Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/146

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Of Suffering after Christ's Example.

3. O Lord, for Thy sake, I will cheerfully suffer whatsoever shall come on me with Thy permission.

From Thy hand I am willing to receive indifferently good and evil, sweet and bitter, joy and sorrow; and for all that befalleth me I will be thankful.

Keep me safe from all sin, and I shall fear neither death nor hell.

So Thou do not cast me from Thee for ever, nor blot me out of the book of life, what tribulation befalleth me shall not hurt me.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THAT TEMPORAL SUFFERINGS MUST BE BORNE PATIENTLY, AFTER THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST.

MY son, I descended from heaven for thy salvation; I took upon Me thy sorrows, not necessity but love drawing Me thereto; that thou thyself mightest learn patience, and bear sufferings without repining.

For from the hour of My birth, even until My death on the cross, I was not without suffering and grief.

I suffered great want of things temporal; I often heard many complaints against Me; I endured patiently disgraces and revilings; in return for benefits I received ingratitude; for miracles, blasphemies; for heavenly doctrine, reproofs.

2. O Lord, for that Thou wert patient in Thy