the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第15章
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despise himself for Jesus' sake。 He must give up all that he loveth for his
Beloved； for Jesus will be loved alone above all things。 The love of
created things is deceiving and unstable； but the love of Jesus is faithful
and lasting。 He who cleaveth to created things will fall with their
slipperiness； but he who embraceth Jesus will stand upright for ever。
Love Him and hold Him for thy friend； for He will not forsake thee when
all depart from thee； nor will he suffer thee to perish at the last。 Thou
must one day be separated from all； whether thou wilt or wilt not。
2。 Cleave thou to Jesus in life and death； and commit thyself unto His
faithfulness； who； when all men fail thee； is alone able to help thee。 Thy
Beloved is such； by nature； that He will suffer no rival； but alone will
possess thy heart； and as a king will sit upon His own throne。 If thou
wouldst learn to put away from thee every created thing； Jesus would
freely take up His abode with thee。 Thou wilt find all trust little better
than lost which thou has placed in men； and not in Jesus。 Trust not nor
lean upon a reed shaken with the wind； because all flesh is grass； and the
goodliness thereof falleth as the flower of the field。（1）
3。 Thou wilt be quickly deceived if thou lookest only upon the outward
appearance of men； for if thou seekest thy comfort and profit in others；
thou shalt too often experience loss。 If thou seekest Jesus in all things
thou shalt verily find Jesus； but if thou seekest thyself thou shalt also find
thyself； but to thine own hurt。 For if a man seeketh not Jesus he is more
hurtful to himself than all the world and all his adversaries。
（1） Isaiah xl。 6。
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 32
Of the intimate love of Jesus
When Jesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth hard； but when
Jesus is not present everything is hard。 When Jesus speaketh not within；
our comfort is nothing worth； but if Jesus speaketh but a single word great
is the comfort we experience。 Did not Mary Magdalene rise up quickly
from the place where she wept when Martha said to her； The Master is
come and calleth for thee？（2） Happy hour when Jesus calleth thee from
tears to the joy of the spirit！ How dry and hard art thou without Jesus！
How senseless and vain if thou desire aught beyond Jesus！ Is not this
greater loss than if thou shouldst lose the whole world？
2。 What can the word profit thee without Jesus？ To be without Jesus
is the nethermost hell； and to be with Jesus is sweet paradise。 If Jesus
were with thee no enemy could hurt thee。 He who findeth Jesus findeth a
good treasure； yea； good above all good； and he who loseth Jesus loseth
exceeding much； yea； more than the whole world。 Most poor is he who
liveth without Jesus； and most rich is he who is much with Jesus。
3。 It is great skill to know how to live with Jesus； and to know how to
hold Jesus is great wisdom。 Be thou humble and peaceable and Jesus
shall be with thee。 Be godly and quiet； and Jesus will remain with thee。
Thou canst quickly drive away Jesus and lose His favour if thou wilt turn
away to the outer things。 And if thou hast put Him to flight and lost Him；
to whom wilt thou flee； and whom then wilt thou seek for a friend？
Without a friend thou canst not live long； and if Jesus be not thy friend
above all thou shalt be very sad and desolate。 Madly therefore doest thou
if thou trusteth or findest joy in any other。 It is preferable to have the
whole world against thee； than Jesus offended with thee。 Therefore of all
that are dear to thee； let Jesus be specially loved。
4。 Let all be loved for Jesus' sake； but Jesus for His own。 Jesus Christ
alone is to be specially loved； for He alone is found good and faithful
above all friends。 For His sake and in Him let both enemies and friends
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be dear to thee； and pray for them all that they may all know and love Him。
Never desire to be specially praised or loved； because this belongeth to
God alone； who hath none like unto Himself。 Nor wish thou that any one
set his heart on thee； nor do thou give thyself up to the love of any； but let
Jesus be in thee and in every good man。
5。 Be pure and free within thyself； and be not entangled by any created
thing。 Thou oughtest to bring a bare and clean heart to God； if thou
desirest to be ready to see how gracious the Lord is。 And in truth； unless
thou be prevented and drawn on by His grace； thou wilt not attain to this；
that having cast out and dismissed all else； thou alone art united with God。
For when the grace of God cometh to a man； then he becometh able to do
all things； and when it departeth then he will be poor and weak and given
up unto troubles。 In these thou art not to be cast down nor to despair； but
to rest with calm mind on the will of God； and to bear all things which
come upon thee unto the praise of Jesus Christ； for after winter cometh
summer； after night returneth day； after the tempest a great calm。
（2） John xi。 28。
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CHAPTER 33
Of the lack of all comfort
It is no hard thing to despise human comfort when divine is present。
It is a great thing； yea very great； to be able to bear the loss both of human
and divine comfort； and for the love of God willingly to bear exile of heart；
and in nought to seek oneself； nor to look to one's own merit。 What great
matter is it； if thou be cheerful of heart and devout when favour cometh to
thee？ That is an hour wherein all rejoice。 Pleasantly enough doth he
ride whom the grace of God carrieth。 And what marvel； if he feeleth no
burden who is carried by the Almighty； and is led onwards by the Guide
from on high？
2。 We are willing to accept anything for comfort； and it is difficult for
a man to be freed from himself。 The holy martyr Laurence overcame the
love of the world and even of his priestly master； because he despised
everything in the world which seemed to be pleasant； and for the love of
Christ he calmly suffered even God's chief priest； Sixtus； whom he dearly
loved； to be taken from him。 Thus by the love of the Creator he
overcame the love of man； and instead of human comfort he chose rather
God's good pleasure。 So also learn thou to resign any near and beloved
friend for the love of God。 Nor take it amiss when thou hast been
deserted by a friend； knowing that we must all be parted from one another
at last。
3。 Mightily and long must a man strive within himself before he learn
altogether to overcome himself； and to draw his whole affection towards
God。 When a man resteth upon
