the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第35节
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within thy power without fear of losing it。 There thy will； ever at one
with Mine； shall desire nothing outward； nothing for itself。 There no man
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shall withstand thee； none shall complain of thee； none shall hinder；
nothing shall stand in thy path； but all things desired by thee shall be
present together； and shall refresh thy whole affection； and fill it up even
to the brim。 There I will glory for the scorn suffered here； the garment of
praise for sorrow； and for the lowest place a throne in the Kingdom； for
ever。 There shall appear the fruit of obedience； the labour of repentance
shall rejoice； and humble subjection shall be crowened gloriously。
7。 〃Now therefore bow thyself humbly under the hands of all men； nor
let it trouble thee who said this or who ordered that； but take special heed
that whether thy superior； thy inferior； or thy equal； require anything from
thee； or even show a desire for it； take it all in good part； and study with a
good will to fulfil the desire。 Let one seek this； another that； let this man
glory in this； and that man in that； and be praised a thousand thousand
times； but rejoice thou only in the contempt of thyself； and in Mine own
good pleasure and glory。 This is what thou art to long for； even that
whether by life or by death God may be ever magnified in thee。〃（1）
（1） Philippians i。 20。
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CHAPTER 85
How a desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of
God
O Lord； Holy Father； be Thou blessed now and evermore； because as
Thou wilt so it is done； and what Thou doest is good。 Let Thy servant
rejoice in Thee； not in himself； nor in any other； because Thou alone art
the true joy； Thou art my hope and my crown； Thou art my joy and my
honour； O Lord。 What hath Thy servant； which he receiveth not from
Thee； even without merit of his own？ Thine are all things which Thou
hast given； and which Thou hast made。 I am poor and in misery even
from my youth up；（1） and my soul is sorrowful unto tears； sometimes also
it is disquieted within itself； because of the sufferings which are coming
upon it。
2。 I long after the joy of peace； for the peace of Thy children do I
beseech； for in the light of Thy comfort they are fed by Thee。 If Thou
give peace； if Thou pour into me holy joy； the soul of Thy servant shall be
full of melody； and devout in Thy praise。 But if Thou withdraw Thyself
as too often Thou art wont； he will not be able to run in the way of Thy
commandments； but rather he will smite his breast and will bow his knees；
because it is not with him as yesterday and the day before； when Thy
candle shined upon his head；（2） and he walked under the shadow of Thy
wings；（3） from the temptations which beset him。
3。 O Father； righteous and ever to be praised； the hour cometh when
Thy servant is to be proved。 O beloved Father； it is well that in this hour
Thy servant suffer somewhat for Thy sake。 O Father； evermore to be
adored； as the hour cometh which Thou foreknewest from everlasting；
when for a little while Thy servant should outwardly bow down； but
always live inwardly with Thee； when for a little while he should be little
regarded； humbled； and fail in the eyes of men； should be wasted with
sufferings and weaknesses； to rise again with Thee in the dawn of the new
light； and be glorified in the heavenly places。 O Holy Father； thou hast
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ordained it so； and so hast willed it； and that is done which Thou Thyself
hast commanded。
4。 For this is Thy favour to Thy friend； that he should suffer and be
troubled in the world for Thy love's sake； how often soever； and by
whomsoever and whosoever Thou hast suffered it to be done。 Without
Thy counsel and providence； and without cause； nothing cometh to pass
on the earth。 It is good for me； Lord； that I have been in trouble； that I
may learn Thy statutes；（4） and may cast away all pride of heart and
presumption。 It is profitable for me that confusion hath covered my face；
that I may seek to Thee for consolation rather than unto men。 By this
also I have learned to dread Thine unsearchable judgment； who afflictest
the just with the wicked； but not without equity and justice。
5。 Thanks be unto Thee； because Thou hast not spared my sins； but
hast beaten me with stripes of love； inflicting pains； and sending troubles
upon me without and within。 There is none who can console me； of all
things which are under heaven； but Thou only； O Lord my God； Thou
heavenly Physician of souls； who dost scourge and hast mercy； who
leadest down to hell and bringest up again。（5） Thy discipline over me；
and Thy rod itself shall teach me。
6。 Behold； O beloved Father； I am in Thy hands； I bow myself under
the rod of Thy correction。 Smite my back and my neck that I may bend
my crookedness to Thy will。 Make me a pious and lowly disciple； as
Thou wert wont to be kind； that I may walk according to every nod of
Thine。 To Thee I commend myself and all that I have for correction；
better is it to be punished here than hereafter。 Thou knowest all things
and each of them； and nothing remaineth hid from Thee in man's
conscience。 Before they are； thou knowest that they will be； and Thou
needest not that any man teach Thee or admonish Thee concerning the
things which are done upon the earth。 Thou knowest what is expedient
for my profit； and how greatly trouble serveth unto the scrubbing off the
rust of sin。 Do with me according to Thy desired good pleasure； and
despise not my life which is full of sin； known to none so entirely and
fully as to Thee alone。
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7。 Grant me； O Lord； to know that which ought to be known； to love
that which ought to be loved； to praise that which pleaseth Thee most； to
esteem that which is precious in Thy sight； to blame that which is vile in
Thine eyes。 Suffer me not to judge according to the sight of bodily eyes；
nor to give sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men；
but to discern in true judgment between visible and spiritual things； and
above all things to be ever seeking after the will of Thy good pleasure。
8。 Oftentimes the senses of men are deceived in judging； the lovers of
the world also are deceived in that they love only visible things。 What is
a man because by man he is reckoned very great？ The deceiver
deceiveth the deceiver； the vain man the vain； the blind man the blind； the
weak man the weak； when they exalt one another； and in truth they rather
put to shame； while they foolishly praise。 For as humble St。 Francis saith；
〃What each one is in Thine eyes； so much he is； and no more。〃
（1） Psalm lxxxviii。 15。 （2） Job xxix。 3。 （3） Psalm xvii。 8。 （4）
Psalm cxix。 71。 （5） Job xiii。 2。
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CHAPTER 86
That we must give ourselves to humble works when we are
unequal to those that are lofty
〃My Son； thou art not always able to continue in very fervent desire
after virtues； nor to stand fast in the loftier region of contemplation； but
thou must of necessity sometimes descend to lower things because of thine
original corruption； and bear about the burden of corruptible life； though
unwillingly and with weariness。
