Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/78

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64
Of the Inward Life.

He that knoweth how to live inwardly, and to make little of things without, neither requireth places, nor awaiteth times for performing religious exercises.

A spiritual man quickly recollecteth himself, because he never wholly poureth out himself to outward things.

He is not hindered by outward labour or business, which may be necessary for the time: but as things fall out, so he suits himself to them.

He that is well ordered and disposed within himself, careth not for the strange and perverse behaviour of men.

A man is hindered and distracted, in proportion as he draweth outward things unto himself.

8. If it were well with thee, and thou wert throughly purified from sin, all things would fall out to thee for good, and to thy progress.

But many things often trouble and displease thee, because thou art not yet dead unto thyself, nor separated from earthly things.

Nothing so defileth the heart of man, as the impure love of things created.

If thou refuse outward comfort, thou wilt be able to contemplate the things of Heaven, and often to receive internal joy.