the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第28节
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4。 〃Think not thyself totally abandoned； although for the time I have
sent to thee some tribulation； or have even withdrawn some cherished
consolation； for this is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven。 And without
doubt it is better for thee and for all My other servants； that ye should be
proved by adversities； than that ye should have all things as ye would。 I
know thy hidden thoughts： and that it is very needful for thy soul's health
that sometimes thou be left without relish； lest perchance thou be lifted up
by prosperity； and desirous to please thyself in that which thou art not。
What I have given I am able to take away； and to restore again at My good
pleasure。
5。 〃When I shall have given； it is Mine； when I shall have taken away；
I have not taken what is thine； for every good gift and every perfect gift（4）
is from me。 If I shall have sent upon thee grief or any vexation； be not
angry； nor let thy heart be sad； I am able quickly to lift thee up and to
change every burden into joy。 But I am just and greatly to be praised；
when I do thus unto thee。
6。 〃If thou rightly consider； and look upon it with truth； thou oughtest
never to be so sadly cast down because of adversity； but rather shouldst
rejoice and give thanks； yea； verily to count it the highest joy that I afflict
thee with sorrows and spare thee not。 As My Father hath loved Me； so
love I you；（5） thus have I spoken unto My beloved disciples： whom I sent
forth not unto worldly joys； but to great strivings； not unto honours； but
unto contempt； not unto ease； but to labours； not unto rest； but to bring
forth much fruit with patience。 My son； remember these words。〃
（1） Nahum i。 7。 （2） Matthew vi。 34。 （3） John xiv。 27； Psalm xiii。 5。
（4） James i。 17。 （5） John xv。 9。
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CHAPTER 66
Of the neglect of every creature； that the Creator may be found
O Lord； I still need more grace； if I would arrive where neither man
nor any other creature may hinder me。 For so long as anything keepeth
me back； I cannot freely fly unto Thee。 He desired eagerly thus to fly；
who cried； saying； Oh that I had wings like a dove； for then would I flee
away and be at rest。 What is more peaceful than the single eye？ And
what more free than he that desireth nothing upon earth？ Therefore must
a man rise above every creature； and perfectly forsake himself； and with
abstracted mind to stand and behold that Thou； the Creator of all things；
hast among Thy creatures nothing like unto Thyself。 And except a man
be freed from all creatures； he will not be able to reach freely after Divine
things。 Therefore few are found who give themselves to contemplation；
because few know how to separate themselves entirely from perishing and
created things。
2。 For this much grace is necessary； which may lift up the soul and
raise it above itself。 And except a man be lifted up in the spirit； and freed
from all creatures； and altogether united to God； whatsoever he knoweth；
whatsoever even he hath； it mattereth but little。 He who esteemeth
anything great save the one only incomprehensible； eternal； good； shall
long time be little and lie low。 For whatsoever is not God is nothing； and
ought to be counted for nothing。 Great is the difference between a godly
man； illuminated with wisdom； and a scholar learned in knowledge and
given to books。 Far nobler is that doctrine which floweth down from the
divine fulness above； than that which is acquired laboriously by human
study。
3。 Many are found who desire contemplation； but they do not strive to
practice those things which are required thereunto。 It is also a great
impediment； that much is made of symbols and external signs； and too
little of thorough mortification。 I know not how it is； and by what spirit
we are led； and what we who would be deemed spiritual are aiming at； that
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we give so great labour and so eager solicitude for transitory and worthless
things； and scarcely ever gather our senses together to think at all of our
inward condition。
4。 Ah； me！ Forthwith after a little recollection we rush out of doors；
and do not subject our actions to a strict examination。 Where our
affections are set we take no heed； and we weep not that all things
belonging to us are so defiled。 For because all flesh had corrupted itself
upon the earth； the great deluge came。 Since therefore out inmost
affections are very corrupt； it followeth of necessity that our actions also
are corrupt； being the index of a deficient inward strength。 Out of a pure
heart proceedeth the fruit of good living。
5。 We demand； how much a man hath done； but from how much virtue
he acted； is not so narrowly considered。 We ask if he be strong； rich；
handsome； clever； whether he is a good writer； good singer； good
workman； but how poor he may be in spirit； how patient and gently； how
devout and meditative； on these things many are silent。 Nature looketh
upon the outward appearance of a man； grace turneth its thought to the
heart。 The former frequently judgeth amiss； the latter trusteth in God；
that it may not be deceived。
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CHAPTER 67
Of self…denial and the casting away of all selfishness
〃My Son； thou canst not possess perfect liberty unless thou altogether
deny thyself。 All they are enslaved who are possessors of riches； they
who love themselves； the selfish； the curious； the restless； those who ever
seek after soft things； and not after the thing of Jesus Christ； those who
continually plan and devise that which will not stand。 For whatsoever
cometh not of God shall perish。 Hold fast the short and complete saying；
'Renounce all things； and thou shalt find all things； give up thy lust； and
thou shalt find rest。' Dwell upon this in thy mind； and when thou art full
of it； thou shalt understand all things。〃
2。 O Lord； this is not the work of a day； nor children's play； verily in
this short saying is enclosed all the perfection of the religious。
3。 〃My son； thou oughtest not to be turned aside； not immediately cast
down； because thou hast heard the way of the perfect。 Rather oughtest
thou to be provoked to higher aims； and at the least to long after the desire
thereof。 Oh that it were so with thee； and that thou hadst come to this；
that thou wert not a love of thine own self； but wert ready always to My
nod； and to his whom I have placed over thee as thy father。 Then
shouldest thou please Me exceedingly； and all thy life should go on in joy
and peace。 Thou hast still many things to renounce； which if thou resign
not utterly to Me； thou shalt not gain what thou seekest。 I counsel thee to
buy of Me gold tried in the fire； that thou mayest be rich；（1） that is
heavenly wisdom； which despiseth all base things。 Put away from thee
earthly wisdom； and all pleasure； whether common to men； or thine own。
4。 〃I tell thee that thou must buy vile things with those that are costly
and great in the esteem of men。 For wonderfully vile and small； and
almost given up to forgetfulness； doth true heavenly wisdom appear；
which thinketh not high things of itself； nor seeketh to be magnified upon
the earth； many honour it with their lips； but in heart are far from it； it is
indeed the precious pearl； which is hidden from many。〃
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（1） Revelation iii。 18。
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