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02 - The Imitation of Christ - Thomas Kempis · Philosophy and Faith

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  Speaker 1: Chapter eleven, of seeking peace of mind and of spiritual progress.
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  Speaker 1: We may enjoy abundance of peace if we refrain from
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  Speaker 1: busying ourselves with the sayings and doings of others and
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  Speaker 1: things which concern not ourselves. How can he abide long
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  Speaker 1: time in peace who occupieth himself with other men's matters
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  Speaker 1: and with things without himself, and meanwhile payeth little or
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  Speaker 1: rare heed to the self within. Blessed are the single hearted,
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  Speaker 1: for they shall have abundance of peace. How came it
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  Speaker 1: to pass that many of the saints were so perfect,
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  Speaker 1: so contemplative of divine things, because they steadfastly sought to
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  Speaker 1: mortify themselves from all worldly desires. And so we are
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  Speaker 1: enabled to cling with their whole heart to God and
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  Speaker 1: be free and at leisure for the thought of him.
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  Speaker 1: We are too much occupied with our own affections and
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  Speaker 1: too anxious about transitory things. Seldom, too, do we entirely
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  Speaker 1: conquer even a single fault, Nor are we zealous for
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  Speaker 1: daily growth in grace, and so we remain lukewarm and unspiritual.
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  Speaker 1: Were we fully watchful of ourselves and not bound in
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  Speaker 1: spirit to outward things, then might we be wise unto
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  Speaker 1: salvation and make progress in divine contemplation. Our great and
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  Speaker 1: grievous stumbling block is that, not being freed from our
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  Speaker 1: affections and desires, we strive not to enter into the
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  Speaker 1: perfect way of the saints. And when even a little
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  Speaker 1: trouble befallth us, too quickly are we cast down and
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  Speaker 1: fly to the world to give us comfort. If we
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  Speaker 1: would quit ourselves like men and strive to stand firm
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  Speaker 1: in the battle, then should we see the Lord helping
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  Speaker 1: us from heaven. For he himself is always ready to
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  Speaker 1: help those who strive and who trust in him. Yea,
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  Speaker 1: he provideth for us occasions of striving to the end,
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  Speaker 1: that we may win the victory. If we look upon
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  Speaker 1: our progress in religion as a progress only in outward
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  Speaker 1: observances and forms, our devoutness will soon come to an end.
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  Speaker 1: But let us lay the axe to the very root
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  Speaker 1: of our life, that, being cleansed from affections, we may
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  Speaker 1: possess our souls in peace. If each year should see
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  Speaker 1: one fault rooted out from us, we should go quickly
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  Speaker 1: on to perfection. But on the contrary, we often feel
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  Speaker 1: that we are better and holier in the beginning of
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  Speaker 1: our conversion than after many years of profession zeal and
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  Speaker 1: progress ought to increase day by day. Yet now it
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  Speaker 1: seemeth a great thing if one is able to retain
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  Speaker 1: some portion of his first ardor if we could put
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  Speaker 1: some slight stress on ourselves at the beginning, then afterwards
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  Speaker 1: we should be able to do all things with ease
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  Speaker 1: and joy. It is a hard thing to break through
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  Speaker 1: a habit, and a yet harder thing to go contrary
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  Speaker 1: to our own will. Yet if thou overcome not slight
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  Speaker 1: and easy obstacles, how shalt thou overcome go greater ones,
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  Speaker 1: withstand thy will at the beginning, and unlearn an evil habit,
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  Speaker 1: lest it lead thee little by little into worse difficulties. Oh,
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  Speaker 1: if thou knewest what peace thy holy life should bring
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  Speaker 1: to thyself, and what joy to others, methinketh thou wouldst
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  Speaker 1: be more zealous for spiritual profit. Chapter twelve, of the
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  Speaker 1: Uses of Adversity. It is good for us that we
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  Speaker 1: sometimes have sorrows and adversities, for they often make a
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  Speaker 1: man later heart that he is only a stranger and sojourner,
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  Speaker 1: and may not put his trust in any worldly thing.
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  Speaker 1: It is good that we sometimes endure contradictions, and are
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  Speaker 1: hardly and unfairly judged when we do and mean what
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  Speaker 1: is good. For these things help us to be humble
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  Speaker 1: and shield us from vainglory, For then we seek the
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  Speaker 1: more earnestly the witness of God. When men speak evil
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  Speaker 1: of us falsely and give us no credit for good.
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  Speaker 1: Therefore ought a man to rest wholly upon God, so
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  Speaker 1: that he needeth not seek much comfort at the hand
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  Speaker 1: of man. When a man who feareth God is afflicted,
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  Speaker 1: or tried, or oppressed with evil thoughts, then he seeth
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  Speaker 1: that God is the more necessary unto him, since without
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  Speaker 1: God he can do no good thing. Then he is
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  Speaker 1: heavy of heart, he growneth, he crieth out for the
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  Speaker 1: very disquietness of his heart. Then he groweth weary of life,
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  Speaker 1: and would fain depart and be with Christ. By all
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  Speaker 1: this he is taught that in the world there can
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  Speaker 1: be no perfect security or fullness of peace, Chapter thirteen
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  Speaker 1: of Resisting Temptation. So long as we live in the world,
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  Speaker 1: we cannot be without trouble and trial. Wherefore it is
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  Speaker 1: written in Job the life of man upon the earth
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  Speaker 1: is a trial Job seven, verse one. And therefore ought
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  Speaker 1: each of us to give heed concerning trials and temptations,
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  Speaker 1: and watch unto prayer, lest the devil find occasion to deceive,
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  Speaker 1: for he never sleepeth, but goeth about, seeking whom he
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  Speaker 1: may devour. No man is so perfect in holiness that
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  Speaker 1: he hath never temptations, nor can he ever be wholly
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  Speaker 1: free from them. Yet, notwithstanding temptations, turn greatly onto our profit,
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  Speaker 1: even though they be great and hard to bear, For
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  Speaker 1: through them we are humbled, purified, instructed. All saints have
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  Speaker 1: passed through much tribulation and temptation, and have profited thereby,
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  Speaker 1: And they who endured not temptation became reprobate and fell away.
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  Speaker 1: There is no position so sacred, no place so secret
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  Speaker 1: that it is without temptations and adversities. There is no
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  Speaker 1: man wholly free from temptations so long as he liveth.
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  Speaker 1: Because we have the root of temptation within ourselves, in
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  Speaker 1: that we are born in concupiscence. One temptation or sorrow
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  Speaker 1: passeth and another cometh, and always we shall have somewhat
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  Speaker 1: to suffer, for we have fallen from perfect happiness. Many
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  Speaker 1: who seek to fly from temptations fall yet more deeply
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  Speaker 1: into them. By flight alone we cannot overcome. But by
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  Speaker 1: endurance and true humility we are made stronger than all
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  Speaker 1: our enemies. He who only resisteth outwardly and pulleth not
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  Speaker 1: up by the root, shall profit little. Nay, rather, temptations
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  Speaker 1: will return to him the more quickly, and will be
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  Speaker 1: the more terrible. Little by little. Through patience and long suffering,
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  Speaker 1: Thou shalt conquer by the help of God, rather than
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  Speaker 1: by violence and thine own strength of will. In the
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  Speaker 1: midst of temptation, often seek counsel and deal not hardly
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  Speaker 1: with one who is tempted, but comfort and strengthen him,
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  Speaker 1: as thou wouldst have done unto thyself. The beginning of
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  Speaker 1: all temptations to evil is instability of temper and want
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  Speaker 1: of trust in God. For even as a ship without
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  Speaker 1: a helm is tossed about by the waves, so is
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  Speaker 1: a man who is careless and infirm of purpose tempted
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  Speaker 1: now on this side, now on that. As fire testeth iron,
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  Speaker 1: so doth temptation the upright man. Oftentimes we know not
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  Speaker 1: what strength we have, but temptation revealeth to us what
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  Speaker 1: we are. Nevertheless, we must watch, especially in the beginnings
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  Speaker 1: of temptation, for then is the foe the more easily mastered,
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  Speaker 1: when he is not suffered to enter within the mind,
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  Speaker 1: but is met outside the door as soon as he
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  Speaker 1: hath knocked. Wherefore one saith check the beginnings. Once thou
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  Speaker 1: mightst have cured. But now tis past thy skill. Too
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  Speaker 1: long hath it endured. For first cometh to the mind
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  Speaker 1: the simple suggestion, then the strong imagination. Afterwards pleasure, evil, affection, assent,
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  Speaker 1: And so little by little the enemy entereth in altogether,
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  Speaker 1: because he was not resisted at the beginning. And the
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  Speaker 1: longer a man delayeth his resistance, the weaker he groweth,
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  Speaker 1: and the stronger groweth the enemy against him. Some men
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  Speaker 1: suffer their most grievous temptations in the beginning of their conversion,
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  Speaker 1: some at the end. Some are sorely tried their whole
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  Speaker 1: life long. Some there are who are tempted but lightly.
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  Speaker 1: According to the wisdom and justice of the ordering of God,
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  Speaker 1: who knoweth the character and circumstances of men, and ordereth
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  Speaker 1: all things for the welfare of his elect Therefore we
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  Speaker 1: ought not to despair when we are tempted, but the
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  Speaker 1: more fervently should cry unto God that he will vouchsafe
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  Speaker 1: to help us in all our tribulation, and that he will,
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  Speaker 1: as Saint Paul said, with the temptation, make a way
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  Speaker 1: to escape, that we may be able to bear it first. Corinthians,
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  Speaker 1: Chapter ten, verse thirteen. Let us therefore humble ourselves under
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  Speaker 1: the mighty hand of God in all temptation and trouble,
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  Speaker 1: for He will save and exalt such as are of
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  Speaker 1: an humble spirit. In temptations and troubles. A man is
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  Speaker 1: proved what progress he hath made, and therein is his reward.
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  Speaker 1: The greater, and his virtue doth the more appear. Nor
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  Speaker 1: is it a great thing if a man be devout
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  Speaker 1: and zealous, so long as he suffereth no affliction. But
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  Speaker 1: if he behave himself patiently in the time of adversity,
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  Speaker 1: then is their hope of great progress. Some are kept
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  Speaker 1: safe from great temptations, but are overtaken in those which
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  Speaker 1: are little and common, that the humiliation may teach them
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  Speaker 1: not to trust to themselves in great things, being weak
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  Speaker 1: in small things. Chapter fourteen, on avoiding rash judgment, Look
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  Speaker 1: well unto thyself, and beware that thou judge not the
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  Speaker 1: doings of others. In judging others, a man laboreth in
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  Speaker 1: all he often eareth and easily faleth into sin, But
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  Speaker 1: in judging and examining himself, he always laboreth to good purpose.
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  Speaker 1: According as a matter, toucheth our fancy. So oftentimes do
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  Speaker 1: we judge of it, For easily do we fail of
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  Speaker 1: true judgment because of our own personal feeling. If God
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  Speaker 1: were always the sole object of our desire, we should
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  Speaker 1: the less easily be troubled by the erring judgment of
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  Speaker 1: our fancy. But often some secret thought lurking within us,
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  Speaker 1: or even some outward circumstance, turneth us aside. Many are
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  Speaker 1: secretly seeking their own ends in what they do yet
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  Speaker 1: know it not. They seem to live in good peace
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  Speaker 1: of mind so long as things go well with them
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  Speaker 1: and according to their desires. But if their desires be
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  Speaker 1: frustrated and broken immediately they are shaken and displeased. Adversity
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  Speaker 1: of feelings and opinions very often brings about dissensions between friends,
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  Speaker 1: between countrymen, between religious and godly men. Established custom is
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  Speaker 1: not easily relinquished, and no man is very easily led
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  Speaker 1: to see with the eyes of another. If thou rest
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  Speaker 1: more upon thy own reason or experience than upon the
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  Speaker 1: power of Jesus Christ. Thy light shall come slowly and hardly,
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  Speaker 1: for God willeth us to be perfectly subject unto himself,
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  Speaker 1: and all our reason to be exalted by abundant love
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  Speaker 1: towards Him. Chapter fifteen of Works of Charity. For no
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  Speaker 1: worldly good whatsoever, and for the love of no man
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  Speaker 1: must anything be done which is evil, But for the
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  Speaker 1: help of the suffering. A good work must sometimes be
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  Speaker 1: postponed or be changed for a better For herein a
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  Speaker 1: good work is not destroyed, but improved. Without charity, no
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  Speaker 1: work profiteth, But whatsoever is done in charity, however small,
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  Speaker 1: and of no reputation, it be bringeth forth good fruit.
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  Speaker 1: For God verily considereth what a man is able to do,
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  Speaker 1: more than the greatness of what he doth. He doth much,
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  Speaker 1: who loveth much, he doth much, Who doth well, he
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  Speaker 1: doth well, who ministereth to the public good rather than
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  Speaker 1: to his own. Oftentimes that seemeth to be charity, which
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  Speaker 1: is rather carnality, because it springeth from natural inclination self will,
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  Speaker 1: hope of repayment, desire of gain. He who hath true
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  Speaker 1: and perfect charity in no wise seeketh his own good.
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  Speaker 1: But desireth that God alone be altogether glorified. He envieth none,
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  Speaker 1: because he longeth for no selfish joy, Nor doth he
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  Speaker 1: desire to rejoice in himself, but longeth to be blessed
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  Speaker 1: in God as the highest good. He ascribeth good to none,
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  Speaker 1: save to God only the fountain, whence all good proceedeth,
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  Speaker 1: and the end the peace, the joy of all saints. Oh,
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  Speaker 1: he who hath but a spark of true charity, hath
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  Speaker 1: verily learned that all worldly things are full of vanity
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  Speaker 1: Chapter sixteen. Of bearing with the faults of others those
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  Speaker 1: things which a man cannot amend in himself or in others,
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  Speaker 1: he ought patiently to bear until God shall otherwise ordain.
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  Speaker 1: Bethink THEE that perhaps it is better for thy trial
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  Speaker 1: and patience, without which our merits are but little worth. Nevertheless,
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  Speaker 1: thou artest, when thou find'st such impediments, to beseech God
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  Speaker 1: that He would vouchsafe to sustain thee, that thou be
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  Speaker 1: able to bear them with good will. If one who
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  Speaker 1: is once or twice admonished refuse to hearken, strive not
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  Speaker 1: with him, but commit all to God that his will
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  Speaker 1: may be done and his honor be shown in his servants,
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  Speaker 1: for he knoweth well how to convert the evil unto good.
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  Speaker 1: Endeavor to be patient in bearing with other men's faults
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  Speaker 1: and infirmities, whatsoever they be, For thou thyself also hast
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  Speaker 1: many things which have need to be borne with by others.
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  Speaker 1: If thou canst not make thine own self what thou desirest,
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  Speaker 1: how shalt thou be able to fashion another to thine
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  Speaker 1: own liking. We are ready to see others made perfect,
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  Speaker 1: and yet we do not amend our own shortcomings. We
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  Speaker 1: will that others be straightly corrected, but we will not
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  Speaker 1: be corrected ourselves. The freedom of others displeaseth us, but
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  Speaker 1: we are dissatisfied that our own wishes shall be denied us.
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  Speaker 1: We desire rules to be made restrain others, but by
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  Speaker 1: no means will we suffer ourselves to be restrained. Thus,
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  Speaker 1: therefore doth it plainly appear, how seldom we weigh our
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  Speaker 1: neighbor in the same balance with ourselves. If all men
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  Speaker 1: were perfect, what then should we have to suffer from others?
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  Speaker 1: For God? But now hath God thus ordained that we
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  Speaker 1: may learn to bear one another's burdens, because none is
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  Speaker 1: without defect, none without a burden, none sufficient of himself,
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  Speaker 1: none wise enough of himself. But it behooveth us to
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  Speaker 1: bear with one another, to comfort one another, to help, instruct,
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  Speaker 1: admonish one another. How much strength each man hath is
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  Speaker 1: best proved by occasions of adversity. For such a case,
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  Speaker 1: Asians do not make a man frail, but show of
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  Speaker 1: what temper he is, Chapter seventeen. Of a religious Life.
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  Speaker 1: It behooveth thee to learn to mortify thyself in many things.
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  Speaker 1: If thou wilt live in amity and concord with other men.
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  Speaker 1: It is no small thing to dwell in a religious
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  Speaker 1: community or congregation, and to live there without complaint, and
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  Speaker 1: therein to remain faithful even unto death. Blessed is he
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  Speaker 1: who hath lived a good life in such a body
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  Speaker 1: and brought it to a happy end. If thou wilt
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  Speaker 1: stand fast and wilt profit, as thou artist hold thyself
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  Speaker 1: as an exile and a pilgrim upon the earth, thou
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  Speaker 1: wilt have to be counted as a fool for Christ.
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  Speaker 1: If thou wilt lead a religious life, the clothing and
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  Speaker 1: outward appearance are of small account. It is change of
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  Speaker 1: character and entire mortification of the affections which make a
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  Speaker 1: truly religious man. He who seeketh aught, save God and
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  Speaker 1: the health of his soul shall find only tribulation and sorrow.
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  Speaker 1: Nor can he stand long in peace who striveth not
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  Speaker 1: to be least of all and servant of all. Thou
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  Speaker 1: art called to endure and to labor, not to a
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  Speaker 1: life of ease and trifling talk. Here therefore are men
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  Speaker 1: tried as gold in the furnace. No man can stand
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  Speaker 1: unless with all his heart he will humble himself for
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  Speaker 1: God's sake. Eighteen of the example of the Holy Fathers.
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  Speaker 1: Consider now the lively examples of the Holy Fathers, in
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  Speaker 1: whom shone forth real perfectness and religion. And thou shalt
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  Speaker 1: see how little, even as nothing is all that we
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  Speaker 1: do are, what is our life when compared to theirs
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  Speaker 1: they saints and friends of Christ, as they were served
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  Speaker 1: the Lord in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness,
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  Speaker 1: in labour and weariness, in watchings and fastings, in prayer
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  Speaker 1: and holy meditations, in persecutions and much rebuke. Oh, how
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  Speaker 1: many and grievous tribulations did the apostles martyrs confessors, virgin endure,
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  Speaker 1: and all others who would walk in the footsteps of Christ.
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  Speaker 1: For they hated their souls in this world, that they
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  Speaker 1: might keep them unto life eternal. Oh, how strict and
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  Speaker 1: retired a life was that of the Holy Fathers who
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  Speaker 1: dwelt in the desert. What long and grievous temptations they
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  Speaker 1: did suffer? How often were they assaulted by the enemy.
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  Speaker 1: What frequent and fervid prayers did they offer unto God?
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  Speaker 1: What strict fasts did they endure? What fervent zeal and
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  Speaker 1: desire after spiritual profit did they manifest? How bravely did
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  Speaker 1: they fight that their vices might not gain the mastery?
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  Speaker 1: How entirely and steadfastly did they reach after God? By
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  Speaker 1: day they labored, and at night they gave themselves oft
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  Speaker 1: times unto prayer. YEA, even when they were laboring, they
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  Speaker 1: ceased not from mental prayer. They spent their whole time profitably.
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  Speaker 1: Every hour seemed short for retirement with God, and through
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  Speaker 1: the great sweetness of contemplation, even the need of bodily
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  Speaker 1: refreshment was forgotten. They renounced all riches, dignities, honors, friends, kinsmen.
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  Speaker 1: They desired nothing from the world, they ate the bare
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  Speaker 1: necessaries of life. They were unwilling to minister to the
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  Speaker 1: body even in necessity. Thus they were poor in earthly things,
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  Speaker 1: but rich above measure in grace and virtue. Though poor
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  Speaker 1: to the outer eye, within they were filled with grace
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  Speaker 1: and heavenly benedictions. They were strangers to the world, but
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  Speaker 1: on to God they were as kinsmen and friends. They
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  Speaker 1: seemed unto themselves, as of no reputation, and in the
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  Speaker 1: world's eye contemptible, But in the sight of God they
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  Speaker 1: were precious and beloved. They stood fast in true humility,
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  Speaker 1: They lived in simple obedience. They walked in love and patience.
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  Speaker 1: And thus they waxed strong in spirit, and obtained great
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  Speaker 1: favor before God. To all religious men they were given
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  Speaker 1: as an example, and they ought more to provoke us
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  Speaker 1: into good livings than the number of the lukewarm tempteth
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  Speaker 1: to carelessness of life. Oh, how great was the love
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  Speaker 1: of all religious persons at the beginning of this sacred institution. Oh,
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  Speaker 1: what devoutness of prayer, What rivalry in holiness, What discipline
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  Speaker 1: was observed, What reverence and obedience under the rule of
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  Speaker 1: the Master showed they in all things, the traces of
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  Speaker 1: them that remain until now testify that they were truly
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  Speaker 1: holy and perfect men, who fighting so bravely trod the
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  Speaker 1: world under foot. Now a man is counted great if
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  Speaker 1: only he be not a transgressor, and if he can
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  Speaker 1: only endure with patience what he hath undertaken. Oh, the
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  Speaker 1: coldness and negligence of our times that we so quickly
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  Speaker 1: decline from the former love, and it is become a
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  Speaker 1: weariness to live because of sloth and luke. Warmness may
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  Speaker 1: progress in holiness, not wholly fall asleep. In thee who
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  Speaker 1: many times hast seen so many examples of devout men,
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  Speaker 1: Chapter nineteen of the Exercises of a Religious Man. The
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  Speaker 1: life of a Christian ought to be adorned with all virtues,
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  Speaker 1: that he may be inwardly what he outwardly appereth unto men,
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  Speaker 1: And verily it should be yet better within than without.
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  Speaker 1: For God is a discerner of our heart, whom we
• 27:28
  Speaker 1: must reverence with all our hearts wheresoever we are, and
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: walk pure in His presence, as do the angels. We
• 27:37
  Speaker 1: ought daily to renew our vows and to kindle our
• 27:42
  Speaker 1: hearts to zeal, as if each day were the first
• 27:45
  Speaker 1: day of our conversion, and to say, help me, O, God,
• 27:50
  Speaker 1: in my great resolutions and in thy holy service, and
• 27:55
  Speaker 1: grant that this day I may make a good beginning.
• 27:59
  Speaker 1: For hitherto I have done nothing according to our resolution.
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: So is the rate of our progress. And much diligence
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: is needful for him who would make good progress. For
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: if he who resolveth bravely oftentimes fallth short, how shall
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: it be with him who resolveth rarely or feebly. But
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: manifold causes bring about abandonment of our resolution. Yet a
• 28:30
  Speaker 1: trivial omission of holy exercises can hardly be made without
• 28:35
  Speaker 1: some loss to us. The resolution of the righteous dependeth
• 28:41
  Speaker 1: more upon the grace of God than upon their own wisdom,
• 28:45
  Speaker 1: For in Him they always put their trust whatsoever they
• 28:49
  Speaker 1: take in hand. For man proposeth, but God disposeth. And
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: the way of a man is not in himself. Jeremiah,
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: chapter ten, verse twenty three. If a holy exercise be
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: sometimes omitted for the sake of some act of piety
• 29:12
  Speaker 1: or of some brotherly kindness, it can easily be taken
• 29:17
  Speaker 1: up afterwards. But if it be neglected through distaste or slothfulness,
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: then it is sinful and the mischief will be felt.
• 29:28
  Speaker 1: Strive as earnestly as we may, we shall still fall
• 29:32
  Speaker 1: short in many things. Always should some distinct resolution be
• 29:38
  Speaker 1: made by us, And most of all we must strive
• 29:42
  Speaker 1: against those sins which most easily beset us. Both our
• 29:48
  Speaker 1: outer and inner life should be straightly examined and ruled
• 29:52
  Speaker 1: by us, because both have to do with our progress.
• 29:58
  Speaker 1: If thou canst not be always examining thyself, thou canst
• 30:03
  Speaker 1: at certain seasons, and at least twice in the day,
• 30:07
  Speaker 1: at evening and at morning. In the morning, make thy resolves,
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: and in the evening inquire into thy life how thou
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: hast sped to day in word, deed and thought. For
• 30:23
  Speaker 1: in these ways thou hast often perchance offended God and
• 30:27
  Speaker 1: thy neighbor. Gird up thy loins like a man against
• 30:32
  Speaker 1: the assaults of the devil. Bridle thine appetite, and thou
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: wilt soon be able to bridle every inclination of the flesh.
• 30:43
  Speaker 1: Be thou never without something to do, be reading or writing,
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: or praying, or meditating, or doing something that is useful
• 30:52
  Speaker 1: to the community. Bodily exercises, however, must be undertaken with discretion,
• 31:00
  Speaker 1: nor are they to be used by all alike. The
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: duties which are not common to all must not be
• 31:09
  Speaker 1: done openly, but are safest carried on in secret. But
• 31:14
  Speaker 1: take heed that thou be not careless in the common duties,
• 31:18
  Speaker 1: and more devout in the secret, but faithfully and honestly
• 31:23
  Speaker 1: discharge the duties and commands which lie upon thee. Then afterwards,
• 31:28
  Speaker 1: if thou hast still leisure, give thyself to thyself, as
• 31:33
  Speaker 1: thy devotion leadeth thee. All cannot have one exercise, but
• 31:39
  Speaker 1: one suiteth better to this man, and another to that.
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: Even for the diversity of season, different exercises are needed.
• 31:50
  Speaker 1: Some suit better for feasts, some for fasts. We need
• 31:55
  Speaker 1: one kind in time of temptations, and others in time
• 32:00
  Speaker 1: of peace and quietness. Some are suitable to our times
• 32:04
  Speaker 1: of sadness, and others when we are joyful in the Lord.
• 32:11
  Speaker 1: When we draw near the time of the great feasts,
• 32:15
  Speaker 1: good exercises should be renewed, and the prayers of holy
• 32:19
  Speaker 1: men more fervently besought. We ought to make our resolutions
• 32:24
  Speaker 1: from one feast to another, as if each were the
• 32:28
  Speaker 1: period of our departure from this world and of entering
• 32:32
  Speaker 1: into the eternal feast. So ought we to prepare ourselves
• 32:37
  Speaker 1: earnestly at solemn seasons, and the more solemnly to live
• 32:43
  Speaker 1: and to keep straightest watch upon each holy observance, as
• 32:47
  Speaker 1: though we were soon to receive the reward of our
• 32:50
  Speaker 1: labors at the hand of God. And if this be deferred,
• 32:55
  Speaker 1: let us believe ourselves to be as yet ill prepared
• 32:59
  Speaker 1: and unworthy as yet of the glory which shall be
• 33:02
  Speaker 1: revealed in us at the appointed season. And let us
• 33:06
  Speaker 1: study to prepare ourselves the better for our end. Blessed
• 33:12
  Speaker 1: is that servant as the evangelist Luke hath it, whom
• 33:17
  Speaker 1: when the Lord cometh he shall find watching. Verily, I
• 33:21
  Speaker 1: say unto you, he will make him ruler over all
• 33:25
  Speaker 1: that he hath Luke Chapter twelve, Verses forty three and
• 33:32
  Speaker 1: forty four, Chapter twenty of the Love of solitude and silence.
• 33:45
  Speaker 1: Seek a suitable time for thy meditation, and think frequently
• 33:50
  Speaker 1: of the mercies of God. To thee leave curious questions,
• 33:57
  Speaker 1: study such matters as bring these sorrow for sin rather
• 34:01
  Speaker 1: than amusement. If thou withdraw thyself from trifling conversation and
• 34:07
  Speaker 1: idle goings about, as well as from novelties and gossip,
• 34:12
  Speaker 1: thou shalt find thy time sufficient and apt for good meditation.
• 34:18
  Speaker 1: The greatest saints used to avoid as far as they could,
• 34:22
  Speaker 1: the company of men, and chose to live in secret
• 34:26
  Speaker 1: with God. One hath said, as oft as I have
• 34:31
  Speaker 1: gone among men, so oft have I returned less a man.
• 34:37
  Speaker 1: This is what we often experience when we have been
• 34:40
  Speaker 1: long time in conversation. For it is easier to be
• 34:44
  Speaker 1: altogether silent than it is not to exceed in word.
• 34:49
  Speaker 1: It is easier to remain hidden at home than to
• 34:52
  Speaker 1: keep sufficient guard upon thyself out of doors. He therefore,
• 34:58
  Speaker 1: that seeketh to reach that which is hidden and spiritual,
• 35:02
  Speaker 1: must go with Jesus apart from the multitude. No man
• 35:08
  Speaker 1: safely goeth abroad who loveth not to rest at home.
• 35:13
  Speaker 1: No man safely talketh but he who loveth to hold
• 35:17
  Speaker 1: his peace. No man safely ruleth but he who loveth
• 35:22
  Speaker 1: to be subject. No man safely commandeth but he who
• 35:27
  Speaker 1: loveth to obey. No man safely rejoiceth, but he who
• 35:33
  Speaker 1: hath the testimony of a good conscience within himself. The
• 35:39
  Speaker 1: baldness of the saints was always full of the fear
• 35:42
  Speaker 1: of God. Nor were they the less earnest and humble
• 35:46
  Speaker 1: in themselves, because they shone forth with great virtues and grace.
• 35:52
  Speaker 1: But the boldness of wicked men springeth from pride and presumption,
• 35:58
  Speaker 1: and at the last turn to their own confusion. Never
• 36:03
  Speaker 1: promise thyself security in this life, howsoever good a monk,
• 36:09
  Speaker 1: or devout a solitary thou seemest. Often those who stand
• 36:16
  Speaker 1: highest in the esteem of men fall the more grievously
• 36:21
  Speaker 1: because of their over great confidence. Wherefore it is very
• 36:26
  Speaker 1: profitable unto many that they should not be without inward temptation,
• 36:31
  Speaker 1: but should be frequently assaulted, lest they be over confident,
• 36:36
  Speaker 1: lest they be indeed lifted up into pride, or else
• 36:40
  Speaker 1: lean too freely upon the consolations of the world. Oh
• 36:45
  Speaker 1: how good a conscience should that man keep, who never
• 36:49
  Speaker 1: sought a joy that passeth away, who never became entangled
• 36:54
  Speaker 1: with the world. Oh how great peace and quiet should
• 36:59
  Speaker 1: he possess, who would cast off all vain care and
• 37:03
  Speaker 1: think only of healthful and divine things, and build his
• 37:08
  Speaker 1: whole hope upon God. No man is worthy of heavenly consolation,
• 37:17
  Speaker 1: but he who hath diligently exercised himself in holy compunction.
• 37:24
  Speaker 1: If thou wilt feel compunction within thy heart. Enter into
• 37:28
  Speaker 1: thy chamber, and shut out the tumults of the world.
• 37:32
  Speaker 1: As it is written, commune with your own heart in
• 37:35
  Speaker 1: your own chamber, and be still, Psalm four, verse four.
• 37:43
  Speaker 1: In retirement, thou shalt find what often thou wilt lose abroad. Retirement,
• 37:49
  Speaker 1: if thou continue therein, groweth sweet. But if thou keep
• 37:54
  Speaker 1: not in it, begetteth weariness. If in the beginning of
• 37:59
  Speaker 1: thy conversion thou dwell in it and keep it well,
• 38:04
  Speaker 1: it shall afterwards be to thee a dear friend and
• 38:07
  Speaker 1: a most pleasant solace. In silence and quiet, the devout
• 38:14
  Speaker 1: soul goeth forward and learneth the hidden things of the scriptures.
• 38:20
  Speaker 1: Therein findeth she a fountain of tears, wherein to wash
• 38:24
  Speaker 1: and cleanse herself each night, that she may grow the
• 38:28
  Speaker 1: more dear to her maker. As she dwelleth the further
• 38:32
  Speaker 1: from all worldly distraction. To him who withdraweth himself from
• 38:37
  Speaker 1: his acquaintance and friends, God with his holy angels, will
• 38:42
  Speaker 1: draw nigh. It is better to be unknown and take
• 38:47
  Speaker 1: heed to uneself than to neglect oneself and work wonders.
• 38:54
  Speaker 1: It is praiseworthy for a religious man to go seldom abroad,
• 38:59
  Speaker 1: to fly from being seen, to have no desire to
• 39:03
  Speaker 1: see men. Why wouldst thou see what thou mayest not have?
• 39:12
  Speaker 1: The world passeth away, and the lust thereof the desires
• 39:17
  Speaker 1: of sensuality draw thee abroad. But when an hour is past,
• 39:22
  Speaker 1: what dost thou bring home? But await upon thy conscience
• 39:27
  Speaker 1: and distraction of heart. A merry going forth bringeth often
• 39:33
  Speaker 1: a sorrowful return, and a merry evening maketh a sad morning.
• 39:39
  Speaker 1: So doth all carnal joy begin pleasantly, But in the
• 39:44
  Speaker 1: end it gnawreth away and destroyeth. What canst thou see
• 39:49
  Speaker 1: abroad which thou seest not at home? Behold the heaven
• 39:54
  Speaker 1: and the earth and the elements, For out of these
• 39:58
  Speaker 1: are all things made. What canst thou see anywhere which
• 40:05
  Speaker 1: can continue long under the sun? Thou believest perchance that
• 40:10
  Speaker 1: thou shalt be satisfied, But thou wilt never be able
• 40:14
  Speaker 1: to attain unto this. If thou shouldst see all things
• 40:18
  Speaker 1: before thee at once, what would it be but a
• 40:21
  Speaker 1: vain vision. Lift up thine eyes to God on high,
• 40:26
  Speaker 1: and pray that thy sins and negligences may be forgiven.
• 40:32
  Speaker 1: Leave vain things to vain men, and mind thou the
• 40:37
  Speaker 1: things which God hath commanded THEE. Shut thy door upon THEE,
• 40:43
  Speaker 1: and call unto thyself Jesus thy beloved. Remain with him
• 40:48
  Speaker 1: in thy chamber, for thou shalt not elsewhere find so
• 40:52
  Speaker 1: great peace. If thou hadst not gone forth nor listened
• 40:58
  Speaker 1: to vain talk, thou hadst better kept thyself in good peace.
• 41:03
  Speaker 1: But because it sometimes delighteth THEE to hear new things,
• 41:08
  Speaker 1: thou must therefore suffer trouble of heart. End of Chapter
• 41:15
  Speaker 1: twenty