The Imitation Of Christ Pdf

Thursday, 11 July 2024

Busy not thyself with the affairs of others, nor entangle thyself with the business of great men. Let all be loved for Jesus' sake, but Jesus for His own. Fifthly, Diligence in obedience is a great security against backsliding: small remissions in duty, and little neglects, increase by degrees unto great apostasies, you may see how that disease is bred by the method prescribed for its cure, Rev. Fourthly, The imitation of Christ plainly holds forth this, that the Christian religion is a very precise and strict religion; no way countenancing licentiousness, or indulging men in their lusts: it allows no man to walk loosely and inordinately, but rejects every man's claim to Christ, who studies and labours not to tread exactly in the footsteps of his holy and heavenly example. Prepare thyself for patience more than for comforts, and for bearing the cross more than for joy. "I am a worm, and no man. "

Imitation Of Christ Meaning

If thou rejectest outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate heavenly things and frequently to be joyful inwardly. And therefore there is no peace in the heart of a man who is carnal, nor in him who is given up to the things that are without him, but only in him who is fervent towards God and living the life of the Spirit. The words resolve themselves into two parts, viz. Secondly, How readily he denied all for your sakes, making no objections against the difficultest commands. They spent their whole time profitably; every hour seemed short for retirement with God; and through the great sweetness of contemplation, even the need of bodily refreshment was forgotten. The book is called the Imitation of Christ, or more briefly, the Imitation. For wherein a man hath sinned, therein shall he be the more heavily punished. What doth it profit thee to enter into deep discussion concerning the Holy Trinity, if thou lack humility, and be thus displeasing to the Trinity? There is no true liberty nor real joy, save in the fear of God with a good conscience.

Summary Of The Imitation Of Christ

If Jesus crucified would come into our hearts, how quickly, and completely should we have learned all that we need to know! Be not a flatterer of the rich; nor willingly seek the society of the great. It is vanity then to seek after, and to trust in, the riches that shall perish. For He Himself is alway ready to help those who strive and who trust in Him; yea, He provideth for us occasions of striving, to the end that we may win the victory. Five centuries and a score of languages have set on it their mark; it is the one book Of devotion apart from the Bible which has not loosened its hold upon the Christian world; and it would not be astonishing if the present century, in which mystic writing is again read, should see the book appealing to an even wider public than that which has read and te-read it, and has sedulously kept its secret hidden. Nevertheless, "not my will, but thine be done, " Matt. Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking account of anything that is good; but a good conscience and a holy life is better than all. Convince the world, that since you knew God and yourselves, your pride has been dying from that day. A sensitive pleasure arises from the suitableness of the faculty and object.

What Is The Imitation Of Christ

Simplicity ought to be in the intention, purity in the affection. "Calmly await the will of God and bear whatever befalls [you] in praise of Jesus Christ, for after winter comes summer, after night, the day, and after the storm, a great calm. From The Method of Grace by John Flavel. It is made available here for the purposes of individual, non-commercial research and study. For as You will, so it has been done; and what You do is good.

The Imitation Of Christ Pdf Version

What doth it profit to argue about hidden and dark things, concerning which we shall not be even reproved in the judgment, because we knew them not? Its structure it owes largely to the writings of the medieval mystics, and its ideas and phrases are a mosaic from the Bible and the Fathers of the early Church. Bitte wählen Sie Ihr Anliegen aus. 2: 19. i. e. let him either put on the life of Christ, or put off the name of Christ; let him show the hand of a Christian, in works of holiness and obedience, or else the tongue and language of a Christian must gain no belief or credit. "Not as though I kind already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. " Be pure and free within thyself, and be not entangled by any created thing. And who will entreat for thee? He who dwelleth in peace is suspicious of none, but he who is discontented and restless is tossed with many suspicions, and is neither quiet himself nor suffereth others to be quiet. Good cause have we therefore to humble ourselves, and never to think highly of ourselves, seeing that we are so frail and unstable. Compatible epub — All devices and apps except Kindles and Kobos. If you do any thing for God willingly, you have a reward; if otherwise, a dispensation only is committed to you, 1 Cor. 1) Our own judgment and feelings often deceive us, and we discern but little of the truth.

The Imitation Of Christ Online

Translated into languages all over the world, it is said to be the most well-read book in the world next to the Bible. Most poor is he who liveth without Jesus, and most rich is he who is much with Jesus. Then thou shalt make great progress if thou keep thyself free from all temporal care. Rather fear concerning the knowledge which is given to thee. Of the intimate love of Jesus. Make to thyself friends, by venerating the saints of God and walking in their steps, that when thou failest, thou mayest be received into everlasting habitations. He shall be thy provider and faithful watchman in all things, so that thou hast no need to trust in men, for men soon change and swiftly pass away, but Christ remaineth for ever and standeth by us firmly even to the end. And to press this, I beseech you to consider, First, From how vile a root pride springs. Of loving Jesus above all things. Take counsel with a man who is wise and of a good conscience; and seek to be instructed by one better than thyself, rather than to follow thine own inventions.

The Imitation Of Christ Was Written By

And verily it should be yet better within than without, for God is a discerner of our heart, Whom we must reverence with all our hearts wheresoever we are, and walk pure in His presence as do the angels. The more a man desireth to be spiritual, the more bitter doth the present life become to him; because he the better understandeth and seeth the defects of human corruption. 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. To him who withdraweth himself from his acquaintance and friends God with his holy angels will draw nigh. If thou rest more upon thy own reason or experience than upon the power of Jesus Christ, thy light shall come slowly and hardly; for God willeth us to be perfectly subject unto Himself, and all our reason to be exalted by abundant love towards Him. Retirement, if thou continue therein, groweth sweet, but if thou keep not in it, begetteth weariness. "His mercies are new every morning, and great is his faithfulness. It is a good note of Luther, Fides pinguescit operibus, Faith improves by obedience.

He who shunneth not small faults falleth little by little into greater. The more a man hath unity and simplicity in himself, the more things and the deeper things he understandeth; and that without labour, because he receiveth the light of understanding from above. The contentation of his heart with a suffering condition, evidenced itself in his silence under the greatest sufferings, Isa. Happy is he who putteth away from him whatsoever may stain or burden his conscience. In the midst of temptation often seek counsel; and deal not hardly with one who is tempted, but comfort and strengthen him as thou wouldest have done unto thyself.

Who is so wise as to have perfect knowledge of all things? Leave vain things to vain men, and mind thou the things which God hath commanded thee. Of inordinate affections. If God were always the sole object of our desire, we should the less easily be troubled by the erring judgment of our fancy. "Behold his heart which is lifted up, is not upright in him. For all worldly delights are either empty or unclean, whilst spiritual delights alone are pleasant and honourable, the offspring of virtue, and poured forth by God into pure minds. He only is truly great, who hath great charity.

Therefore of all that are dear to thee, let Jesus be specially loved. Obedience in Christ was an abasement to him, but in you a very great honour and advancement: you have reason therefore to obey with cheerfulness. Be thou humble and peaceable and Jesus shall be with thee. Thou canst quickly drive away Jesus and lose His favour if thou wilt turn away to the outer things. Manuscripts of the Latin version survive in considerable numbers all over Western Europe, and they, with the vast list of translations and of printed editions, testify to its almost unparalleled popularity. So ought we to prepare ourselves earnestly at solemn seasons, and the more solemnly to live, and to keep straightest watch upon each holy observance, as though we were soon to receive the reward of our labours at the hand of God. A brief history of this ebook. The more humble a man is in himself, and the more obedient towards God, the wiser will he be in all things, and the more shall his soul be at peace.