the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第31节
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Lord； what is man that Thou art mindful of him； or the son of man that
Thou visitest him？（2） What hath man deserved； that Thou shouldest
bestow thy favour upon him？ Lord； what cause can I have of complaint；
if Thou forsake me？ Or what can I justly allege； if Thou refuse to hear
my petition？ Of a truth； this I may truly think and say； Lord； I am
nothing； I have nothing that is good of myself； but I fall short in all things；
and ever tend unto nothing。 And unless I am helped by Thee and
inwardly supported； I become altogether lukewarm and reckless。
2。 But Thou； O Lord； art always the same； and endurest for ever；
always good； righteous； and holy； doing all things well； righteously； and
holily； and disposing all in Thy wisdom。 But I who am more ready to go
forward than backward； never continue in one stay； because changes
sevenfold pass over me。 Yet it quickly becometh better when it so
pleaseth Thee； and Thou puttest forth Thy hand to help me； because Thou
alone canst aid without help of man； and canst so stregthen me that my
countenance shall be no more changed； but my heart shall be turned to
Thee； and rest in Thee alone。
3。 Wherefore； if I but knew well how to reject all human consolations；
whether for the sake of gaining devotion； or because of the necessity by
which I was compelled to seek Thee； seeing there is no man who can
comfort me； then could I worthily trust in Thy grace； and rejoice in the gift
of new consolation。
4。 Thanks be to Thee； from whom all cometh； whensoever it goeth
well with me！ But I am vanity and nothing in Thy sight； a man
inconstant and weak。 What then have I whereof to glory； or why do I
long to be held in honour？ Is it not for nought？ This also is utterly vain。
Verily vain glory is an evil plague； the greatest of vanities； because it
draweth us away fom the true glory； and robbeth us of heavenly grace。
For whilst a man pleaseth himself he displeaseth Thee； whilst he gapeth
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
after the praises of man； he is deprived of true virtues。
5。 But true glory and holy rejoicing lieth in glorying in Thee and not in
self； in rejoicing in Thy Name； not in our own virtue； in not taking delight
in any creature； save only for Thy sake。 Let thy Name； not mine be praised；
let Thy work； not mine be magnified； let Thy holy Name be blessed； but to
me let nought be given of the praises of men。 Thou art my glory； Thou
art the joy of my heart。 In Thee will I make my boast and be glad all the
day long； for myself let me not glory save only in my infirmities。（2）
6。 Let the Jews seek the honour which cometh from one another； but I
will ask for that which cometh from God only。（3） Truly all human glory；
all temporal honour； all worldly exultation； compared to Thy eternal glory；
is but vanity and folly。 O God my Truth and my Mercy； Blessed Trinity；
to Thee alone be all praise； honour； power； and glory for ever and for ever。
Amen。
（2） Psalm viii。 4。 （2） 2 Corinthians xii。 5。 （3） John v。 44。
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CHAPTER 76
Of contempt of all temporal honour
〃My Son； make it no matter of thine； if thou see others honoured and
exalted； and thyself despised and humbled。 Lift up thine heart to Me in
heaven； and then the contempt of men upon earth will not make thee sad。〃
2。 O Lord； we are in blindness； and are quickly seduced by vanity。 If
I look rightly within myself； never was injury done unto me by any
creature； and therefore I have nought whereof to complain before Thee。
But because I have many times and grievously sinned against Thee； all
creatures do justly take arms against me。 Therefore to me confusion and
contempt are justly due； but to Thee praise and honour and glory。 And
except I dispose myself for this； namely； to be willing that every creature
should despise and desert me； and that I should be esteemed altogether as
nothing； I cannot be inwardly filled with peace and strength； nor
spiritually enlightened； nor fully united to Thee。
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CHAPTER 77
That our peace is not to be placed in men
〃My Son； if thou set thy peace on any person because thou hast high
opinion of him； and art familiar with him； thou shalt be unstable and
entangled。 But if thou betake thyself to the ever…living and abiding Truth；
the desertion or death of a friend shall not make thee sad。 In Me ought
the love of thy friend to subsist； and for My sake is every one to be loved；
whosoever he be； who appeareth to thee good； and is very dear to thee in
this life。 Without Me friendship hath no strength or endurance； neither is
that love true and pure； which I unite not。 Thou oughtest to be so dead to
such affections of beloved friends； that as far as in thee lieth； thou wouldst
rather choose to be without any companionship of men。 The nearer a
man approacheth to God； the further he recedeth from all earthly solace。
The deeper also he descendeth into himself； and the viler he appeareth in
his own eyes； the higher he ascendeth towards God。
2。 〃But he who attributeth anything good to himself； hindereth the
grace of God from coming to him； because the grace of the Holy Ghost
ever seeketh the humble heart。 If thou couldst make thyself utterly
nothing； and empty thyself of the love of every creature； then should it be
My part to overflow unto thee with great grace。 When thou settest thine
eyes upon creatures； the face of the Creator is withdrawn from thee。
Learn in all things to conquer thyself for thy Creator's sake； then shalt thou
be able to attain unto divine knowledge。 How small soever anything be；
if it be loved and regarded inordinately； it holdeth us back from the highest
good； and corrupteth。〃
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CHAPTER 78
Against vain and worldly knowledge
〃My Son； let not the fair and subtle sayings of men move thee。 For the
kingdom of God is not in word； but in power。（1） Give ear to My words；
for they kindle the heart and enlighten the mind； they bring contrition； and
they supply manifold consolations。 Never read thou the word that thou
mayest appear more learned or wise； but study for the mortification of thy
sins； for this will be far more profitable for thee than the knowledge of
many difficult questions。
2。 〃When thou hast read and learned many things； thou must always
return to one first principle。 I am He that teacheth man knowledge；（2）
and I give unto babes clearer knowledge than can be taught by man。 He
to whom I speak will be quickly wise and shall grow much in the spirit。
Woe unto them who inquire into many curious questions from men； and
take little heed concerning the way of My service。 The time will come
when Christ will appear； the Master of masters； the Lord of the Angels； to
hear the lessons of all； that is to examine the consciences of each one。
And then will He search Jerusalem with candles；（3） and the hidden things
of darkness（4） shall be made manifest； and the arguings of tongues shall
be silent。
3。 〃I am He who in an instant list up the humble spirit； to learn more
reasonings of the Eternal Truth； than if a man had studied ten years in the
schools。 I teach without noise of words； without confusion of opinions；
without strivings after honour； without clash of arguments。 I am He who
teach men to despise earthly things； to loathe things present； to seek things
heavenly； to enjoy things eternal； to fl
