou struggle bravely all thy life through； and
put forth a strong hand against those things which oppose thee。 For to
him that overcometh is the hidden manna given；（1） but great misery is
reserved for the slothful。
2。 〃If thou seek rest in this life； how then wilt thou attain unto the rest
which is eternal？ Set not thyself to attain much rest； but much patience。
Seek the true peace； not in earth but in heaven； not in man nor in any
created thing； but in God alone。 For the love of God thou must willingly
undergo all things； whether labours or sorrows； temptations； vexations；
anxieties； necessities； infirmities； injuries； gainsayings； rebukes；
humiliations； confusions； corrections； despisings； these things help unto
virtue； these things prove the scholar of Christ； these things fashion the
heavenly crown。 I will give thee an eternal reward for short labour； and
infinite glory for transient shame。
3。 〃Thinkest thou that thou shalt always have spiritual consolations at
thy will？ My Saints had never such； but instead thereof manifold griefs；
and divers temptations； and heavy desolations。 But patiently they bore
themselves in all； and trusted in God more than in themselves； knowing
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with
the glory which shall be received in us。（2） Wouldst thou have that
immediately which many have hardly attained unto after many tears and
hard labours？ Wait for the Lord； quit thyself like a man and be strong； be
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not faint…hearted； nor go aside from Me； but constantly devote thy body
and soul to the glory of God。 I will reward thee plenteously； I will be with
thee in trouble。〃（3）
（1） Revelation ii。 17。 （2） Romans viii。 17。 （3） Psalm xci。 15。
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CHAPTER 71
Against vain judgments of men
〃My Son； anchor thy soul firmly upon God； and fear not man's
judgments； when conscience pronounceth thee pious and
