the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第40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！
the little children； for the low gate of the kingdom of Heaven will not
suffer them to enter in。 Woe also to them who are rich； who have their
consolation here；（9） because whilst the poor enter into the kingdom of
God； they shall stand lamenting without。 Rejoice ye humble； and exult
ye poor； for yours is the kingdom of God if only ye walk in the truth。
（1） Psalm cxix。 137。 （2） Psalm xix。 9。 （3） Corinthians xiv。 33。 （4）
178
… Page 179…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
Psalm xxi。 3。 （5） John xv。 19。 （6） Wisd。 vi。 8。 （7） Revelation iv。 10； v。
14。 （8） Matthew xviii。 3。 （9） Phillipians ii。 21。
179
… Page 180…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 94
That all hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone
O Lord； what is my trust which I have in this life； or what is my
greatest comfort of all the things which are seen under Heaven？ Is it not
Thou； O Lord my God； whose mercies are without number？ Where hath it
been well with me without Thee？ Or when could it be evil whilst Thou
wert near？ I had rather be poor for Thy sake； than rich without Thee。 I
choose rather to be a pilgrim upon the earth with Thee than without Thee
to possess heaven。 Where Thou art； there is heaven； and where Thou art
not； behold there death and hell。 Thou art all my desire； and therefore
must I groan and cry and earnestly pray after Thee。 In short I can confide
fully in none to give me ready help in necessities； save in Thee alone； O
my God。 Thou art my hope； Thou art my trust； Thou art my Comforter；
and most faithful in all things。
2。 All men seek their own；（10） Thou settest forward only my salvation
and my profit； and turnest all things unto my good。 Even though Thou dost
expose me to divers temptations and adversities； Thou ordainest all this
unto my advantage； for Thou are wont to prove Thy beloved ones in a
thousand ways。 In which proving Thou oughtest no less to be loved and
praised； than if Thou wert filling me full of heavenly consolations。
3。 In Thee； therefore； O Lord God； I put all my hope and my refuge； on
Thee I lay all my tribulation and anguish； because I find all to be weak and
unstable whatsoever I behold out of Thee。 For many friends shall not
profit； nor strong helpers be able to succour； nor prudent counsellors to
give a useful answer； nor the books of the learned to console； nor any
precious substance to deliver； nor any secret and beautiful place to give
shelter； if Thou Thyself do not assist； help； comfort； instruct； keep in
safety。
4。 For all things which seem to belong to the attainment of peace and
felicity are nothing when Thou art absent； and bring no felicity at all in
reality。 Therefore art Thou the end of all good； and the fulness of Life；
180
… Page 181…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
and the soul of eloquence； and to hope in Thee above all things is the
strongest solace of Thy servants。 Mine eyes look unto Thee；（2） in Thee
is my trust； O my God； Father of mercies。
5。 Bless and sanctify my soul with heavenly blessing that it may
become Thy holy habitation； and the seat of Thy eternal glory； and let
nothing be found in the Temple of Thy divinity which may offend the eyes
of Thy majesty。 According to the greatness of Thy goodness and the
multitude of Thy mercies look upon me； and hear the prayer of Thy poor
servant； far exiled from Thee in the land of the shadow of death。 Protect
and preserve the soul of Thy least servant amid so many dangers of
corruptible life； and by Thy grace accompanying me； direct it by the way
of peace unto its home of perpetual life。 Amen。
（10） Luke vi。 （2） Psalm cxli。 8。
A devout exhortation to the Holy Communion
The Voice of Christ
Come unto Me； all ye that labour and are heavy laden； and I will
refresh you（1）； saith the Lord。 The bread that I will give is My flesh
which I give for the life of the world。（2） Take； eat： this is My Body；
which is given for you； this do in rememberance of Me。（3） He that
eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood dwelleth in Me and I in him。 The
words that I speak unto you； they are spirit； and they are life。（4）
（1） Matthew xi。 28 （2） John vi。 51。 （3） Matthew xxi。 26； Luke xxii。
19。 （4） John vi。 57； 63。
181
… Page 182…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 95
The Voice of the Disciple
These are Thy words； O Christ； Eternal Truth； though not uttered at
one time nor written together in one place of Scripture。 Because therefore
they are Thy words and true； I must gratefully and faithfully receive them
all。 They are Thine； and Thou hast uttered them； and they are mine also；
because Thou didst speak them for my salvation。 Gladly I receive them
from Thy mouth； that they may be more deeply implanted in my heart。
Words of such great grace arouse me； for they are full of sweetness and
love； but my own sins terrify me； and my impure conscience driveth me
away from receiving so great mysteries。 The sweetness of Thy words
encourageth me； but the multitude of my faults presseth me down。
2。 Thou commandest that I draw near to Thee with firm confidence； if
I would have part with Thee； and that I receive the food of immortality； if I
desire to obtain eternal life and glory。 Come unto Me； sayest Thou； all
that labour and are heavy laden； and I will refresh you。 Oh； sweet and
lovely word in the ear of the sinner； that Thou； O Lord my God； dost invite
the poor and needy to the Communion of Thy most holy body and blood。
But who am I； O Lord； that I should presume to approach unto Thee？
Behold the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee； and yet Thou sayest；
Come ye all unto Me。
3。 What meaneth this most gracious condescension； this most lovely
invitation？ How shall I dare to come； who know no good thing of myself；
whence I might be able to presume？ How shall I bring Thee within my
house； seeing that I so often have sinned in Thy most loving sight？
Angels and Archangels stand in awe of Thee； and Thou sayest； Come unto
Me！ Except Thou； Lord； hadst said it； who should believe it true？ And
except Thou hadst commanded； who should attempt to draw near？
4。 Behold； Noah； that just man； laboured for a hundred years in
building the ark； that he might be saved with the few； and I； how shall I be
able in one hour to prepare myself to receive the Builder of the world with
182
… Page 183…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
reverence？ Moses； Thy servant； Thy great and especial friend； made an
ark of incorruptible wood； which also he covered with purest gold； that he
might lay up in it the tables of the law； and I； a corruptible creature； shall I
dare thus easily to receive Thee； the Maker of the Law； and the Giver of
life？ Solomon； the wisest of the kings of Israel； was seven years building
his magnificent temple to the praise of Thy Name； and for eight days
celebrated the feast of its dedication； offered a thousand peace offerings；
and solemnly brought up the Ark of the Covenant to the place prepared for
it； with the sound of trumpets and great joy； and I； unhappy and poorest of
mankind； how shall I bring Thee into my house； who scarce know how to
spend half an hour in devotion？ And oh that it were even one half hour
worthily spent！
5。 O my God； how earnestly these holy men strove to please Thee！
And alas！ how little and trifling is that which I do！ how short a time d
