the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第44节
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honour of God； to celebrate； minister； and receive this Sacrament。
Diligently examine thy conscience and with all thy might with true
contrition and humble confession cleanse and purify it； so that thou mayest
feel no burden； nor know anything which bringeth thee remorse and
impedeth thy free approach。 Have displeasure against all thy sins in
general； and specially sorrow and mourn because of thy daily
transgressions。 And if thou have time； confess unto God in the secret of
thine heart； all miseries of thine own passion。
2。 Lament grievously and be sorry； because thou art still so carnal and
worldly； so unmortified from thy passions； so full of the motion of
concupiscence； so unguarded in thine outward senses； so often entangled
in many vain fancies； so much inclined to outward things； so negligent of
internal； so ready to laughter and dissoluteness； so unready to weeping and
contrition； so prone to ease and indulgence of the flesh； so dull to zeal and
fervour； so curious to hear novelties and behold beauties； so loth to
embrace things humble and despised； so desirous to have many things； so
grudging in giving； so close in keeping； so inconsiderate in speaking； so
reluctant to keep silence； so disorderly in manners； so inconsiderate in
actions； so eager after food； so deaf towards the Word of God； so eager
after rest； so slow to labour； so watchful after tales； so sleepy towards holy
watchings； so eager for the end of them； so wandering in attention to them；
so negligent is observing the hours of prayer； so lukewarm in celebrating；
so unfruitful in communicating； so quickly distracted； so seldom quite
collected with thyself； so quickly moved to anger； so ready for displeasure
at others； so prone to judging； so severe at reproving； so joyful in
prosperity； so weak in adversity； so often making many good resolutions
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and bringing them to so little effect。
3。 When thou hast confessed and bewailed these and thy other
shortcomings； with sorrow and sore displeasure at thine own infirmity；
make then a firm resolution of continual amendment of life and of
progress in all that is good。 Then moreover with full resignation and
entire will offer thyself to the honour of My name on the altar of thine
heart as a perpetual whole burnt…offering； even by faitfully presenting thy
body and soul unto Me； to the end that thou mayest so be accounted
worthy to draw near to offer this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to
God； and to receive the Sacrament of My Body and Blood to thy soul's
health。 For there is no oblation worthier； no satisfaction greater for the
destroying of sin； than that a man offer himself to God； purely and entirely
with the oblation of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Communion。
If a man shall have done what in him lieth； and shall repent him truly； then
how often soever he shall draw nigh unto Me for pardon and grace； As I
live； saith the Lord； I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner； but rather
that he should be converted； and live。 All his transgressions that he hath
committed； they shall not be mentioned unto him。（1）
（1） Ezekiel xviii。 22； 23。
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CHAPTER 102
Of the oblation of Christ upon the cross； and of resignation of self
The Voice of the Beloved
As I of my own will offered myself unto God the Father on the Cross
for thy sins with outstretched hands and naked body； so that nothing
remained in Me that did not become altogether a sacrifice for the Divine
propitiation； so also oughtest thou every day to offer thyself willingly unto
Me for a pure and holy oblation with all thy strength and affections； even
to the utmost of thine heart。 What more do I require of thee than thou
study to resign thyself altogether to Me？ Whatsoever thou givest besides
thyself； I nothing care for； for I ask not thy gift； but thee。
2。 As it would not be sufficient for thee if thou hadst all things except
Me； even so whatsoever thou shalt give Me； if thou give Me not thyself； it
cannot please Me。 Offer thyself to Me； and give thyself altogether for
God； so shall thy offering be accepted。 Behold I offered Myself
altogether to the Father for thee； I give also My whole body and blood for
food； that thou mightest remain altogether Mine and I thine。 But if thou
stand in thyself； and offer not thyself freely to My will； thy offering is not
perfect； neither shall the union betwixt us be complete。 Therefore ought
the freewill offering of thyself into the hands of God to go before all thy
works； if thou wilt attain liberty and grace。 For this is the cause that so
few are inwardly enlightened and made free； that they know not how to
deny themselves entirely。 My word standeth sure； Except a man forsake
all； he cannot be My disciple。（1） Thou therefore； if thou wilt be My
disciple； offer thyself to Me with all thy affections。
（1） Luke xiv。 32。
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CHAPTER 103
The Voice of the Disciple
Lord； all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine。（2） I desire to
offer myself up unto thee as a freewill offering； and to continue Thine for
ever。 Lord； in the uprightness of mine heart I willingly offer（3） myself to
Thee to…day to be Thy servant for ever； in humble submission and for a
sacrifice of perpetual praise。 Receive me with this holy Communion of
Thy precious Body； which I celebrate before Thee this day in the presence
of the Angels invisibly surrounding； that it may be for the salvation of me
and of all Thy people。
2。 Lord； I lay before Thee at this celebration all my sins and offences
which I have committed before Thee and Thy holy Angels； for the day
whereon I was first able to sin even unto this hour； that Thou mayest
consume and burn them every one with the fire of Thy charity； and mayest
do away all the stains of my sins； and cleanse my conscience from all
offence； and restore me to Thy favour which by sinning I have lost； fully
forgiving me all； and mercifully admitting me to the kiss of peace。
3。 What can I do concerning my sins； save humbly to confess and
lament them and unceasingly beseech Thy propitiation？ I beseech Thee；
be propitious unto me and hear me； when I stand before Thee； O my God。
All me sins displease me grievously： I will never more commit them； but I
grieve for them and will grieve so long as I live； steadfastly purposing to
repent me truly； and to make restitution as far as I can。 Forgive； O God；
forgive me my sins for Thy holy Name's sake； save my soul； which Thou
hast redeemed with Thy precious blood。 Behold I commit myself to thy
mercy； I resign myself to Thy hands。 Deal with me according to Thy
loving…kindness； not according to my wickedness and iniquity。
4。 I offer also unto Thee all my goodness； though it is exceedingly
little and imperfect； that Thou mayest mend and sanctify it； that Thou
mayest make it well pleasing and acceptable in Thy sight； and ever draw it
on towards perfection； and furthermore bring me safely； slothful and
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useless poor creature that I am； to a happy and blessed end。
5。 Moreover I offer unto Thee all pious desires of the devout；
necessities of parents； friends； brothers； sisters； and all who are dear to me；
and of those who have done good to me； or to others for Thy love； and
those who have desired and besought my prayers for themselves and all
belonging to them； that all may feel themselves
