the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第32节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
teach men to despise earthly things； to loathe things present； to seek things
heavenly； to enjoy things eternal； to flee honours； to endure offences； to
place all hope in Me； to desire nothing apart from Me； and above all things
to love Me ardently。
4。 〃For there was one； who by loving Me from the bottom of his heart；
learned divine things； and spake things that were wonderful； he profited
more by forsaking all things than by studying subtleties。 But to some I
144
… Page 145…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
speak common things； to others special； to some I appear gently in signs
and figures； and again to some I reveal mysteries in much light。 The
voice of books is one； but it informeth not all alike； because I inwardly am
the Teacher of truth； the Searcher of the heart； the Discerner of the
thoughts； the Mover of actions； distributing to each man； as I judge meet。〃
（1） I Corinthians iv。 20。 （2） Psalm xciv。 10。 （3） Zephaniah i。 12。
（4） I Corinthians iv。 5。
145
… Page 146…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 79
Of not troubling ourselves about outward things
〃My Son； in many things it behoveth thee to be ignorant； and to
esteem thyself as one dead upon the earth； and as one to whom the whole
world is crucified。 Many things also thou must pass by with deaf ear；
and must rather think upon those things which belong unto thy peace。 It
is more profitable to turn away thine eyes from those things that displease；
and to leave each man to his own opinion； than to give thyself to
discourses of strife。 If thou stand well with God and hast His judgement in
thy mind； thou wilt verily easily bear to be as one conquered。〃
2。 O Lord； to what have we come？ Behold a temporal loss is
mourned over； for a trifling gain we labour and hurry； and spiritual loss
passeth away into forgetfulness； and we rarely recover it。 That which
profiteth little or nothing is looked after； and that which is altogether
necessary is negligently passed by； because the whole man slideth away to
outward things； and unless he quickly recovereth himself in outward
things he willingly lieth down。
146
… Page 147…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 80
That we must not believe everyone； and that we are prone to fall in our
words
Lord； be thou my help in trouble； for vain is the help of man。（1） How
often have I failed to find faithfulness； where I thought I possessed it。
How many times I have found it where I least expected。 Vain therefore is
hope in men； but the salvation of the just； O God； is in Thee。 Blessed be
thou； O Lord my God； in all things which happen unto us。 We are weak
and unstable； we are quickly deceived and quite changed。
2。 Who is the man who is able to keep himself so warily and
circumspectly as not sometimes to come into some snare of perplexity？
But he who trusteth in Thee； O Lord； and seeketh Thee with an unfeigned
heart； doth not so easily slip。 And if he fall into any tribulation；
howsoever he may be entangled； yet very quickly he shall be delivered
through Thee； or by Thee shall be comforted； because Thou wilt not
forsake him that trusteth in Thee unto the end。 A friend who continueth
faithful in all the distresses of his friend is rare to be found。 Thou； O
Lord； Thou alone art most faithful in all things； and there is none other like
unto Thee。
3。 Oh； how truly wise was that holy soul which said； 〃My mind is
steadfastly fixed； and it is grounded in Christ。〃（2） If thus it were with me；
the fear of man should not so easily tempt me； nor the arrows of words
move me。 Who is sufficient to foresee all things； who to guard
beforehand against future ills？ If even things which are foreseen
sometimes hurt us； what can things which are nor foreseen do； but
grievously injure？ But wherefore have I not better provided for myself；
miserable that I am？ Why； too； have I given such heed to others？ But
we are men； nor are we other than frail men； even though by many we are
reckoned and called angels。 Whom shall I trust； O Lord； whom shall I
trust but Thee？ Thou art the Truth； and deceivest not； nor canst be
deceived。 And on the other hand； Every man is a liar；（3） weak； unstable
147
… Page 148…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
and frail； especially in his words； so that one ought scarcely ever to
believe what seemeth to sound right on the face of it。
4。 With what wisdom hast thou warned us beforehand to beware of
men； and that a man's foes are they of his own household；（4） and that we
must not believe if one say unto us Lo here； or Lo there。（5） I have been
taught by my loss； and O that I may prove more careful and not foolish
hereby。 〃Be cautious；〃 saith some one： 〃be cautious； keep unto thyself
what I tell thee。〃 And whilst I am silent and believe that it is hid with me；
he himself cannot keep silence concerning it； but straightway betrayeth me
and himself； and goeth his way。 Protect me； O Lord； from such mischief…
making and reckless men； let me not fall into their hands； nor ever do such
things myself。 Put a true and steadfast word into my mouth； and remove
a deceitful tongue far from me。 What I would not suffer； I ought by all
means to beware of doing。
5。 Oh； how good and peacemaking a thing it is to be silent concerning
others； and not carelessly to believe all reports； nor to hand them on
further； how good also to lay one's self open to few； to seek ever to have
Thee as the beholder of the heart； not to be carried about with every wind
of words； but to desire that all things inward and outward be done
according to the good pleasure of Thy will！ How safe for the preserving
of heavenly grace to fly from human approval； and not to long after the
things which seem to win admiration abroad； but to follow with all
earnestness those things which bring amendment of life and heavenly
fervour！ How many have been injured by their virtue being made known
and too hastily praised。 How truly profitable hath been grace preserved
in silence in this frail life； which； as we are told； is all temptation and
warfare。
（1） Psalm lx。 11。 （2） St。 Agatha （3） Psalm cxvi。 11。 （4） Romans
iii。 4。 （5） Matthew xxiv。 23。
148
… Page 149…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 81
Of having confidence in God when evil words are cast at us
〃My Son； stand fast and believe in Me。 For what are words but
words？ They fly through the air； but they bruise no stone。 If thou are
guilty； think how thou wouldst gladly amend thyself； if thou knowest
nothing against thyself； consider that thou wilt gladly bear this for God's
sake。 It is little enough that thou sometimes hast to bear hard words； for
thou art not yet able to bear hard blows。 And wherefore do such trivial
matters go to thine heart； except that thou art yet carnal； and regardest men
more than thou oughtest？ For because thou fearest to be despised； thou
art unwillng to be reproved for thy faults； and seekest paltry shelters of
excuses。
2。 〃But look better into thyself； and thou shalt know that the world is
still alive in thee； and the vain hope of pleasing men。 For when thou fleest
away from being abased and confounded for thy faults； it is plain that thou
art neither truly humble nor truly dead to th
