For then we seek the more earnestly the witness of God, when men speak evil of us falsely, and give us no credit for good. NO need to waste the reader's time by eulogy of the little book known as the Imitation of Christ. And your whole life has been a life of experiences of the faithfulness of God in his promises. Of the good, peaceable man. It is a great thing, yea very great, to be able to bear the loss both of human and divine comfort; and for the love of God willingly to bear exile of heart, and in nought to seek oneself, nor to look to one's own merit. The Imitation of Christ was written by Thomas À Kempis, contains 162 pages, published in 1920. it is the twelfth novel for author Edith Wharton it won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 192, Wharton was the first women to win this prize. Yea, may he not feel some kind of weariness in duties? I could 'Oh that Chetan Bhagat, ' he said, like he knew a milli... And the longer a man delayeth his resistance, the weaker he groweth, and the stronger groweth the enemy against him. "He went about doing good. "
Nor is it a great thing if a man be devout and zealous so long as he suffereth no affliction; but if he behave himself patiently in the time of adversity, then is there hope of great progress. And if you be Christ's, heavenly things will be the delight of your souls also. That every man is bound to the imitation of Christ, under penalty of forfeiting his claim to Christ.
1) Then shall he stand up to judge, he who now submitteth himself in humility to the judgments of men. Unless thou put force upon thyself, thou wilt not conquer thy faults. Christ was diligent, be not you slothful. They purge your sins, prevent your temptations, wean you from the world, and turn to your salvation: and how unreasonable then must your discontentedness at them be? It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh and be led by them, for this shall bring misery at the last. Always should some distinct resolution be made by us; and, most of all, we must strive against those sins which most easily beset us. If thou hast ever seen one die, consider that thou also shalt pass away by the same road. Thou must go through fire and water that God may bring thee into a wealthy place. Secondly, Your diligence in the work of God will be your great security in the hour of temptation; for "the Lord is with you while you are with him, " 2 Chron. Let all be loved for Jesus' sake, but Jesus for His own. Of a religious life.
He could stoop to the meanest office, even to wash the disciples feet. He must give up all that he loveth for his Beloved, for Jesus will be loved alone above all things. Long life doth not always amend, but often the more increaseth guilt. Thou wilt be quickly deceived if thou lookest only upon the outward appearance of men, for if thou seekest thy comfort and profit in others, thou shalt too often experience loss. Learn to despise outward things and to give thyself to things inward, and thou shalt see the kingdom of God come within thee. There is yet time, the hour is not past. This ebook is thought to be free of copyright restrictions in the United States. Gird up thy lions like a man against the assaults of the devil; bridle thine appetite, and thou wilt soon be able to bridle every inclination of the flesh. He is the blessed ocean into which all the streams of spiritual delight do pour themselves, Psal. We must love all men, but not make close companions of all. Nothing so defileth and entangleth the heart of man as impure love towards created things.
And he is the truly learned man, who doeth the will of God, and forsaketh his own will. The devil sleepeth not; thy flesh is not yet dead; therefore, cease thou not to make thyself ready unto the battle, for enemies stand on thy right hand and on thy left, and they are never at rest. A merry going forth bringeth often a sorrowful return, and a merry evening maketh a sad morning? "Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again; no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself:" and indeed the voluntariness of Christ, in his obedience unto death, gave his death the nature and formality of a sacrifice; for so all sacrifices ought to be offered, Lev. He who seeketh aught save God and the health of his soul, shall find only tribulation and sorrow. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. First, He was truly and sincerely holy, without fiction or simulation; and this appeared in the greatest trial of the truth of holiness that ever was made in this world. 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. Let men talk what they will of the immediate sealings and comforts of the Spirit, without any regard to holiness, or respect to obedience; sure I am, whatever delusion they meet with in that way, true peace, and consolation is only to be expected and found here: "The fruit of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness, and assurance for ever. " To-day man is, and to-morrow he will be seen no more. If thou withdraw thyself from trifling conversation and idle goings about, as well as from novelties and gossip, thou shalt find thy time sufficient and apt for good meditation. He often saith what he ought not to say, and omitteth what it were more expedient for him to do.
What frequent and fervid prayers did they offer unto God! You can also donate to Standard Ebooks to help fund continuing improvement of this and other ebooks. It is very true we cannot in all respects imitate the holiness of Christ, for he is essentially holy; proceeding, by nature, as a pure beam of holiness from the Father; and when he was incarnate, he came into the world immaculate, and pure from the least stain of pollution: There it was said, Luke 1: 25. Amtsgericht Augsburg HRB 16890. He knoweth the time and the way to deliver thee, therefore must thou resign thyself to Him. Therefore trust not too much to thine own opinion, but be ready also to hear the opinions of others. It is thy duty to have a good hope that thou wilt attain the victory, but thou must not fall into security lest thou become slothful or lifted up. If one who is once or twice admonished refuse to hearken, strive not with him, but commit all to God, that His will may be done and His honour be shown in His servants, for He knoweth well how to convert the evil unto good. Sixthly, Nothing rejoiced his soul more, than the prosperity and success of his work, Luke 10: 20, 21. Sadness always goeth hand in hand with the glory of the world. A good man will find sufficient cause for mourning and weeping; for whether he considereth himself, or pondereth concerning his neighbour, he knoweth that no man liveth here without tribulation, and the more thoroughly he considereth himself, the more thoroughly he grieveth.
Understandest them well, know also that there are many more. Keep always thine eye upon thyself first of all, and give advice to thyself specially before all thy dearest friends. First, That his heart was intently set upon it, Psal. Have a good conscience and God will defend thee, for he whom God will help no man's perverseness shall be able to hurt. It is vanity to desire a long life, and to have little care for a good life.