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Show it.i.tni(etiititiii ot-oiiioiiott " I J i vw'ftiii - K'r- . i : ; ' ' SWnas CCVW'5-: THE FIEST BOOK. Admonitions Useful Tor a Spiritual Life.,- - CHAPTER 1. I ' (Of the Imitation of Christ, arid Contempt Con-tempt of all the Vanities of the World.) I He that followeth Me, walketh not in darkness saith the Lord. These are the words of Christ by which we are taught to imitate His life and.manners, if we would be truly enlightened, and be delivered de-livered from all blindness of heart. Let therefore our chief endeavor be to mediate me-diate on the life of Jesus Christ. The doctrine of Christ exceedeth all the docarines of holy men; and he that hath the Spirit will find " therein the hidden manna. -.. '.--.. -- But it faHeth out. that many, albeit they often hear the Gospel of Christ, are yet but little effected because they have not the Spirit of Christ. Whosoever Whoso-ever then would fully and feelingly ; understand the-words of Christ, must endeavor to conform his life wholly to the life of Christ. . What will, it avail thee to be engaged en-gaged in profound reasonings concerning concern-ing the Trinity, if thou be void of. humility, hu-mility, and art thereby displeasnig-to the Trinity? Surely great words do not make a man holy and just, but a virtuous vir-tuous life.maketh him dear to God. I had rather feel compunction, then know the definition thereof. T-f fVinu U newest the whole Bible bv heart, and the saying of all the philosophers, philoso-phers, what ..would it profit thee without. with-out. the love of God and without grace? Vanity of vanities, all is vanity except to love God, and Him only to. serve. This is the highest wisdom, by contempt con-tempt of the world to. tend towards the Kingdom of Heaven. It in therefore' vanity to seek after perishing riches, and to trust in them. It is also vanity to strive after honors, and to climb to high degree. It is vanity van-ity to follow the desires of the flesh, and to labor for that for which thou must afterwards suffer grevious punishment. pun-ishment. It is vanity to desire to live long and not to care to live well. It is vanity to mind only this present life and not to make provision for those things which are to come. It is vanity to love that which speedily speed-ily passeth away, and not to hasten thither where everlasting joy awaiteth thee. Call often to mind that proverb "Tho eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the car filled with hearing." Endeavor,, therefore, to withdraw thy heart from the love of visible, .things, and to turn thvself to the invisible. Forthey that louow tneir iusis eikih men- on ii consciences; con-sciences; and lose the grace of God. CHAPTER II. . Of thinking humbly of ourselves. All men naturally desire knowledge; but what 'availeth knowledge without the fear. of God? . . Surely, an humble husbandman that serveth God is. better thaji a proud philosopher who, neglecting himself, is occupied in studying the course pf the heavens. :' ' ... Whosovkhovethimse.Jf is Jowly in his own' eyes, and delighteth not in the i praises of men. I. If I understood all things in the world andhad not charity, what would it avail me in the sight, of God. who will judge me according to my deeds? Cease from an inordinate desire of knowledge, for therein is much' distraction and deceit. de-ceit. Learned men are anxious to seem learned to others, and to be' called wise. (I Cor. iii. I.) "Ther1 be many things to know which doth iitle or nothing profit the soul. And he is very unwise who minds other things more than these that tend to his salvation. Many words do not satisfy the soul: hut a. a-ood life comforteth the mind. , and a pure conscience giveth great confidence con-fidence toward. God. If thou thinkest that thou under-standest under-standest and knowest much: yet know-that know-that there be many more things which thou knowest not. Affect 'not to be overwise, but rather acknowledge thine own ignorance. : Why wilt thou prefer thyself before others, seeing there be many more learned and more skilled in the Scripture Script-ure than thou? If thou wilt to know or learn anything profitably desire to be unknown, and to be little esteemed. The highest and most profitable lesson les-son is the true knowledge and lowly es-I es-I teem of ourselves. j It is great wisdom and perfection to ! think nothing of ourselves, and to think always well and highly of others. Wo are aU frail (Gen. VIII. 21), but do thou esteem none more frail than thyself. |