the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第26节
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oppressed with the weight of sins； and raise my whole desire to heavenly
things； that having tasted the sweetness of the happiness which is from
above； it may take no pleasure in thinking of things of earth。
10。 Draw me and deliver me from every unstable comfort of creatures；
for no created thing is able to satisfy my desire and to give me comfort。
Join me to Thyself by the inseparable bond of love； for Thou alone art
sufficient to him that loveth Thee； and without Thee all things are vain
toys。
（1） Psalm lxxi。 12。 （2） Isaiah xlv。 2。 （3） Psalm cxxii。 7。 （4） Psalm
xliii。 3。
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CHAPTER 59
Of avoiding of curious inquiry into the life of another
〃My Son； be not curious； nor trouble thyself with vain cares。 What is
that to thee？ Follow thou Me。（1） For what is it to thee whether a man
be this or that； or say or do thus or thus？ Thou hast no need to answer for
others； but thou must give an answer for thyself。 Why therefore dost
thou entangle thyself？ Behold； I know all men； and I behold all things
which are done under the sun； and I know how it standeth with each one；
what he thinketh； what he willeth； and to what end his thoughts reach。
All things therefore are to be committed to Me； watch thou thyself in
godly peace； and leave him who is unquiet to be unquiet as he will。
Whatsoever he shall do or say； shall come unto him； for he cannot deceive
Me。
2。 〃Trouble not thyself about the shadow of a great name； nor about
the friendship of many； nor about the love of men towards thee。 For
these things beget distraction and great sorrows of heart。 My word
should speak freely unto thee； and I would reveal secrets； if only thou
didst diligently look for My appearing； and didst open unto Me the gates
of thy heart。 Be sober and watch unto prayer；（2） and humble thyself in
all things。〃
（1） John xxi。 12。 （2） I Peter iv。 7。
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CHAPTER 60
Wherein firm peace of heart and true profit consist
〃My Son； I have said； Peace I leave with you； My peace I give unto
you； not as the world giveth give I unto you。（1） All men desire peace；
but all do not care for the things which belong unto true peace。 My peace
is with the humble and lowly in heart。 Thy peace shall be in much patience。
If thou heardest Me； and didst follow My voice； thou shouldest enjoy
much peace。〃
2。 What then shall I do； Lord？
3。 〃In everything take heed to thyself what thou doest； and what thou
sayest； and direct all thy purpose to this； that thou please Me alone； and
desire or seek nothing apart from Me。 But； moreover； judge nothing
rashly concerning the words and deeds of others； nor meddle with matter
which are not committed to thee； and it may be that thou shalt be disturbed
little or rarely。 Yet never to feel any disquiet； nor to suffer any pain of
heart or body； this belongeth not to the present life； but is the state of
eternal rest。 Therefore count not thyself to have found true peace； if thou
hast felt no grief； nor that then all is well if thou hast no adversary； not that
this is perfect if all things fall out according to thy desire。 Nor then
reckon thyself to be anything great； or think that thou art specially beloved；
if thou art in a state of great fervour and sweetness of spirit； for not by
these things is the true lover of virtue known； nor in them doth the profit
and perfection of man consist。〃
4。 In what then； Lord？
5。 〃In offering thyself with all thy heart to the Divine Will； in not
seeking the things which are thine own； whether great or small； whether
temporal or eternal； so that thou remain with the same steady countenance
in giving of thanks between prosperity and adversity； weighing all things
in an equal balance。 If thou be so brave and long…suffering in hope that
when inward comfort is taken from thee； thou even prepare thy heart for
more endurance； and justify not thyself； as though thou oughtest not to
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
suffer these heavy things； but dost justify Me in all things that I appoint；
and dost bless My Holy Name； then dost thou walk in the true and right
way of peace； and shalt have a sure hope that thou shalt again behold My
face with joy。 For if thou come to an utter contempt of thyself； know that
then thou shalt enjoy abundance of peace； as much as is possible where
thou art but a wayfaring man。〃
（1） John xiv。 27。
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CHAPTER 61
Of the exaltation of a free spirit； which humble prayer more deserveth
than doth frequent reading
Lord； this is the work of a perfect man； never to slacken his mind from
attention to heavenly things； and among many cares to pass along as it
were without care； not after the manner of one indifferent； but rather with
the privilege of a free man； cleaving to no creature with inordinate
affection。
2。 I beseech Thee； my most merciful Lord God； preserve me from the
cares of this life； lest I become too much entangled； from many necessities
of the body； lest I be taken captive by pleasure； from all obstacles of the
spirit； lest I be broken and cast down with cares。 I say not from those
things which the vanity of the world goeth about after with all eagerness；
but from those miseries； which by the universal curse of mortality weigh
down and hold back the soul of thy servant in punishment； that it cannot
enter into liberty of spirit； so often as it would。
3。 O my God； sweetness unspeakable； turn into bitterness all my
fleshly consolation； which draweth me away from the love of eternal
things； and wickedly allureth toward itself by setting before me some
present delight。 Let not； O my God； let not flesh and blood prevail over
me； let not the world and its short glory deceive me； let not the devil and
his craftiness supplant me。 Give me courage to resist； patience to endure；
constancy to presevere。 Grant； in place of all consolations of the world； the
most sweet unction of Thy Spirit； and in place of carnal love； pour into me
the love of Thy Name。
4。 Behold； food and drink and clothing； and all the other needs
appertaining to the support of the body； are burdensome to the devout
spirit。 Grant that I may use such things with moderation； and that I be
not entangled with inordinate affection for them。 To cast away all these
things is not lawful； because nature must be sustained； but to require
superfluities and things which merely minister delight； the holy law
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forbiddeth； for otherwise the flesh would wax insolent against the spirit。
In all these things； I beseech Thee； let Thy hand guide and teach me； that I
in no way exceed。
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CHAPTER 62
That personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good
〃My Son； thou must give all for all； 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；
everything more or less cleaveth to thee。 If thy love be pure； sincere；
well…regulated； thou shalt not be in captivity to anything。 Do not covet
what thou mayest not have； do not have what is able to hinder thee； and to
rob thee of inward
