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！
good even to ingrates and to those who are turned far from Thee。 Turn
Thou us unto Thyself； that we may be grateful； humble； and godly； for
Thou art our salvation； our courage； and our strength。
（1） Psalm lxxiii。 22。
87
… Page 88…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 44
That all things are to be referred to God； as the final end
〃My Son； I must be thy Supreme and final end； if thou desirest to be
truly happy。 Out of such purpose thy affection shall be purified； which
too often is sinfully bent upon itself and upon created things。 For if thou
seekest thyself in any matter； straightaway thou wilt fail within thyself and
grow barren。 Therefore refer everything to Me first of all； for it is I who
gave thee all。 So look upon each blessing as flowing from the Supreme
Good； and thus all things are to be attributed to Me as their source。
2。 〃From Me the humble and great； the poor and the rich； draw water
as from a living fountain； and those who serve Me with a free and faithful
spirit shall receive grace for grace。 But he who will glory apart from Me；
or will be delighted with any good which lieth in himself； shall not be
established in true joy； nor shall be enlarged in heart； but shall be greatly
hindered and thrown into tribulation。 Therefore thou must not ascribe
any good to thyself； nor look upon any virtue as belonging to any man； but
ascribe it all unto God； without whom man hath nothing。 I gave all； I will
receive all again； and with great strictness require I the giving of thanks。
3。 〃This is the Truth； and by it the vanity of boasting is put to flight。
And if heavenly grace and true charity shall enter into thee； there shall be
no envy； nor straitening of the heart； nor shall any self…love take
possession of thee。 For divine charity conquereth all things； and
enlargeth all the powers of the soul。 If thou art truly wise； thou wilt rejoice
in Me alone； thou wilt hope in Me alone； for there is none good but one；
that is God；（1） Who is to be praised above all things； and in all things to
receive blessing。〃
（1） Luke xviii。 19。
88
… Page 89…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 45
That is it sweet to despise the world and to serve God
Now will I speak again； O my Lord； and hold not my peace； I will say
in the ears of my God； my Lord； and my King； who is exalted above all；
Oh how plentiful is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that
fear Thee！（1） But what art Thou to those who love Thee？ What to
those who serve Thee with their whole heart？ Truly unspeakable is the
sweetness of the contemplation of Thee； which Thou bestowest upon those
who love Thee。 In this most of all Thou hast showed me the sweetness
of Thy charity； that when I was not； Thou madest me； and when I
wandered far from Thee； Thou broughtest me back that I might serve Thee；
and commandest me to love Thee。
2。 O Fountain of perpetual love； what shall I say concerning Thee？
How shall I be unmindful of Thee； who didst vouchsafe to remember me；
even after I pined away and perished？ Thou hast had mercy beyond all
hope upon Thy servant； and hast showed Thy grace and friendship beyond
all deserving。 What reward shall I render Thee for this Thy grace？ For
it is not given unto all to renounce this world and its affairs； and to take up
a religious life。 For is it a great thing that I should serve Thee； whom
every creature ought to serve？ It ought not to seem a great thing to me to
serve Thee； but rather this appeareth to me a great and wonderful thing；
that Thou vouchsafest to receive as Thy servant one so poor and unworthy；
and to join him unto Thy chosen servants。
3。 Behold all things which I have are Thine； and with them I serve
Thee。 And yet verily it is Thou who servest me； rather than I Thee。
Behold the heaven and the earth which Thou hast created for the service of
men； they are at Thy bidding； and perform daily whatsoever Thou dost
command。 Yea； and this is little； for Thou hast even ordained the Angels
for the service of man。 But it surpasseth even all these things； that Thou
Thyself didst vouchsafe to minister unto man； and didst promise that Thou
wouldest give Thyself unto him。
89
… Page 90…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
4。 What shall I render unto Thee for all these Thy manifold mercies？
Oh that I were able to serve Thee all the days of my life！ Oh that even
for one day I were enabled to do Thee service worthy of Thyself！ For
verily Thou art worthy of all service； all honour； and praise without end。
Verily Thou art my God； and I am Thy poor servant； who am bound to
serve Thee with all my strength； nor ought I ever to grow weary of Thy
praise。 This is my wish； this is my exceeding great desire； and
whatsoever is lacking to me； vouchsafe Thou to supply。
5。 It is great honour； great glory to serve Thee； and to despise all for
Thy sake。 For they shall have great grace who of their own will shall
submit themselves to Thy most holy service。 They who for Thy love
have cast away every carnal delight shall find the sweetest consolation of
the Holy Ghost。 They who enter the narrow way of life for Thy Name's
sake； and have put away all worldly cares； shall attain great liberty of
spirit。
6。 Oh grateful and delightsome service of God； whereby man is made
truly free and holy！ Oh sacred condition of the religious servant； which
maketh man equal to the Angels； well…pleasing unto God； terrible to evil
spirits； and acceptable to all faithful ones！ Oh service to be embraced
and ever desired； in which the highest good is promised； and joy is gained
which shall remain for evermore！
（1） Psalm xxxi。 21。
90
… Page 91…
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 46
That the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed
〃My Son； thou hast still many thing