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poured into thee from above； and longest to depart from the tabernacle of
this body； that thou mayest contemplate My glory without shadow of
turning； enlarge thine heart； and take in this holy inspiration with all thy
desire。 Give most hearty thanks to the Supreme Goodness； who dealeth
with thee so graciously； visiteth thee so lovingly； stirreth thee up so
fervently； raiseth thee so powerfully； lest thou sink down through thine
own weight； to earthly things。 For not by thine own meditating or
striving dost thou receive this gift； but by the sole gracious condescension
of Supreme Grace and Divine regard； to the end that thou mayest make
progress in virtue and in more humility； and prepare thyself for future
conflicts； and cleave unto Me with all the affection of thy heart； and strive
to serve Me with fervent will。
2。 〃My Son； often the fire burneth； but the flame ascendeth not without
smoke。 So also the desires of some men burn towards heavenly things；
and yet they are not free from the temptation of carnal affection。 Thus
therefore they are not acting with an altogether simple desire for God's
glory when they pray to Him so earnestly。 Such； too； is oftentimes thy
desire； when thou hast imagined it to be so earnest。 For that is not pure
and perfect which is tainted with thine own self…seeking。
3。 〃Seek thou not what is pleasant and advantageous to thyself； but
what is acceptable and honourable unto Me； for if thou judgest rightly；
thou must choose and follow after My appointment rather than thine own
desire； yea； rather than anything that can be desired。 I know thy desire；
and I have heard thy many groanings。 Already thou longest to be in the
glorious liberty of the children of God； already the eternal home delighteth
thee； and the heavenly country full of joy； but the hour is not yet come；
there remaineth still another season； even a season of warfare； a season of
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labour and probation。 Thou desirest to be filled with the Chief Good； but
thou canst not attain it immediately。 I AM that Good； wait for Me； until
the Kingdom of God shall come。
4。 〃Thou must still be tried upon earth； and be exercised in many
things。 Consolation shall from time to time be given thee； but abundant
satisfying shall not be granted。 Be strong therefore； and be thou brave
both in working and in suffering things which are against thy nature。
Thou must put on the new man； and be changed into another man。 Thou
must often do what thou wouldst not； and thou must leave undone what
thou wouldst do。 What pleaseth others shall have good success； what
pleaseth thee shall have no prosperity。 What others say shall be listened
to； what thou sayest shall receive no heed。 Others shall ask and receive；
thou shalt ask and not obtain。 Others shall be great in the report of men；
but about thee shall nothing be spoken。 To others this or that shall be
entrusted； thou shalt be judged useful for nought。
5。 〃For this cause nature shall sometimes be filled with sadness； and it
is a great thing if thou bear it silently。 In this and many like things the
faithful servant of the Lord is wont to be tried； how far he is able to deny
himself and bring himself into subjection in all things。 Scarcely is there
anything in which thou hast need to mortify thyself so much as in seeing
things which are adverse to thy will； especially when things are
commanded thee to be done which seem to thee inexpedient or of little use
to thee。 And because thou darest not resist a higher power； being under
authority； therefore it seemeth hard for thee to shape thy course according
to the nod of another； and to forego thine own opinion。
6。 〃But consider； My Son； the fruit of these labours； the swift end； and
the reward exceeding great； and thou shalt find it no pain to bear them
then； but rather the strongest solace of thy patience。 For even in
exchange for this trifling desire which thou hast readily forsaken； thou
shalt always have thy will in Heaven。 There verily thou shalt find all that
thou wouldst； all that thou canst long for。 There thou shalt have all good
within thy power without fear of losing it。 There thy will； ever at one
with Mine； shall desire nothing outward； nothing for itself。 There no man
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shall withstand thee； none shall complain of thee； none shall hinder；
nothing shall stand in thy path； but all things desired by thee shall be
present together； and shall refresh thy whole affection； and fill it up even
to the brim。 There I will glory for the scorn suffered here； the garment of
praise for sorrow； and for the lowest place a throne in the Kingdom； for
ever。 There shall appear the fruit of obedience； the labour of repentance
shall rejoice； and humble subjection shall be crowened gloriously。
7。 〃Now therefore bow thyself humbly under the hands of all men； nor
let it trouble thee who said this or who ordered that； but take special heed
that whether thy superior； thy inferior； or thy equal； require anything from
thee； or even show a desire for it； take it all in good part； and study with a
good will to fulfil the desire。 Let one seek this； another that； let this man
glory in this； and that man in that； and be praised a thousand thousand
times； but rejoice thou only in the contempt of thyself； and in Mine own
good pleasure and glory。 This is what thou art to long for； even that
whether by life or by death God may be ever magnified in thee。〃（1）
（1） Philippians i。 20。
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CHAPTER 85
How a desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of
God
O Lord； Holy Father； be Thou blessed now and evermore； because as
Thou wilt so it is done； and what Thou doest is good。 Let Thy se