the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第47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！
devout preparation beforehand： for good watchfulness afterwards
becometh in turn the best preparation for the gaining more grace。 For
hereby is a man made entirely indisposed to good； if he immediately
return from Communion to give himself up to outward consolations。
Beware of much speaking； remain in a secret place； and hold communion
with thy God； for thou hast Him whom the whole world cannot take away
from thee。 I am He to whom thou oughtest wholly to give thyself； so that
now thou mayest live not wholly in thyself； but in Me； free from all
anxiety。
（1） Mark xiv。 14； 15。 （2） 1 Corinthians v。 7。 （3） Psalms cii。 7。
208
… Page 209…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 107
The Voice of the Disciple
Who shall grant unto me； O Lord； that I may find Thee alone； and
open all my heart unto Thee； and enjoy Thee as much as my soul desireth；
and that no man may henceforth look upon me； nor any creature move me
or have respect unto me； but Thou alone speak unto me and I unto Thee；
even as beloved is wont to speak unto beloved； and friend to feast with
friend？ For this do I pray； this do I long for； that I may be wholly united
unto Thee； and may withdraw my heart from all created things； and by
means of Holy Communion and frequent celebration may learn more and
more to relish heavenly and eternal things。 Ah； Lord God； when shall I
be entirely united and lost in Thee； and altogether forgetful of myself？
Thou in me； and I in Thee；（1） even so grant that we may in like manner
continue together in one。
2。 Verily Thou art my Beloved； the choicest among ten thousand；（2） in
whom my soul delighteth to dwell all the days of her life。 Verily Thou
art my Peacemaker； in Whom is perfect peace and true rest； apart from
Whom is labour and sorrow and infinite misery。 Verily Thou art a God
that hidest Thyself； and Thy counsel is not with the wicked； but Thy Word
is with the humble and simple。 O how sweet； O Lord is Thy spirit； who
that Thou mightest manifest Thy sweetness towards Thy children； dost
vouchsafe to refresh them with the bread which is full of sweetness； which
cometh down from heaven。 Verily there is no other nation so great；
which hath its gods drawing nigh to them； as Thou； our God art present
unto all Thy faithful ones；（3） unto whom for their daily solace； and for
lifting up their heart unto heaven； Thou givest Thyself for their food and
delight。
3。 For what other nation is there so renowned as the Christian people？
Or what creature is so beloved under heaven as the devout soul to which
God entereth in； that he may feed it with His glorious flesh？ O
unspeakable grace！ O wonderful condescension！ O immeasurable love
209
… Page 210…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
specially bestowed upon men！ But what reward shall I give unto the Lord
for this grace； for charity so mighty？ There is nothing which I am able to
present more acceptable than to give my heart altogether unto God； and to
join it inwardly to Him。 Then all my inward parts shall rejoice； when my
soul shall be perfectly united unto God。 Then shall He say unto me； 〃If
thou wilt be with Me； I will be with thee。〃 And I will answer Him；
〃Vouchsafe； O Lord； to abide with me； I will gladly be with Thee； this is
my whole desire； even that my heart be united unto Thee。〃
（1） John xv。 4。 （2） Cant。 v。 10。 （3） Deuteronomy iv。 7。
210
… Page 211…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 108
The Voice of the Disciple
O how great is the abundance of Thy sweetness； O Lord； which Thou
hast laid up for them that fear Thee。 When I call to mind some devout
persons who draw nigh to Thy Sacrament； O Lord； with the deepest
devotion and affection； then very often I am confounded in myself and
blush for shame； that I approach Thine altar and table of Holy Communion
so carelessly and coldly； that I remain so dry and without affection； that I
am not wholly kindled with love before Thee； my God； nor so vehemently
drawn and affected as many devout persons have been； who out of the
very earnest desire of the Communion； and tender affection of heart； could
not refrain from weeping； but as it were with mouth of heart and body
alike panted inwardly after Thee； O God； O Fountain of Life； having no
power to appease or satiate their hunger； save by receiving Thy Body with
all joyfulness and spiritual eagerness。
2。 O truly ardent faith of those； becoming a very proof of Thy Sacred
Presence！ For they verily know their Lord in the breaking of the bread；
whose heart so ardently burneth within them（1） when Jesus walketh with
them by the way。 Ah me！ far from me for the most part is such love and
devotion as this； such vehement love and ardour。 Be merciful unto me； O
Jesus； good； sweet； and kind； and grant unto Thy poor suppliant to feel
sometimes； in Holy Communion； though it be but a little； the cordial
affection of Thy love； that my faith may grow stronger； my hope in Thy
goodness increase； and my charity； once kindled within me by the tasting
of the heavenly manna； may never fail。
3。 But Thy mercy is able even to grant me the grace which I long for；
and to visit me most tenderly with the spirit of fervour when the day of
Thy good pleasure shall come。 For； although I burn not with desire so
vehement as theirs who are specially devout towards Thee； yet； through
Thy grace； I have a desire after that greatly inflamed desire； praying and
desiring to be made partaker with all those who so fervently love Thee；
211
… Page 212…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
and to be numbered among their holy company。
（1） Luke xxiv。 32。
212
… Page 213…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 109
The Voice of the Beloved
Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion； to ask it
fervently； to wait for it patiently and faithfully； to receive it gratefully； to
preserve it humbly； to work with it diligently； and to leave to God the time
and manner of heavenly visitation until it come。 Chiefly oughtest thou to
humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion； yet not to
be too much cast down； nor to grieve out of measure。 God ofttimes
giveth in one short moment what He hath long time denied； He sometimes
giveth at the end what at the beginning of prayer He hath deferred to give。
2。 If grace were always given immediately； and were at hand at the
wish； it would be hardly bearable to weak man。 Wherefore the grace of
devotion is to be waited for with a good hope and with humble patience。
Yet impute it to thyself and to thy sins when it is not given； or when it is
mysteriously taken away。 It is sometimes a small thing which hindereth
and hideth grace； （if indeed that ought to be called small and not rather
great； which hindereth so great a good）； but if thou remove this； be it small
or great； and perfectly overcome it； thou wilt have what thou hast asked。
3。 For immediately that thou hast given thyself unto God with all thine
heart； and hast sought neither this not that according to thine own will and
pleasure； but hast altogether settled thyself in Him； thou shalt find thyself
united and at peace； because nothing shall give thee so sweet relish and
delight； as the good pleasure of the Divine will。 Whosoever therefore
shall have lifted up his will unto God with singleness of heart； and shall
have delivered himself from every inordinate love or dislike of
