Chapter 03. How all the words of God are to be heard with humility, and h... (Book 3. On Inward Consolation as a Gift of God) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas)

1. "My Son, hear My words, for My words are most sweet, surpassing all the knowledge of the philosophers and wise men of this world. My words are spirit, and they are life, and are not to be weighed by man's understanding. They are not to be drawn forth for vain approval, but to be heard in silence, and to be received with all humility and with deep love."

2. And I said, "Blessed is the man whom You teachest, O Lord, and instructest him in Your law, that You may give him rest in time of adversity, and that he be not desolate in the earth."

3. "I," says the Lord, "taught the prophets from the beginning, and even now cease I not to speak to all; but many are deaf and hardened against My voice; many love to listen to the world rather than to God, they follow after the desires of the flesh more readily than after the good pleasure of God. The world promiss things that are temporal and small, and it is served with great eagerness. I promise things that are great and eternal, and the hearts of mortals are slow to stir. Who servs and obeys Me in all things, with such carefulness as he servs the world and its rulers?

Be you ashamed, O Sidon, says the sea; And if you reason seek, hear you me.
For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground. Mean reward is sought after; for a single piece of money sometimes there is shameful striving; for a thing which is vain and for a trifling promise, men shrink not from toiling day and night."

4. "But, O shame! for an unchangeable good, for an inestimable reward, for the highest honour and for a glory that fads not away, it is irksome to them to toil even a little. Be you ashamed therefore, slothful and discontented servant, for they are found readier to perdition than you to life. They rejoice more heartily in vanity than you in the truth. Sometimes, indeed, they are disappointed of their hope, but my promise fails no man, nor sends away empty him who trusts in Me. What I have promised I will give; what I have said I will fulfil; if only a man remain faithful in My love to the end. Therefore am I the rewarder of all good men, and a strong approver of all who are godly.

5. "Write My words in your heart and consider them diligently, for they shall be very needful to you in time of temptation. What you understand not when you readest, you will know in the time of your visitation. I am wont to visit Mine elect in twofold manner, even by temptation and by comfort, and I teach them two lessons day by day, the one in chiding their faults, the other in exhorting them to grow in grace. He who has My words and rejects them, has one who shall judge him at the last day."

A PRAYER FOR THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION

6. O Lord my God, You are all my good, and who am I that I should dare to speak to You? I am the very poorest of Your servants, an abject worm, much poorer and more despicable than I know or dare to say. Nevertheless remember, O Lord, that I am nothing, I have nothing, and can do nothing. You only are good, just and holy; You can do all things, are over all things, fillest all things, leaving empty only the sinner. Call to mind Your tender mercies, and fill my heart with Your grace, You who will not that Your work should return to You void.

7. How can I bear this miserable life unless Your mercy and grace strengthen me? Turn not away Your face from me, delay not Your visitation. Withdraw not You Your comfort from me, in case my soul "gasp after you as a thirsty land." Lord, teach me to do Your will, teach me to walk humbly and uprightly before You, for You are my wisdom, who know me in truth, and knew me before the world was made and before I was born into the world.