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Show if f.Jm. ?. i IMITATIONS OF CHRIST. Of gratitude for the Grace of God. ! Why seokest thou rest, since thou art born to labor? Dispose thyself to patience rather than to comfort, and to the bearing of the cross rather than to gladnes3. What worldly man is there that would not willingly receive spiritual joy and comfort if he could always have it? For spiritual comforts exceed all delights of the world, and the pleasure of the flesh For all worldly delights are either vain or unclean; but spiritual delights are pleasant and honest, being sprung from virtue, and infused by God into pure minds. But no man can always enjoy these divine comforts aocording to all desires; for the time of temptation tempta-tion is never far away. But false freedom free-dom of mind and great confidence in ourselves are very contrary to heavenly visitations. God doeth well for us in giving the grace of comfort; but man doeth evil in not returning all again unto God with great thanksgiving. And, therefore, the gifts of grace cannot flow in us, because we are unthankful un-thankful to the giver, and return.them not to the source and fountain. For grace ever attendeth him that is duly thankful; and from the proud shall be taken that which is wont to be given to the huble. I desire not the consolation that taketh from me compunction; nor do I affect that contemplation which lead-e!th lead-e!th to a high mind. For all that is high is not holy; nor all that is sweet and good; nor every desire, pure; nor is everything that is pleasing to God dear to us. Willingly do I accept of that grace, whereby I may ever be found more humble, and more affected with fear, and may become more ready to renounce re-nounce myself. He that is taught by the gift of grace, and schooled by the withdrawing thereof, there-of, will not dare to attribute any good to himaelf, but will rather acknowledge that to thyself alone is to be attributed sin, and the punishment due to sin. Set thyself always in the lowest place and the highest shall be given thee; for the highest is not without the low-eat. low-eat. The chlefe3t saints before God are the least in their own judgments; and the more glorious they are, so much the humbler within themselvea Those that are full of truth and heavenly heav-enly glory, are not desirous of empty glory. Those that are firmly settled and grounded in God, can in no way be proud. And they that ascribe tf.ll good to God, whatsoever they have received, seek not glory but which is from God alone; and above all, things that God may be praised in Himself and all His sajnts; and are always pressing on for this very thing. Be, therefore, thankful thank-ful for the least thing, go shalt thou be meet to receive greater. Let the least be unto thee even as the greatest, yea, the most contemptible gift as of especial value. If thou consider he worth of the giver, no gift will seem little, or of too mean esteem. For that cannot be little lit-tle which is given bj the most High God. Yea, if he should give punishment .............. j and stripes, it ought to be a matter of thankfulness; because He doeth always for our walfare. whotsoever He 'permitted 'per-mitted to happen unto us. He that de-sireth de-sireth to keep the grace of God, let him be thankful for grace given, and patient for the taking away thereof; let him pray that it may return; let him be cautious and humble, lest he lose it. CHAPTER XI. That the lovers of the Cross of Jesu3 are few. Jesus hath now many lovers of His Cross, but few bearers' of His Cross. He hath many desirous of consolation, but few of tribulation. He findsth many companions of His table, but few of His abstinence. All des-ire to rejoice re-joice with Him; few are willing to endure en-dure anything for Him. Many follow Jesus unto the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the cup of Hia passion. Many reverence His miracles; few follow the ignominy of Hia Cross. Many love Jesus so long as no adversities befall be-fall them. Many praise and blera Him so long as they receive any consolation consola-tion from Him. But if Jesus hide Himself, and leave them but a little while, they fall either into complaining, or into too much dejection de-jection of mind. But they who love Jesus for Hig own sake, and not for some special comfort com-fort which they receive, biess Him in all tribulation and anguish of heart, as well as in the state of the highest comfort. Yea, although He should, never be willing to give them comfort, they would ever praise Him, and wish to be always giving thanks. Oh! low. powerful is the pure love of Jesus', which is mixed with no self-interest, self-interest, nor self-love! Are not all those to be called mercenary who are ever seeking consolations? Do they not show themselves to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ who are always thinking of their own profit and advantage? Where shall one be found who is willing to serve God for naught? Rarely is anyone found so spiritual as to have suffered the loss of aU things. If a man should give all his substance, it is as yet nothing. And if he should practice great repentance, it is still little. And if he should attain at-tain all knowledge, he is still afar off. And if he should be of great virtue, and of fervent devotion, yet there is much wanting, especially one thing, which is most necessary for him. What is that? What leaving all, he forsake himself, and go wholly from himseiif, and retain nothing of self-love. And when he hath done all that is to be done, so far as he knoweth, let him think that he hath done nothing. Let him not think that of great vei?ht, which might be esteemed great, but let him in truth pronounce himself to be 1 an unprofitable servant, as the Truth Himself saith, "When you shall have dcre all things that are commanded of you, say, we are unprofitable servants." serv-ants." Then may he be truly poor and naked in spirit, and say with the Prophet, "I am desolate and afflicted." Yet none is richer than that man, none more powerful, none more free, for he knoweth how to leave himself and all things, and to set himself in the lowest low-est place. |