the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第37节
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indeed seek good； and make pretence of something good in all that they
say or do； and thus under the appearance of good many are deceived。
2。 〃Nature is deceitful and draweth away； ensnareth； and deceiveth
many； and always hath self for her end； but Grace walketh in simplicity
and turneth away from every appearance of evil； maketh no false pretences；
and doeth all entirely for the sake of God； in whom also she finally resteth。
3。 〃Nature is very unwilling to die； and to be pressed down； and to be
overcome； and to be in subjection； and to bear the yoke readily； but Grace
suffereth self…mortification； resisteth sensuality； seeketh to be subdued；
longeth to be conquered； and willeth not to use her own liberty。 She
loveth to be held by discipline； and not to have authority over any； but
always to live； to remain； to have her being under God； and for God's sake
to be humbly subject to every ordinance of man。
4。 〃Nature laboureth for her own advantage； and considereth what
profit she may gain from another； but Grace considereth more； not what
may be useful and convenient to self； but what may be profitable to the
many。
5。 〃Nature willingly receiveth honour and reverence； but Grace
faithfully ascribeth all honour and glory to God。
6。 〃Nature feareth confusion and contempt； but Grace rejoiceth to
suffer shame for the name of Jesus。
7。 〃Nature loveth ease and bodily quiet； Grace cannot be unemployed；
but gladly embraceth labour。
8。 〃Nature seeketh to possess things curious and attractive； and
abhorreth those which are rough and cheap； Grace is delighted with things
simple and humble； despiseth not those which are rough； nor refuseth to be
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clothed with old garments。
9。 〃Nature hath regard to things temporal； rejoiceth in earthly lucre； is
made sad by loss； vexed by any little injurious word； but Grace reacheth
after things eternal； cleaveth not to those which are temporal； is not
perturbed by losses； nor embittered by any hard words； because she hath
placed her treasure and joy in heaven where nought perisheth。
10。 〃Nature is covetous； and receiveth more willingly than she giveth；
loveth things that are personal and private to herself； while Grace is kind
and generous； avoideth selfishness； is contented with a little； believeth it is
more blessed to give than to receive。
11。 〃Nature inclineth thee to created things； to thine own flesh； to
vanities and dissipation； but Grace draweth to God and to virtues；
renounceth creatures； fleeth from the world； hateth the desires of the flesh；
restraineth vagaries； blusheth to be seen in public。
12。 〃Nature is glad to receive some outward solace in which the senses
may have delight； but Grace seeketh to be comforted in God alone； and to
have delight in the chief good above all visible things。
13。 〃Nature doeth everything for her own gain and profit； can do
nothing as a free favour； but hopeth to attain something as good or better；
or some praise or favour for her benefits； and she loveth that her own
deeds and gifts should be highly valued； but Grace seeketh nothing
temporal； nor requireth any other gift of reward than God alone； neither
longeth she for more of temporal necessities than such as may suffice for
the attaining of eternal life。
14。 〃Nature rejoiceth in many friends and kinsfolk； she boasteth of
noble place and noble birth； she smileth on the powerful； flattereth the rich；
applaudeth those who are like herself； but Grace loveth even her enemies；
and is not lifted up by the multitude of friends； setteth no store upon high
place or high birth； unless there be greater virtue therewith； favoureth the
poor man more than the rich； hath more sympathy with the innocent than
with the powerful； rejoiceth with the truthful； not with the liar； always
exhorteth the good to strive after better gifts of grace； and to become by
holiness like unto the Son of God。
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15。 〃Nature quickly complaineth of poverty and of trouble； Grace
beareth want with constancy。
16。 〃Nature looketh upon all things in reference to herself； striveth and
argueth for self； but Grace bringeth back all things to God from whom
they came at the beginning； ascribeth no good to herself nor arrogantly
presumeth； is not contentious； nor preferreth her own opinion to others；
but in every sense and understanding submitteth herself to the Eternal
wisdom and the Divine judgment。
17。 〃Nature is eager to know secrets and to hear new things； she loveth
to appear abroad； and to make experience of many things through the
senses； she desireth to be acknowledged and to do those things which win
praise and admiration； but Grace careth not to gather up new or curious
things； because all this springeth from the old corruption； whereas there is
nothing new or lasting upon earth。 So she teacheth to restain the senses；
to shun vain complacency and ostentation； to hide humbly those things
which merit praise and real admiration； and from everything and in all
knowledge to seek after useful fruit； and the praise and honour of God。
She desireth not to receive praise for herself or for her own； but longeth
that God be blessed in all His gifts； who out of unmingled love bestoweth
all things。〃
18。 This Grace is a supernatural light； and a certain special gift of God；
and the proper mark of the elect； and the pledge of eternal salvation； it
exalteth a man from earthly things to love those that are heavenly； and it
maketh the carnal man spiritual。 So far therefore as Nature is utterly
pressed down and overcome； so far is greater Grace bestowed and the
inner man is daily created anew by fresh visitations； after the image of
God。
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CHAPTER 90
Of the corruption of Nature and the efficacy of Divine Grace
O Lord my God； who hast created me after thine own image and
similitude； grant me this grace； which Thou hast shown to be so great and
so necessary for salvation； that I may conquer my wicked nature； which
draweth me to sin and to perdition。 For I feel in my flesh the law of sin；
contradicting the law of my mind； and bringing me into captivity to the
obedience of sensuality in many things； nor can I resist its passions； unless
Thy most holy grace assist me； fervently poured into my heart。
2。 There is need of Thy grace； yea； and of a great measure thereof； that
my nature may be conquered； which hath alway been prone of evil from
my youth。 For being fallen through the first man Adam； and corrupted
through sin； the punishment of this stain descended upon all men； so that
Nature itself； which was framed good and right by Thee； is now used to
express the vice and infirmity of corrupted Nature； because its motion left
unto itself draweth men away to evil and to lower things。 For the little
power which remaineth is as it were one spark lying hid in the ashes。
This is Natural reason itself； encompassed with thick clouds； having yet a
discernment of good and evil； a distinction of the true and the false；
though it be powerless to fulfil all that it approveth； and possess not yet
the full light of truth； nor healthfulness of its affections。
3。 Hence it is； O my God； that I delight in Thy law after the inward
man；（1） knowing that Thy commandment is holy and just and good；
reproving also all evil； and the sin that is to be avoided： yet with the flesh I
serve the law of sin； whilst I obey sensuality rather than reason。 Hence it
is that to will to do good is present within me； but how to perform it I find
not。（2） Hence I ofttimes purpose many good things； but because grace is
lacking to
