Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter LVI
CHAPTER LVI.
THAT WE OUGHT TO DENY OURSELVES AND IMITATE CHRIST BY THE CROSS.
Y son, the more thou canst go out of thyself, so much the more wilt thou be able to enter into Me.
As to desire no outward thing produceth inward peace, so the forsaking of ourselves inwardly, joineth us unto God.
I would have thee learn perfect resignation of thyself to My will, without contradiction or complaint.
Follow thou Me: I am the way, the truth, and the life. Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living. I am the way, which thou oughtest to follow; the truth, which thou oughtest to trust; the life, which thou oughtest to hope for.
I am the way inviolable, the truth infallible, the life without end.
I am the straitest way, the highest truth, the true life, the blessed life, the uncreated life.
If thou remain in My way, thou shalt know the truth, and the truth shall make thee free, and thou shalt lay hold on eternal life.
2. If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
If thou wilt know the truth, believe Me.
If thou wilt be perfect, sell all.
If thou wilt be My disciple, deny thyself utterly.
If thou wilt possess a blessed life, despise this present life.
If thou, wilt be exalted in heaven, humble thyself in this world.
If thou wilt reign with Me, bear the cross with Me.
For only the servants of the cross can find the way of blessedness and of true light.
3. O Lord Jesus, forasmuch as Thy life was narrow and despised by the world, grant me to imitate Thee, though the world despise me.
For the servant is not greater than his Lord, nor the disciple above his Master.
Let Thy servant be exercised in Thy life, for therein my salvation and my true holiness consisteth.
Whatsoever I read or hear besides it, doth not give me full refreshment or delight.
4. My son, inasmuch as thou knowest and hast read all these things, happy shalt thou be, if thou do them.
He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and I will love him, and will manifest Myself unto him, and will make him sit together with Me in My Father's kingdom.
O Lord Jesu, as Thou hast said and promised, so let it come to pass, and grant that I may not be wholly undeserving of this favour.
I have received the cross from Thy hand; I have borne it, and will bear it even unto death, even as Thou hast laid it upon me.
Verily the life of a Christian is a cross, yet is it also a guide to paradise.
I have begun, I may not go back, neither is it fitting to leave that which I have undertaken.
5. Let us take courage, brethren, let us go forward together! Jesus will be with us.
For the sake of Jesus we have undertaken this cross, for the sake of Jesus let us persevere in the cross.
He will be our helper, Who is also our guide and forerunner.
Behold, our King entereth in before us, and He will fight for us.
Let us follow manfully, let no man fear any terrors; let us be prepared to die valiantly in battle, nor bring any shame on our glory by flying from the cross.