the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第9节
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day thou art not ready； how shalt thou be ready to…morrow？ To…morrow
is an uncertain day； and how knowest thou that thou shalt have a to…
morrow？
2。 What doth it profit to live long； when we amend so little？ Ah！ long
life doth not always amend； but often the more increaseth guilt。 Oh that
we might spend a single day in this world as it ought to be spent！ Many
there are who reckon the years since they were converted； and yet
oftentimes how little is the fruit thereof。 If it is a fearful thing to die； it
may be perchance a yet more fearful thing to live long。 Happy is the man
who hath the hour of his death always before his eyes； and daily prepareth
himself to die。 If thou hast ever seen one die； consider that thou also
shalt pass away by the same road。
3。 When it is morning reflect that it may be thou shalt not see the
evening； and at eventide dare not to boast thyself of the morrow。 Always
be thou prepared； and so live that death may never find thee unprepared。
Many die suddenly and unexpectedly。 For at such an hour as ye think not；
the Son of Man cometh。（1） When that last hour shall come； thou wilt
begin to think very differently of thy whole life past； and wilt mourn
bitterly that thou hast been so negligent and slothful。
4。 Happy and wise is he who now striveth to be such in life as he
would fain be found in death！ For a perfect contempt of the world； a
fervent desire to excel in virtue； the love of discipline； the painfulness of
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repentance； readiness to obey； denial of self； submission to any adversity
for love of Christ； these are the things which shall give great confidence of
a happy death。 Whilst thou art in health thou hast many opportunities of
good works； but when thou are in sickness I know not how much thou wilt
be able to do。 Few are made better by infirmity： even as they who
wander much abroad seldom become holy。
5。 Trust not thy friends and kinsfolk； nor put off the work of thy
salvation to the future； for men will forget thee sooner than thou thinkest。
It is better for thee now to provide in time； and to send some good before
thee； than to trust to the help of others。 If thou art not anxious for thyself
now； who； thinkest thou； will be anxious for thee afterwards？ Now the
time is most precious。 Now is the accepted time； now is the day of
salvation。 But alas！ that thou spendest not well this time； wherein thou
mightest lay up treasure which should profit thee everlastingly。 The hour
will come when thou shalt desire one day； yea； one hour； for amendment
of life； and I know not whether thou shalt obtain。
6。 Oh； dearly beloved； from what danger thou mightest free thyself；
from what great fear； if only thou wouldst always live in fear； and in
expectation of death！ Strive now to live in such wise that in the hour of
death thou mayest rather rejoice than fear。 Learn now to die to the world；
so shalt thou begin to live with Christ。 Learn now to contemn all earthly
things； and then mayest thou freely go unto Christ。 Keep under thy body
by penitence； and then shalt thou be able to have a sure confidence。
7。 Ah； foolish one！ why thinkest thou that thou shalt live long； when
thou art not sure of a single day？ How many have been deceived； and
suddenly have been snatched away from the body！ How many times hast
thou heard how one was slain by the sword； another was drowned； another
falling from on high broke his neck； another died at the table； another
whilst at play！ One died by fire； another by the sword； another by the
pestilence； another by the robber。 Thus cometh death to all； and the life
of men swiftly passeth away like a shadow。
8。 Who will remember thee after thy death？ And who will entreat for
thee？ Work； work now； oh dearly beloved； work all that thou canst。 For
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thou knowest not when thou shalt die； not what shall happen unto thee
after death。 While thou hast time； lay up for thyself undying riches。
Think of nought but of thy salvation； care only for the things of God。
Make to thyself friends； by venerating the saints of God and walking in
their steps； that when thou failest； thou mayest be received into everlasting
habitations。（2）
9。 Keep thyself as a stranger and a pilgrim upon the earth； to whom the
things of the world appertain not。 Keep thine heart free； and lifted up
towards God； for here have we no continuing city。（3） To Him direct thy
daily prayers with crying and tears； that thy spirit may be found worthy to
pass happily after death unto its Lord。 Amen。
（1） Matthew xxiv。 44。 （2） Luke xvi。 9。 （3） Hebrews xiii。 14。
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CHAPTER 23
Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked
In all that thou doest； remember the end； and how thou wilt stand
before a strict judge； from whom nothing is hid； who is not bribed with
gifts； nor accepteth excuses； but will judge righteous judgment。 O most
miserable and foolish sinner； who art sometimes in fear of the countenance
of an angry man； what wilt thou answer to God； who knoweth all thy
misdeeds？ Why dost thou not provide for thyself against the day of
judgment； when no man shall be able to be excused or defended by means
of another； but each one shall bear his burden himself alone？ Now doth
thy labour bring forth fruit； now is thy weeping acceptable； thy groaning
heard； thy sorrow well pleasing to God； and cleansing to thy soul。
2。 Even here on earth the patient man findeth great occasion for
purifying his soul。 When suffering injuries he grieveth more for the
other's malice than for his own wrong； when he prayeth heartily for those
that despitefully use him； and forgiveth them from his heart； when he is
not slow to ask pardon from others； when he is swifter to pity than to
anger； when he frequently denieth himself and striveth altogether to
subdue the flesh to the spirit。 Better is it now to purify the soul from sin；
than to cling to sins from which we must be purged hereafter。 Truly we
deceive ourselves by the inordinate love which we bear towards the flesh。
3。 What is it which that fire shall devour； save thy sins？ The more
thou sparest thyself and followest the flesh； the more heavy shall thy
punishment be； and the more fuel art thou heaping up for the burning。
For wherein a man hath sinned； therein shall he be the more heavily
punished。 There shall the slothful be pricked forward with burning goads；
and the gluttons be tormented with intolerable hunger and thrist。 There
shall the luxurious and the lovers of pleasure be plunged into burning pitch
and stinking brimstone； and the envious shall howl like mad dogs for very
grief。
4。 No sin will there be which shall not be visited with its own proper
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punishment。 The proud shall be filled with utter confusion； and the
covetous shall be pinched with miserable poverty。 An hour's pain there
shall be more grievous than a hundred years here of the bitterest penitence。
No quiet shall be there； no comfort for the lost； though here sometimes
there is respite from pain； and enjoyment of the solace of friends。 Be
thou anxious now and sorrowful for thy si
