For whether good men are with me, godly brethren or faithful friends, whether holy books or beautiful discourses, whether sweet hymns and songs, all these help but little, and have but little savour when I am deserted by God's favour and left to mine own poverty. No outward labour and no necessary occupations stand in his way, but as events fall out, so doth he fit himself to them. If thou wilt stand fast and wilt profit as thou oughtest, hold thyself as an exile and a pilgrim upon the earth. Were we fully watchful of ourselves, and not bound in spirit to outward things, then might we be wise unto salvation, and make progress in Divine contemplation. The freedom of others displeaseth us, but we are dissatisfied that our own wishes shall be denied us. That every man is bound to the imitation of Christ, under penalty of forfeiting his claim to Christ. Retirement, if thou continue therein, groweth sweet, but if thou keep not in it, begetteth weariness. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. " Secondly, In the next place we are to enquire, in what things all who profess Christ are obliged to the imitation of him; or what those excellent graces in the life of Christ were, which are propounded as patterns to the saints. Even he who is strong to suffer somewhat for God. Haemmerlein, who was born in 1379 or 1380, was a member of the order of the Brothers of Common Life, and spent the last seventy years of his life at Mount St. Agnes, a monastery of Augustinian canons in the diocese of Utrecht.
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Advanced epub — An advanced format that uses the latest technology not yet fully supported by most ereaders. It is vanity then to seek after, and to trust in, the riches that shall perish. Even for the diversity of season different exercises are needed, some suit better for feasts, some for fasts. "I am ready not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus". For, though gracious habits are not acquired, yet they are greatly improved by frequent acts; "To him that has shall be given, Mat. First published anonymously in 1418, The Imitation of Christ is a spiritual classic, second only to the Bible in popularity. For to such a degree do some cling to it (even though by labouring or begging they scarce procure what is necessary for subsistence) that if they might live here always, they would care nothing for the Kingdom of God. Be thou watchful and diligent in God's service, and bethink thee often why thou hast renounced the world. Let no man go out of your company without conviction or edification.
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He knoweth the time and the way to deliver thee, therefore must thou resign thyself to Him. Fifthly, Nothing more displeased him than when he met with dissuasions and discouragements in his work; upon that account it was that he gave Peter so sharp a check, Mat. The Imitation of Christ: Book 4 Chapter 14. Put thy whole trust in God and let Him be thy fear and thy love, He will answer for thee Himself, and will do for thee what is best. It is no hard thing to despise human comfort when divine is present. Many die suddenly and unexpectedly.
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Prove first here, what thou art able to endure hereafter. For first cometh to the mind the simple suggestion, then the strong imagination, afterwards pleasure, evil affection, assent. Now there are divers great and weighty truths supposed and implied in this imitation of Christ, or walking as he walked, viz. And again, James 5: 10. Update Uncopyright to new template.
The words resolve themselves into two parts, viz. Be zealous, therefore, for thy spiritual profit, for thou shalt receive shortly the reward of thy labours, and neither fear nor sorrow shall come any more into thy borders. O how good a conscience should that man keep, who never sought a joy that passeth away, who never became entangled with the world! The humility of Christ appeared in every thing he spake or did. Blessed is he who understandeth what it is to love Jesus, and to despise himself for Jesus' sake. Is sin pardoned and God reconciled? Why desirest thou to lift thyself above another, when there are found many more learned and more skilled in the Scripture than thou? If thou canst not be always examining thyself, thou canst at certain seasons, and at least twice in the day, at evening and at morning. As iron cast into the fire loseth rust and is made altogether glowing, so the man who turneth himself altogether unto God is freed from slothfulness and changed into a new man. Look well unto thyself, and beware that thou judge not the doings of others. Secondly, This imitation of Christ implies, that as no man is, or may pretend to be his own guide, so no mere man, how wise or holy soever he be, may pretend to be a rule to other men; but Christ is the rule of every man's way and walking.