THAT TEMPORAL MISERIES ARE TO BE BORNE PATIENTLY AFTER THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST “" My Son, I came down from heaven for your salvation; I took upon Me your miseries not of necessity, but drawn by love that you might learn patience and might bear temporal miseries without murmuring. For from the hour of My [...]
Category: The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis, tr. by William Benham, 1886
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xvii (that all care is to be cast upon God)
THAT ALL CARE IS TO BE CAST UPON GOD “My Son, suffer me to do with you what I will; I know what is expedient for you. You think as a man, in many things you judge as human affection persuades you.” Lord, what You say is true. Greater is Your care for me than [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xvi (that true solace is to be sought in God alone)
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 [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xv (how we must stand and speak in everything that we desire)
HOW WE MUST STAND AND SPEAK, IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DESIRE “” My Son, speak you thus in every matter, 'Lord, if it pleases You, let this come to pass. Lord, if this shall be for Your honour, let it be done in Your Name. Lord, if You see it good for me, and approve [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xiv (meditation upon the hidden judgments of God, that we be not lifted up because of our well-doing)
OF MEDITATION UPON THE HIDDEN JUDGMENTS OF GOD, THAT WE MAY NOT BE LIFTED UP BECAUSE OF OUR WELL-DOING “You send forth Your judgments against me, O Lord, and shake all my bones with fear and trembling, and my soul trembles exceedingly. I stand astonished, and remember that the heavens are not clean in thy [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xiii (the obedience of one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus Christ)
OF THE OBEDIENCE OF ONE IN LOWLY SUBJECTION AFTER THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST “” My Son, he who strives to withdraw himself from obedience, withdraws himself also from grace, and he who seeks private advantages, loses those which are common unto all. If a man submit not freely and willingly to one set over [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xii (the inward growth of patience and of the struggle against evil desires)
OF THE INWARD GROWTH OF PATIENCE AND OF THE STRUGGLE AGAINST EVIL DESIRES “O Lord God, I see that patience is very necessary unto me; for many things in this life fall out contrary. For howsoever I may have contrived for my peace, my life cannot go on without strife and trouble. “You speak truly [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xi (the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed)
THAT THE DESIRES OF THE HEART ARE TO BE EXAMINED AND GOVERNED “” My Son, you have still many things to learn, which you have not well learned yet.” What are they Lord? “To place your desire altogether in subjection to My good pleasure, and not to be a lover of yourself, but an earnest [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter x (that it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God)
THAT IT IS 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, O how plentiful is Your goodness which You have laid up [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter ix (that all things are to be referred to God as the final end)
THAT ALL THINGS ARE TO BE REFERRED TO GOD, AS THE FINAL END “” My Son, I must be your Supreme and final end, if you desire to be truly happy. Out of such purpose your affection shall be purified, which too often is sinfully bent upon itself and upon created things. For if you [...]
The Mark Of God: Understanding Your "I AM Presence" 