Of the fervent amendment of our whole life
OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
Book I Learn now to suffer in little things, that then you may be delivered from more grievous pains.
Try first here what you can endure hereafter.
If now you can endure so little, how will you be able to suffer eternal torments?
If now a little suffering makes you so impatient, what will hell-fire do hereafter?
Assuredly, you cannot have two heavens: this world's delights and the Kingdom of Christ hereafter.
7. Suppose that you have, to this very day, lived always in honours and pleasures; what would all that profit you, were you to die this moment?
All therefore is vanity,* except loving God and serving Him only.
For he that loves God with his whole heart, fears neither death, nor punishment, nor judgement, nor hell; for perfect love admits us surely to God.
But no wonder that the man who still delights in sin, should fear death and judgement.
However, if love cannot yet recall you from evil, it is good that the fear of hell at least should restrain you.
For, indeed, the man that lays aside the fear of God, will not be able to persevere in good, but will very soon fall into the snares of the devil.
CHAPTER 25
OF THE FERVENT AMENDMENT
OF OUR WHOLE LIFE
Be watchful and diligent in the service of God, and often reflect: What have I come here for," and why have I left the world? Was it not that you might live for God and become a spiritual man?
Therefore, be keen to make progress; for soon shall you receive the reward of your labours. And then shall there be neither fear nor sorrow within your borders.
A httle while shall you labour now; and presently you shaU find great rest, yes, everlasting joy.
If you continue faithful and fervent in doing, God will surely be faithful and rich in rewarding.
You must keep a good and firm hope of coming to the ^ Ecclesiastes i, 2, 2 So St Bernard. See St Benedict's Rule, chap.
60.
Chapter 25 OF perseverance
crown; but you must not be over confident, lest you wax slothful or proud.
2. There was once a man of anxious mind, often wavering between hope and fear, who, overcome with sadness, threw himself upon the ground in prayer before one of the altars in the church, and revolvmg these things in his mind, said: O if I only knew that I should persevere! That very instant he heard within him this heavenly answer: And if you did know this, what would you do? Do now what you would then do, and you shall be perfectly secure.
And immediately, being consoled and comforted, he committed himself to the divine will, and his anxious wavering ceased.
He had no longer any desire to inquire curiously what should happen to him, but studied rather to learn what was the acceptable and perfect will of God,^ for the beginning and the perfecting of every good work.
3. The Psalmist says: Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and you shall be fed with the riches thereof.*
There is one thing that keeps many back from spiritual progress and from fervent amendment, namely, dread of the difficulty and the stress of the conflict.
Yet assuredly they especially do advance beyond others in virtue, who strive manfully to overcome those things which are hardest and most contrary to them.
For there does a man profit more and merit more abundant grace, where he more overcomes himself and mortifies his spirit.
4. All have not, indeed, equal difficulties to overcome and mortify. Yet a diligent and zealous person, though he have more passions, will make greater progress than another who is more docile but less fervent in the pursuit of virtues.
Two things especially conduce to great amendment, namely, forcibly to withdraw oneself from nature's vicious inclinations, and fervently to pursue the good that one most needs.
And take special care to shun and conquer those faults that commonly displease you in others.
5. Turn all occasions to your spiritual profit. If you see or hear of any good examples, be on fire to imitate them.
But, if you notice anything that is blameworthy, take care not to do the same thing yourself. Or, if you have ever done it, study to amend as soon as possible.
Even as your eye observes the conduct of others, even so are you in your turn observed by others.
1 Romans xii, 2.
2 Psalm xxxvi, 3.
OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
Book I How pleasant and sweet a thing it is, to see brethren who are fervent and devout, well-mannered and well-disciplined!
How sad and afiflicting to see them walking disorderly, and not practising the things to which they are called I How harmful a thing it is when they neglect the purpose of their vocation, and turn their minds to what is not their business!
6. Be mindful of the purpose you have undertaken, and place before you the image of the Crucified.
Well may you be ashamed, when looking upon the life of Jesus Christ, that as yet you have not studied more to conform yourself to Him, long as you have been in the way of God.
The religious who exercises himself earnestly and devoutly in the most holy life and passion of our Lord, shall find there abundantly all that is useful and necessary for him; nor need he go beyond Jesus, to seek something better.
O if Jesus crucified did but come into our hearts, how quickly and fully should we be instructed!
7. The fervent religious takes and bears well all things that are commanded him.
The negligent and lukewarm religious has trouble upon trouble, and endures anguish on every side; for he has no consolation within and is forbidden to seek it without.
The reUgious that lives not by discipline is exposed to dreadful ruin.
He that seeks what is easier and more lax will always be in trouble; for one thing or another will ever disgust him.
8. How do so many other religious manage, who live most strictly under the discipline of the cloister?
They seldom go abroad, they live retired, they are fed on the very poorest fare, they are coarsely clad, they labour much, they talk little, they keep long vigils, they rise early, they spend much time in prayer, they study frequently, and they keep themselves under strict discipUne.
Consider the Carthusians, and the Cistercians, and the monks and nuns of other reUgious Orders, how they rise every night to sing praises to the Lord! And what a shame it would be for you to grow slothful in so holy a work, when so great a multitude of religious persons is already busy praising God!
9. O that there were nothing else to do but praise the Lord our God with our lips and with our whole heart! O that you did never need to eat, or drink, or sleep, but could always be praising God and occupied solely with spiritual pursuits! Then would you be much happier than now, when you are a slave to the body, on account of its manifold necessities.
Would to God that there were none of those necessities, but
Chapter 25 be always praising god
only the banquets of the soul! But, alas! it is full seldom that we are able to taste of these.
10. When a man has arrived so far that he seeks his consolation from no created thing, then first does he begin to taste fully the sweetness of God. Then also will he be weU content with whatever happens.
Then will he neither rejoice over great matters, nor be sorrowful for small, but commit himself wholly and trustfully to God, who is to him all in all. And, indeed, with God nothing perishes and nothing dies; for all things live unto Him and serve His merest nod with instant obedience.
11. Always remember your end, and consider that time lost returns no more.
Without care and diligence you shall never acquire virtues.
K once you begin to grow lukewarm, you begin to be in an evil condition.
But if you give yourself to fervour, you shall find great peace; and you shall feel your labour lighter, by the grace of God and the love of virtue.
The fervent and diligent man is ready for all things.
It is harder work to withstand our vices and passions than to toil at bodily labours.
He that does not shun small faults, falls little by little into greater.
You will always rejoice in the evening, if you spend the day profitably.
Watch over yourself, bestir yourself, admonish yourself, and, whatever may become of others, neglect not yourself.
In proportion as you do violence to yourself, so shall you make the greater progress. Amen.