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A PRAYER TO BE ENABLED TO DO GOD'S WILL
PERFECTLY
3。 Grant me Thy grace； most merciful Jesus； that it may be with me；
and work in me； and persevere with me； even unto the end。 Grant that I
may ever desire and wish whatsoever is most pleasing and dear unto Thee。
Let Thy will be mine； and let my will alway follow Thine； and entirely
accord with it。 May I choose and reject whatsoever Thou dost； yea； let it
be impossible for me to choose or reject except according to Thy will。
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
4。 Grant that I may die to all worldly things； and for Thy sake love to
be despised and unknown in this world。 Grant unto me； above all things
that I can desire； to rest in Thee； and that in Thee my heart may be at peace。
Thou art the true peace of the heart； Thou alone its rest； apart from Thee
all things are hard and unquiet。 In Thee alone； the supreme and eternal
Good； I will lay me down in peace and take my rest。（1） Amen。
（1） Psalm iv。 9。
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 51
That true solace is to be sought in God alone
Whatsoever I am able to desire or to think of for my solace； I look for
it not here； but hereafter。 For if I alone had all the solaces of this world；
and were able to enjoy all its delights； it is certain that they could not
endure long。 Wherefore； O my soul； thou canst be fully comforted and
perfectly refreshed； only in God； the Comforter of the poor； and the lifter
up of the humble。 Wait but a little while； my soul； wait for the Divine
promise； and thou shalt have abundance of all good things in heaven。 If
thou longest too inordinately for the things which are now； thou shalt lose
those which are eternal and heavenly。 Let temporal things be in the use；
eternal things in the desire。 Thou canst not be satisfied with any temporal
good； for thou wast not created for the enjoyment of these。
2。 Although thou hadst all the good things which ever were created；
yet couldst not thou be happy and blessed； all thy blessedness and thy
felicity lieth in God who created all things； not such felicity as seemeth
good to the foolish lover of the world； but such as Christ's good and
faithful servants wait for； and as the spiritual and pure in heart sometimes
taste； whose conversation is in heaven。（1） All human solace is empty and
short…lived； blessed and true is that solace which is felt inwardly； springing
from the truth。 The godly man everywhere beareth about with him his
own Comforter； Jesus； and saith unto Him： 〃Be with me； Lord Jesus；
always and everywhere。 Let it be my comfort to be able to give up
cheerfully all human comfort。 And if Thy consolation fail me； let Thy will
and righteous approval be alway with me for the highest comfort。 For
Thou wilt not always be chiding； neither keepest Thou Thine anger for
ever。〃（2）
（1） Philippians iii。 20。 （2） Psalm cii。 9。
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CHAPTER 52
That all care is to be cast upon God
〃My Son； suffer me to do with thee what I will； I know what is
expedient for thee。 Thou thinkest as a man； in many things thou judgest
as human affection persuadeth thee。〃
2。 Lord； what Thou sayest is true。 Greater is Thy care for me than all
the care which I am able to take for myself。 For too insecurely doth he
stand who casteth not all his care upon Thee。 Lord； so long as my will
standeth right and firm in Thee； do with me what Thou wilt； for
whatsoever Thou shalt do with me cannot be aught but good。 Blessed be
Thou is Thou wilt leave me in darkness： blessed also be Thou if Thou wilt
leave me in light。 Blessed be Thou if Thou vouchsafe to comfort me； and
always blessed be Thou if Thou cause me to be troubled。
3。 〃My Son！ even thus thou must stand if thou desirest to walk with
Me。 Thou must be ready alike for suffering or rejoicing。 Thou must be
poor and needy as willingly as full and rich。〃
4。 Lord； I will willingly bear for Thee whatsoever Thou wilt have to
come upon me。 Without choice I will receive from Thy hand good and
evil； sweet and bitter； joy and sadness； and will give Thee thanks for all
things which shall happen to me。 Keep me from all sin； and I will not
fear death nor hell。 Only cast me not away for ever； nor blot me out of
the book of life。 Then no tribulation which shall come upon me shall do
me hurt。
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CHAPTER 53
That temporal miseries are to be borne patiently after the example of
Christ
〃My Son！ I came down from heaven for thy salvation； I took upon
Me thy miseries not of necessity； but drawn by love that thou mightest
learn patience and mightest bear temporal miseries without murmuring。
For from the hour of My birth； until My death upon the Cross； I ceased not
from bearing of sorrow； I had much lack of temporal things； I oftentimes
heard many reproaches against Myself； I gently bore contradictions and
hard words； I received ingratitude for benefits； blasphemies for My
miracles； rebukes for My doctrine。〃
2。 Lord； because Thou wast patient in Thy life； herein most of all
fulfilling the commandment of Thy Father； it is well that I； miserable
sinner； should patiently bear myself according to Thy will； and as long as
Thou wilt have it so； should bear about with me for my salvation； the
burden of this corruptible life。 For although the present life seemeth
burdensome； it is nevertheless already made very full of merit through Thy
grace； and to those who are weak it becometh easier and brighter through
Thy example and the footsteps of Thy saints； but it is also much more full
of consolation than it was of old； under the old Testament； when the gate
of heaven remained shut； and even the way