the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第12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！
thou rejectest outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate heavenly
things and frequently to be joyful inwardly。
（1） Luke xvii。 21。 （2） John xiv。 23。 （3） Hebrews xiii。 14。
51
… Page 52…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 26
Of lowly submission
Make no great account who is for thee or against thee； but mind only
the present duty and take care that God be with thee in whatsoever thou
dost。 Have a good conscience and God will defend thee； for he whom
God will help no man's perverseness shall be able to hurt。 If thou
knowest how to hold thy peace and to suffer； without doubt thou shalt see
the help of the Lord。 He knoweth the time and the way to deliver thee；
therefore must thou resign thyself to Him。 To God it belongeth to help
and to deliver from all confusion。 Oftentimes it is very profitable for
keeping us in greater humilty； that others know and rebuke our faults。
2。 When a man humbleth himself for his defects； he then easily
pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are angered against him。
God protecteth and delivereth the humble man； He loveth and comforteth
the humble man； to the humble man He inclineth Himself； on the humble
He bestoweth great grace； and when he is cast down He raiseth him to
glory： to the humble He revealeth His secrets； and sweetly draweth and
inviteth him to Himself。 The humble man having received reproach； is
yet in sufficient peace； because he resteth on God and not on the world。
Reckon not thyself to have profited in anywise unless thou feel thyself to
be inferior to all。
52
… Page 53…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 27
Of the good； peaceable man
First keep thyself in peace； and then shalt thou be able to be a
peacemaker towards others。 A peaceable man doth more good than a
well…learned。 A passionate man turneth even good into evil and easily
believeth evil； a good； peaceable man converteth all things into good。 He
who dwelleth in peace is suspicious of none； but he who is discontented
and restless is tossed with many suspicions； and is neither quiet himself
nor suffereth others to be quiet。 He often saith what he ought not to say；
and omitteth what it were more expedient for him to do。 He considereth
to what duties others are bound； and neglecteth those to which he is bound
himself。 Therefore be zealous first over thyself； and then mayest thou
righteously be zealous concerning thy neighbour。
2。 Thou knowest well how to excuse and to colour thine own deeds；
but thou wilt not accept the excuses of others。 It would be more just to
accuse thyself and excuse thy brother。 If thou wilt that others bear with
thee； bear thou with others。 Behold how far thou art as yet from the true
charity and humility which knows not how to be angry or indignant
against any save self alone。 It is no great thing to mingle the good and the
meek； for this is naturally pleasing to all； and every one of us willingly
enjoyeth peace and liketh best those who think with us： but to be able to
live peaceably with the hard and perverse； or with the disorderly； or those
who oppose us； this is a great grace and a thing much to be commended
and most worthy of a man。
3。 There are who keep themselves in peace and keep peace also with
others； and there are who neither have peace nor suffer others to have
peace； they are troublesome to others； but always more troublesome to
themselves。 And there are who hold themselves in peace； and study to
bring others unto peace； nevertheless； all our peace in this sad life lieth in
humble suffering rather than in not feeling adversities。 He who knoweth
best how to suffer shall possess the most peace； that man is conqueror of
53
… Page 54…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
himself and lord of the world； the friend of Christ； and the inheritor of
heaven。
54
… Page 55…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 28
Of a pure mind and simple intention
By two wings is man lifted above earthly things； even by simplicity
and purity。 Simplicity ought to be in the intention； purity in the affection。
Simplicity reacheth toward God； purity apprehendeth Him and tasteth Him。
No good action will be distasteful to thee if thou be free within from
inordinate affection。 If thou reachest after and seekest； nothing but the
will of God and the benefit of thy neighbour； thou wilt entirely enjoy
inward liberty。 If thine heart were right； then should every creature be a
mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine。 There is no creature so small
and vile but that it showeth us the goodness of God。
2。 If thou wert good and pure within； then wouldst thou look upon all
things without hurt and understand them aright。 A pure heart seeth the
very depths of heaven and hell。 Such as each one is inwardly； so judgeth
he outwardly。 If there is any joy in the world surely the man of pure
heart possesseth it； and if there is anywhere tribulation and anguish； the
evil conscience knoweth it best。 As iron cast into the fire loseth rust and
is made altogether glowing； so the man who turneth himself altogether
unto God is freed from slothfulness and changed into a new man。
3。 When a man beginneth to grow lukewarm； then he feareth a little
labour； and willingly accepteth outward consolation； but when he
beginneth perfectly to conquer himself and to walk manfully in the way of
God； then he counteth as nothing those things which aforetime seemed to
be so grievous unto him。
55
… Page 56…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 29
Of self…esteem
We cannot place too little confidence in ourselves； because grace and
understanding are often lacking to us。 Little light is there within us； and
what we have we quickly lose by negligence。 Oftentimes we perceive not
how great is our inward blindness。 We often do ill and excuse it worse。
Sometimes we are moved by passion and count it zeal； we blame little
faults in others and pass over great faults in ourselves。 Quickly enough
we feel and reckon up what we bear at the hands of others； but we reflect
not how much others are bearing from us。 He who would weigh well and
rightly his own doings would not be the man to judge severely of another。
2。 The spiritually…minded man putteth care of himself before all cares；
and he who diligently attendeth to himself easily keepeth silence
concerning others。 Thou wilt never be spiritually minded and godly
unless thou are silent concerning other men's matters and take full heed to
thyself。 If thou think wholly upon thyself and upon God； what thou seest
out of doors shall move thee little。 Where art thou when thou art not
present to thyself？ and when thou hast overrun all things； what hath it
profited thee； thyself being neglected？ If thou wouldst have peace and
true unity； thou must put aside all other things； and gaze only upon thyself。
3。 Then thou shalt make great progress if thou keep thyself free from
all temporal care。 Thou shalt lamentably fall away if thou set a value
upon any worldly thing。 Let nothing be great； nothing high； nothing
pleasing； nothing acceptable unto thee； save God Himself or the things of
God。 Reckon as altogether vain whatsoever consolation comes to thee
from a creature。 The soul that loveth God looketh n
