What edification and benefit to all thy brethren! For all extol patience, tho' few at the fame time are willing to fuffer. Well mighteft thou be content to fuffer a little for Chrift, fince many undergo much forer hardfhips for the world. XIV. Be affured of this as an infallible truth, that it is thy duty to lead a mortified life. And by how much the more any one dyes to himfelf, fo much the more doth he begin to live to GOD. No man is qualified to comprehend heavenly things, till he hath beat down and fubdued himself to the bearing of adverfities for the fake of Chrift. Nothing is more acceptable to GOD, nothing more healthful to the foul in this prefent ftate, than to fuffer, willingly for the fake of Chrift. And if it were put to thy own choice, thou oughteft to prefer fuffering adverfities for the fake of Chrift, before the being refreshed with fundry confolations; becaufe hereby thou wouldeft become more like unto Chrift, and more conformable to all the Saints. For our acceptableness, and the perfection of our fpiritual eftate configeth not in a multitude of delightful perceptions, and confolations; but rather in a patient enduring of great heavineffes, and fore tribulations. XV. If fo be any thing had been better, and more conducing to the falvation of men, than fuffering, doubtlefs Chrift would have fhewn it both by word and example. For both the Difciples that followed him, and all others that did, or fhould hereafter defire to follow him, he manifeftly exhorteth to the bearing of the Crofs, and faith: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross, and follow met. Wherefore after having read, and ranfack'd all things, be this the fum and final conclufion of the inatter, that, through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of GOD OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST. ΒΟΟΚ III. Of Internal Confolation. СНАР. І. Of the inward Speaking of Chrift to the faithful Soul. 1. I Will bearken to what the Lord from his own mouth receiveth the word of a Pfal. lxxxv. 8. confo confolation. Bleffed are the ears, which entertain the fweet found of the divine whifper, and are deaf to the babblings of this world. Yea, manifeftly bleffed are the ears, which hearken not to the voice that foundeth from without, but to the Truth that teacheth from within. Bleffed are the eyes, that are fhut to exterior objects, but intent and fixed upon interior. Blessed are. thofe, who penetrate into internal things, and by holy exercises make it their business daily to prepare themselves more and more for the understanding of heavenly fecrets. Bleffed are those perfons, whofe whole delight is the fervice of GOD, and who for that end difengage themselves from all worldly incumbrance. II. Confider these things, O my Soul, and fhut the doors of thy fenfes: That thou mayst be able to hear what the Lord thy GOD fpeaketh within thee. Thus faith thy Beloved. JESUS-CHRIST. I. I am thy falvation, thy peace, and thy life. Keep thy felf clofe to me, and thoufhalt find peace. Difmifs all tranfitory things, feek thofe that are eternal. What are all temporal things, but delufions? And what fignify all N 3 the the creatures, if thou art forfaken of the Creator? Wherefore renouncing all things, render thy felf well-pleafing, and faithful to thy Creator; to the end thou mayft be able to lay hold of true happiness. CHAP. II. That Truth Speaketh inwardly, without noife of Words. I Sea Peak, Lord, for thy fervant heareth. I am thy fervant, give me understanding, that I may know thy teftimonies. Incline my heart to the words of thy mouth: Let thy fpeech diftil as the dew. The children of Ifrael in times paft faid unto Mofes, Speak thou unto us, and we will bear: Let not GOD Speak unto us, left we die. I pray not in this wife; no, Lord, I pray not fo: But rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and affectionately entreat: Speak, Lord, for thy fervant heareth. Let not Mofes fpeak unto me, or any of the Prophets: But fpeak I Sam. iii. 10. c Deut. xxxii. 2. thou |