the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第38节
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not。（2） Hence I ofttimes purpose many good things； but because grace is
lacking to help mine infirmities； I fall back before a little resistance and
fail。 Hence it cometh to pass that I recognize the way of perfectness； and
see very clearly what things I ought to do； but pressed down by the weight
of my own corruption； I rise not to the things which are more perfect。
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4。 Oh how entirely necessary is Thy grace to me； O Lord； for a good
beginning； for progress； and for bringing to perfection。 For without it I can
do nothing； but I can do all things through Thy grace which strengeneth
me。（3） O truly heavenly grace； without which our own merits are nought；
and no gifts of Nature at all are to be esteemed。 Arts； riches； beauty；
strength； wit； eloquence； they all avail nothing before Thee； O Lord；
without Thy grace。 For the gifts of Nature belong to good and evil alike；
but the proper gift of the elect is gracethat is； love and they who bear
the mark thereof are held worthy of everlasting life。 So mighty is this
grace； that without it neither the gift of prophecy nor the working of
miracles； nor any speculation； howsoever lofty； is of any value at all。 But
neither faith； nor hope； nor any other virtue is accepted with Thee without
love and grace。 5。 O most blessed grace that makest the poor in spirit
rich in virtues； and renderest him who is rich in many things humble in
spirit； come Thou； descend upon me； fill me early with Thy consolation；
lest my soul fail through weariness and drought of mind。 I beseech thee；
O Lord； that I may find grace in Thy sight； for Thy grace is sufficient for
me；（4） when I obtain not those things which Nature longeth for。 If I be
tempted and vexed with many tribulations； I will fear no evil； while Thy
grace remaineth with me。 This alone is my strength； this bringeth me
counsel and help。 It is more powerful than all enemies； and wiser than all
the wise men in the world。
6。 It is the mistress of truth； the teacher of discipline； the light of the
heart； the solace of anxiety； the banisher of sorrow； the deliverer from fear；
the nurse of devotion； the drawer forth of tears。 What am I without it；
save a dry tree； a useless branch； worthy to be cast away！ 〃Let Thy grace；
therefore； O Lord； always prevent and follow me； and make me
continually given to all good works； through Jesus Christ； Thy Son。
Amen。〃
（1） Romans vii。 12； 22。 25。 （2） Romans vii。 18。 （3） Phillippians
iv。 13。 （4） 2 Corinthians xii。 9。
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CHAPTER 91
That we ought to deny ourselves； and to imitate Christ by means of the
Cross
My Son； so far as thou art able to go out of thyself so far shalt thou be
able to enter into Me。 As to desire no outward thing worketh internal
peace； so the forsaking of self inwardly joineth unto God。 I will that thou
learn perfect self…denial； living in My will without contradiction or
complaint。 Follow Me： I am the way； the truth； and the life。（1） Without
the way thou canst not go； without the truth thou canst not know； without
life thou canst not live。 I am the Way which thou oughtest to follow； the
Truth which thou oughest to believe； the Life which thou oughtest to hope
for。 I am the Way unchangeable； the Truth infallible； the Life everlasting。
I am the Way altogether straight； the Truth supreme； the true Life； the
blessed Life； the uncreated Life。 If thou remain in My way thou shalt
know the Truth； and the truth shall make thee free；（2） and thou shalt lay
hold on eternal life。
2。 〃If thou wilt enter into life； keep the commandments。（3） If thou
wilt know the truth； believe in Me。 If thou wilt be perfect； sell all that
thou hast。 If thou wilt be My disciple； deny thyself。 If thou wouldest
possess the blessed life； despise the life which now is。 If thou wilt be
exalted in heaven； humble thyself in the world。 If thou wilt reign with
Me； bear the cross with Me； for only the servants of the cross find the way
of blessedness and of true light。〃
3。 O Lord Jesu； forasmuch as Thy life was straitened and despised by
the world； grant unto me to imitate Thee in despising the world； for the
servant is not greater than his lord； nor the disciple above his master。（4）
Let Thy servant be exercised in Thy life； because there is my salvation and
true holiness。 Whatsoever I read or hear besides it； it refresheth me not；
nor giveth me delight。
4。 〃My son； because thou knowest these things and hast read them all；
blessed shalt thou be if thou doest them。 He who hath My
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commandments and keepeth them； he it is that loveth Me； and I will love
him； and will manifest Myself to him；（5） and I will make him to sit down
with Me in My Father's Kingdom。
5。 O Lord Jesu； as Thou hast said and promised； even so let it be unto
me； and grant me to prove worthy。 I have received the cross at Thy hand；
I have carried it； and will carry it even unto death； as Thou hast laid it
upon me。 Truly the life of a truly devoted servant is a cross； but it
leadeth to paradise。 I have begun； I may not return back nor leave it。
6。 Come； my brothers； let us together go forward。 Jesus shall be with
us。 For Jesus' sake have we taken up this cross； for Jesus' sake let us
persevere in the cross。 He will be our helper； who was our Captain and
Forerunner。 Behold our King entereth in before us； and He will fight for
us。 Let us follow bravely； let no man fear terrors； let us be prepared to
die bravely in battle； and let us not so stain our honour；（6） as to fly from
the cross。
（1） John xiv。 6。 （2） John viii。 32。 （3） Matthew xix。 17； 21。 （4）
Matthew x。 24。 （5） John xiv。 21。 （6） 1 Mac。 ix。 10。
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CHAPTER 92
That a man must not be too much cast down when he falleth into some
faults
〃My Son； patience and humility in adversities are more pleasing to Me
than much comfort and devotion in prosperity。 Why doth a little thing
spoken against thee make thee sad？ If it had been more； thou still
oughtest not to be moved。 But now suffer it to go by； it is not the first； it
is not new； and it wil not be the last； if thou live long。 Thou art brave
enough； so long as no adversity meeteth thee。 Thou givest good counsel
also； and knowest how to strengthen others with thy words； but when
tribulations suddenly knocketh at thine own door； thy counsel and strength
fail。 Consider thy great frailty； which thou dost so often experience in
trifling matters nevertheless； for thy soul's health these things are done
when they and such like happen unto thee。
2。 〃Put them away from thy heart as well as thou canst； and if
tribulation hath touched thee； yet let it not cast thee down nor entangle
thee long。 At the least； bear patiently； if thou canst not joyfully。 And
although thou be very unwilling to hear it； and feel indignation； yet check
thyself； and suffer no unadvised word to come forth from thy lips；
whereby the little ones may be offended。 Soon the storm which hath
been raised shall be stilled； and inward grief shall be sweetened by
returning grace。 I yet live； saith the Lord； ready to help thee； and to give
thee more than wonted consolation if thou put thy trust in Me； and call
devoutly upon Me。
3。 〃Be t
