Chapter 22. Of the recollection of God's manifold benefits (Book 3. On Inward Consolation as a Gift of God) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas)

1. Open, O Lord, my heart in Your law, and teach me to walk in the way of Your commandments. Grant me to understand Your will and to be mindful of Your benefits, both general and special, with great reverence and diligent meditation, that so I may be able worthily to give You thanks. Yet I know and confess that I cannot render You due praises for the least of Your mercies. I am less than the least of all the good things which You gave me; and when I consider Your majesty, my spirit fails because of the greatness thereof.

2. All things which we have in the soul and in the body, and whatsoever things we possess, whether outwardly or inwardly, naturally or supernaturally, are Your good gifts, and prove You, from whom we have received them all, to be good, gentle, and kind. Although one receivs many things, and another fewer, yet all are Yours. and without You not even the least thing can be possessed. He who has received greater cannot boast that it is of his own merit, nor lift himself up above others, nor contemn those beneath him; for he is the greater and the better who ascribs least to himself, and in giving thanks is the humbler and more devout; and he who holds himself to be viler than all, and judgs himself to be the more unworthy, is the apter for receiving greater things.

3. But he who has received fewer gifts, ought not to be cast down, nor to take it amiss, nor to envy him who is richer; but rather ought he to look to You, and to greatly extol Your goodness, for You pourest forth Your gifts so richly, so freely and largely, without respect of persons. All things come of You; therefore in all things will you be praised. You know what is best to be given to each; and why this man has less, and that more, is not for us but for You to understand, for to You each man's deservings are fully known.

4. Wherefore, O Lord God, I reckon it even a great benefit, not to have many things, whence praise and glory may appear outwardly, and after the thought of men. For so it is that he who considers his own poverty and vileness, ought not only to draw therefrom no grief or sorrow, or sadness of spirit, but rather comfort and cheerfulness; because You, Lord, have chosen the poor and humble, and those who are poor in this world, to be Your friends and acquaintance. So give all Your apostles witness whom You have made princes in all lands. Yet they had their conversation in this world blameless, so humble and meek, without any malice or deceit, that they even rejoiced to suffer rebukes for Your Name's sake, and what things the world hates, they embraced with great joy.

5. Therefore ought nothing so much to rejoice him who loves You and knows Your benefits, as Your will in him, and the good pleasure of Your eternal Providence, wherewith he ought to be so contented and comforted, that he would as willingly be the least as any other would be the greatest, as peaceable and contented in the lowest as in the highest place, and as willingly held of small and low account and of no name or reputation as to be more honourable and greater in the world than others. For Your will and the love of Your honour ought to go before all things, and to please and comfort him more, than all benefits that are given or may be given to himself.

Acts v. 41.