Thou knowest things to come before they are done; and Thou hast no need to be taught or admonished by any one of those things that pass upon earth.
Thou knowest what is expedient for my progress, and how serviceable tribulation is to rub away the rust of sin.
-- Imitation of Christ
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Conscience
A good conscience can bear very much and is very joyful in the midst of adversity.
A bad conscience is always fearful and uneasy.
-- Imitation of Christ
A bad conscience is always fearful and uneasy.
-- Imitation of Christ
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Suffering and Peace
He who knows how to suffer will enjoy much peace.
Such a one is a conqueror of himself and lord of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.
-- Imitation of Christ
Such a one is a conqueror of himself and lord of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven.
-- Imitation of Christ
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Secrets
"Be wary," saith one, "be wary, keep to thyself what I tell thee." And whilst I hold my peace, and believe the matter to be secret he himself cannot keep the secret which he desires me to keep, but presently betrays both me and himself, and goes his way.
From such tales and such incautious people defend me, O Lord, that I may not fall into their hands, nor ever commit the like.
-- Imitation of Christ
From such tales and such incautious people defend me, O Lord, that I may not fall into their hands, nor ever commit the like.
-- Imitation of Christ
Monday, September 24, 2007
Blessings of Humility
Make no great account who is for thee or against thee, but let it be thy business and thy care that God may be with thee in everything thou dost. (Romans 8:31)
. . .
When a man humbles himself for his defects he then easily appeases others, and quickly satisfies those that are angry with him.
The humble man God protects and delivers; the humble He loves and comforts; to the humble He gives grace (Proverbs 29:23), and after he has been depressed, raises him to glory.
To the humble He reveals His secrets, and sweetly draws and invites him to Himself.
The humble man having received reproach maintains himself well enough in peace, because he is fixed on God, and not on the world.
-- Imitation of Christ
. . .
When a man humbles himself for his defects he then easily appeases others, and quickly satisfies those that are angry with him.
The humble man God protects and delivers; the humble He loves and comforts; to the humble He gives grace (Proverbs 29:23), and after he has been depressed, raises him to glory.
To the humble He reveals His secrets, and sweetly draws and invites him to Himself.
The humble man having received reproach maintains himself well enough in peace, because he is fixed on God, and not on the world.
-- Imitation of Christ
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Visible and Spiritual
Grant, O Lord, that I may know what I ought to know; that I may love what I ought to love; that I may praise that which is most pleasing to Thee; that I may esteem that which is valuable in Thy sight; that I may despise that which is despicable in Thy eyes.
Suffer me not to judge according to the sight of the outward eye, nor to give sentence according to the hearing of the ears of men that know not what they are about; but to determine both of visible and spiritual matters with true judgment. and above all things ever to seek Thy good will and pleasure.
The sentiments of man are often wrong in their judgments and the lovers of this world are deceived in loving visible things alone.
What is man the better for being reputed greater by man?
One deceitful man deceives another; the vain deceives the vain, the blind deceives the blind, the weak the weak, whilst he extols him, and in truth, doth rather confound him, whilst he vainly praises him.
For as much as each one is in Thy eyes, so much is he, and no more, saith the humble St. Francis.
-- Imitation of Christ
Suffer me not to judge according to the sight of the outward eye, nor to give sentence according to the hearing of the ears of men that know not what they are about; but to determine both of visible and spiritual matters with true judgment. and above all things ever to seek Thy good will and pleasure.
The sentiments of man are often wrong in their judgments and the lovers of this world are deceived in loving visible things alone.
What is man the better for being reputed greater by man?
One deceitful man deceives another; the vain deceives the vain, the blind deceives the blind, the weak the weak, whilst he extols him, and in truth, doth rather confound him, whilst he vainly praises him.
For as much as each one is in Thy eyes, so much is he, and no more, saith the humble St. Francis.
-- Imitation of Christ
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Love and Fear
He that loves God with his whole heart neither fears death, nor punishment, nor judgment, nor hell; because perfect love gives secure access to God.
But he that is yet delighted with sin -- no wonder if he be afraid of death and judgment.
It is good, however, that if love, as yet, reclaim thee not from evil, at least the fear of hell restrain thee.
But he that lays aside the fear of God will not be able to continue long in good, but will quickly fall into the snares of the devil.
-- Imitation of Christ
But he that is yet delighted with sin -- no wonder if he be afraid of death and judgment.
It is good, however, that if love, as yet, reclaim thee not from evil, at least the fear of hell restrain thee.
But he that lays aside the fear of God will not be able to continue long in good, but will quickly fall into the snares of the devil.
-- Imitation of Christ
Friday, September 21, 2007
Do It Now
A patient man hath a great and wholesome purgatory, who, receiving injuries, is more concerned at the person's sin than his own wrong; who willingly prays for his adversaries, and from his heart forgives offenses; who is easier moved to compassion than to anger; who frequently useth violence to himself, and labors to bring the flesh wholly under subjectjion to the spirit.
It is better now to purge away our sins and to cut up our vices than to reserve them to be purged hereafter.
-- Imitation of Christ
It is better now to purge away our sins and to cut up our vices than to reserve them to be purged hereafter.
-- Imitation of Christ
Thursday, September 20, 2007
How Matters Stand
Very quickly thou must be gone from hence, see then how matters stand with thee; a man is here today and tomorrow he is vanished (1 Maccabees 2:63).
And when he is taken away from the sight he is quickly also out of mind.
Oh, the dullness and hardness of man's heart, which only thinks of what is present, and looks not forward to things to come.
-- Imitation of Christ
During the Battle of Inkerman Crimean War a Priest Administers the Last Rites to a French Soldier
Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
And when he is taken away from the sight he is quickly also out of mind.
Oh, the dullness and hardness of man's heart, which only thinks of what is present, and looks not forward to things to come.
-- Imitation of Christ
During the Battle of Inkerman Crimean War a Priest Administers the Last Rites to a French Soldier
Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Fear No Kind of Austerity
If thou wouldst oftener think of thy death than of a long life, no doubt thou wouldst more fervently amend thyself.
And if thou didst seriously consider in thy heart the future punishment of hell or purgatory, I believe thou wouldst willingly endure labor and pain, and fear no kind of austerity.
But because these things reach not the heart, and we still love the things which flatter us, therefore we remain cold and very sluggish.
-- Imitation of Christ
And if thou didst seriously consider in thy heart the future punishment of hell or purgatory, I believe thou wouldst willingly endure labor and pain, and fear no kind of austerity.
But because these things reach not the heart, and we still love the things which flatter us, therefore we remain cold and very sluggish.
-- Imitation of Christ
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Peace and Disturbance
A joyful going abroad often brings forth a sorrowful coming home; and a merry evening makes a sad morning.
If thou hadst not gone abroad, nor hearkened to rumors, thou hadst kept thyself better in good peace; but since thou art delighted sometimes to hear news thou must thence suffer a disturbance of heart.
--Imitation of Christ
If thou hadst not gone abroad, nor hearkened to rumors, thou hadst kept thyself better in good peace; but since thou art delighted sometimes to hear news thou must thence suffer a disturbance of heart.
--Imitation of Christ
Monday, September 17, 2007
Security
No man securely rejoiceth unless he hath within him the testimony of a good conscience. (2 Cor. 1:12)
Yet the security of the saints was always full of the fear of God.
-- Imitation of Christ
Yet the security of the saints was always full of the fear of God.
-- Imitation of Christ
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Aside from the Crowd
 Silence Art Print Clark, Erin Buy at AllPosters.com |
"As often as I have been amongst men," said a philosopher, "I have returned less a man"; this we often experience when we talk long. It is easier to be altogether silent than not to exceed in words. It is easier to keep retired at home than to be able to be sufficiently upon one's guard abroad. Whosoever, therefore, aims at arriving at internal and spiritual things, must, with Jesus, go aside from the crowd. (John 5:13) |
