the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第34节
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misfortunes。
4。 Console my exile； mitigate my sorrow； for towards Thee all my
desire longeth。 For all is to me a burden； whatsoever this world offereth
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for consolation。 I yearn to enjoy Thee intimately； but I cannot attain unto
it。 I long to cleave to heavenly things； but temporal things and
unmortified passions press me down。 In my mind I would be above all
things； but in my flesh I am unwillingly compelled to be beneath them。
So； wretched man that I am； I fight with myself； and am made grievous
even unto myself； while the spirit seeketh to be above and the flesh to be
beneath。
5。 Oh how I suffer inwardly； while with the mind I discourse on
heavenly things； and presently a crowd of carnal things rusheth upon me
whilst I pray。 My God； be not Thou far from me； nor depart in wrath
from Thy servant。 Cast forth Thy lightning and scatter them； send out
Thine arrows；（1） and let all delusions of my enemy be confounded。
Recall my senses unto Thyself； cause me to forget all worldly things； grant
me quickly to cast away and despise the imaginations of sin。 Succour me；
O Eternal Truth； that no vanity man move me。 Come unto me； O
Heavenly Sweetness； and let all impurity flee from before Thy face。
Pardon me also； and of Thy mercy deal gently with me； whensoever in
prayer I think on anything besides Thee； for truly I confess that I am wont
to be continually distracted。 For often and often； where in the body I
stand or sit； there I myself am not； but rather am I there； whither I am
borne by my thoughts。 Where my thought is； there am I； and there
commonly is my thought where that which I love is。 That readily
occurreth to me； which naturally delighteth； or pleaseth through custom。
6。 Wherefore Thou； who art the Truth； hast plainly said； Where your
treasure is； there will your heart be also。（2） If I love heaven； I gladly
meditate on heavenly things。 If I love the world； I rejoice in the delights
of the world； and am made sorry by its adversities。 If I love the flesh； I
am continually imagining the things which belong to the flesh； if I love the
spirit； I am delighted by meditating on spiritual things。 For whatsoever
things I love； on these I readily converse and listen； and carry home with
me the images of them。 But blessed is that man who for Thy sake； O
Lord； is willing to part from all creatures； who doth violence to his fleshly
nature and crucifieth the lusts of the flesh by the fervour of his spirit； so
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that with serene conscience he may offer unto Thee a pure prayer； and be
made worthy to enter into the angelic choirs； having shut out from himself；
both outwardly and inwardly； all worldly things。
（1） Psalm lxxi。 12。 （2） Matthew vi。 21。
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CHAPTER 84
Of the desire after eternal life； and how great blessings are
promised to those who strive
〃My Son； when thou feelest the desire of eternal happiness to be
poured into thee from above； and longest to depart from the tabernacle of
this body； that thou mayest contemplate My glory without shadow of
turning； enlarge thine heart； and take in this holy inspiration with all thy
desire。 Give most hearty thanks to the Supreme Goodness； who dealeth
with thee so graciously； visiteth thee so lovingly； stirreth thee up so
fervently； raiseth thee so powerfully； lest thou sink down through thine
own weight； to earthly things。 For not by thine own meditating or
striving dost thou receive this gift； but by the sole gracious condescension
of Supreme Grace and Divine regard； to the end that thou mayest make
progress in virtue and in more humility； and prepare thyself for future
conflicts； and cleave unto Me with all the affection of thy heart； and strive
to serve Me with fervent will。
2。 〃My Son； often the fire burneth； but the flame ascendeth not without
smoke。 So also the desires of some men burn towards heavenly things；
and yet they are not free from the temptation of carnal affection。 Thus
therefore they are not acting with an altogether simple desire for God's
glory when they pray to Him so earnestly。 Such； too； is oftentimes thy
desire； when thou hast imagined it to be so earnest。 For that is not pure
and perfect which is tainted with thine own self…seeking。
3。 〃Seek thou not what is pleasant and advantageous to thyself； but
what is acceptable and honourable unto Me； for if thou judgest rightly；
thou must choose and follow after My appointment rather than thine own
desire； yea； rather than anything that can be desired。 I know thy desire；
and I have heard thy many groanings。 Already thou longest to be in the
glorious liberty of the children of God； already the eternal home delighteth
thee； and the heavenly country full of joy； but the hour is not yet come；
there remaineth still another season； even a season of warfare； a season of
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labour and probation。 Thou desirest to be filled with the Chief Good； but
thou canst not attain it immediately。 I AM that Good； wait for Me； until
the Kingdom of God shall come。
4。 〃Thou must still be tried upon earth； and be exercised in many
things。 Consolation shall from time to time be given thee； but abundant
satisfying shall not be granted。 Be strong therefore； and be thou brave
both in working and in suffering things which are against thy nature。
Thou must put on the new man； and be changed into another man。 Thou
must often do what thou wouldst not； and thou must leave undone what
thou wouldst do。 What pleaseth others shall have good success； what
pleaseth thee shall have no prosperity。 What others say shall be listened
to； what thou sayest shall receive no heed。 Others shall ask and receive；
thou shalt ask and not obtain。 Others shall be great in the report of men；
but about thee shall nothing be spoken。 To others this or that shall be
entrusted； thou shalt be judged useful for nought。
5。 〃For this cause nature shall sometimes be filled with sadness； and it
is a great thing if thou bear it silently。 In this and many like things the
faithful servant of the Lord is wont to be tried； how far he is able to deny
himself and bring himself into subjection in all things。 Scarcely is there
anything in which thou hast need to mortify thyself so much as in seeing
things which are adverse to thy will； especially when things are
commanded thee to be done which seem to thee inexpedient or of little use
to thee。 And because thou darest not resist a higher power； being under
authority； therefore it seemeth hard for thee to shape thy course according
to the nod of another； and to forego thine own opinion。
6。 〃But consider； My Son； the fruit of these labours； the swift end； and
the reward exceeding great； and thou shalt find it no pain to bear them
then； but rather the strongest solace of thy patience。 For even in
exchange for this trifling desire which thou hast readily forsaken； thou
shalt always have thy will in Heaven。 There verily thou shalt find all that
thou wouldst； all that thou canst long for。 There thou shalt have all good
within thy power without fear of losing it。 There thy will； ever at one
with Mine； shall desire no
