the imitation of christ(丼径児興)-及30嫗
梓囚徒貧圭�鮗� ○ 賜 ★ 辛酔堀貧和鍬匈��梓囚徒貧議 Enter 囚辛指欺云慕朕村匈��梓囚徒貧圭�鮗� ● 辛指欺云匈競何��
!!!!隆堋響頼��紗秘慕禰厮宴和肝写偬堋響��
present delight。 Let not�察�O my God�察�let not flesh and blood prevail over
me�察�let not the world and its short glory deceive me�察�let not the devil and
his craftiness supplant me。 Give me courage to resist�察�patience to endure�察�
constancy to presevere。 Grant�察�in place of all consolations of the world�察�the
most sweet unction of Thy Spirit�察�and in place of carnal love�察�pour into me
the love of Thy Name。
4。 Behold�察 �food and drink and clothing�察 �and all the other needs
appertaining to the support of the body�察 �are burdensome to the devout
spirit。 Grant that I may use such things with moderation�察�and that I be
not entangled with inordinate affection for them。 To cast away all these
things is not lawful�察 �because nature must be sustained�察 �but to require
superfluities and things which merely minister delight�察 �the holy law
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forbiddeth�察�for otherwise the flesh would wax insolent against the spirit。
In all these things�察�I beseech Thee�察�let Thy hand guide and teach me�察�that I
in no way exceed。
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CHAPTER 62
That personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good
;My Son�察 �thou must give all for all�察 �and be nothing of thine own。
Know thou that the love of thyself is more hurtful thee than anything in
the world。 According to the love and inclination which thou hast�察�
everything more or less cleaveth to thee。 If thy love be pure�察 �sincere�察�
well´regulated�察�thou shalt not be in captivity to anything。 Do not covet
what thou mayest not have�察�do not have what is able to hinder thee�察�and to
rob thee of inward liberty。 It is wonderful that thou committest not
thyself to Me from the very bottom of thy heart�察�with all things which thou
canst desire or have。
2。 ;Why art thou consumed with vain sorrow�拭 �Why art thou wearied
with superfluous cares�拭 �Stand thou by My good pleasure�察�and thou shalt
suffer no loss。 If thou seekest after this or that�察�and wilt be here or there�察�
according to thine own advantage or the fulfilling of thine own pleasure�察�
thou shalt never be in quiet�察 �nor free from care�察 �because in everything
somewhat will be found lacking�察�and everywhere there will be somebody
who opposeth thee。
3。 ;Therefore it is not gaining or multiplying of this thing or that which
advantageth thee�察�but rather the despising it and cutting it by the root out
of thy heart�察�which thou must not only understand of money and riches�察�
but of the desire after honour and vain praise�察�things which all pass away
with the world。 The place availeth little if the spirit of devotion is
wanting�察 �nor shall that peace stand long which is sought abroad�察 �if the
state of thy heart is without the true foundation�察�that is�察�if it abide not in
Me。 Thou mayest change�察 �but thou canst not better thyself�察 �for when
occasion ariseth and is accepted thou shalt find what thou didst fly from�察�
yea more。;
A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING OF THE HEART AND FOR
HEAVENLY WISDOM
4。 Strengthen me�察�O God�察�by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit。 Give me
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virtue to be strengthened with might in the inner man�察�and to free my heart
from all fruitless care and trouble�察�and that I be not drawn away by various
desires after any things whatsoever�察 �whether of little value or great�察 �but
that I may look upon all as passing away�察�and myself as passing away with
them�察 �because there is no profit under the sun�察 �and all is vanity and
vexation of spirit。��1�� Oh how wise is he that considereth thus� �
5。 Give me�察�O Lord�察�heavenly wisdom�察�that I may learn to seek Thee
above all things and to find Thee�察�to relish Thee above all things and to
love Thee�察�and to understand all other things�察�even as they are�察�according
to the order of Thy wisdom。 Grant me prudently to avoid the flatterer�察�
and patiently to bear with him that opposeth me�察�for this is great wisdom�察�
not to be carried by every wind of words�察�nor to give ear to the wicked
flattering Siren�察�for thus do we go safely on in the way we have begun。
��1�� Ecclesiastes ii。 11。
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CHAPTER 63
Against the tongues of detractors
;My Son�察�take it not sadly to heart�察�if any think ill of thee�察�and say of
thee what thou art unwilling to hear。 Thou oughtest to think worse of
thyself�察 �and to believe no man weaker than thyself。 If thou walkest
inwardly�察 �thou wilt not weigh flying words above their value。 It is no
small prudence to keep silence in an evil time and to turn inwardly unto
Me�察�and not to be troubled by human judgment。
2。 ;Let not thy peace depend upon the word of men�察�for whether they
judge well or ill of thee�察�thou art not therefore any other man than thyself。
Where is true peace or true glory�拭 �Is it not in Me�拭 �And he who seeketh
not to please men�察 �not feareth to displease�察 �shall enjoy abundant peace。
From inordinate love and vain fear ariseth all disquietude of heart�察�and all
distraction of the senses。;
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CHAPTER 64
How when tribulation cometh we must call upon and bless God
Blessed by thy name�察 �O Lord�察 �for evermore�察 �who hast willed this
temptation and trouble to come upon me。 I cannot escape it�察 �but have
need to flee unto Thee�察�that Thou mayest succour me and turn it unto me
for good。 Lord�察 �now am I in tribulation�察 �and it is not well within my
heart�察 �but I am sore vexed by the suffering which lieth upon me。 And
now�察�O dear Father�察�what shall I say�拭�I am taken among the snares。 Save
me from this hour�察�but for this cause came I unto this hour�撮�1�� that Thou
mightest be glorified when I am deeply humbled and am delivered through
Thee。 Let it be Thy pleasure to deliver me�撮�2�� for what can I do who am
poor�察�and without Thee whither shall I go�拭 �Give patience this time also。
Help me�察 �O Lord my God�察 �and I will not fear how much soever I be
weighed down。
2。 And now amid these things what shall I say�拭 �Lord�察�Thy will be
done。 I have well deserved to be troubled and weighed down。 Therefore
I ought to bear�察 �would that it be with patience�察 �until the tempest be
overpast and comfort return。 Yet is Thine omnipotent arm able also to
take this temptation away from me�察�and to lessen its power that I fall not
utterly under it�察�even as many a time past thou has helped me�察�O God�察�my
merciful God。 And as much as this deliverance is difficult to me�察 �so
much is it easy to Thee�察�O right hand of the most Highest。
��1�� John xii。 27。 ��2�� Psalm xl。 16。