Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XII
CHAPTER XII.
OF THE GROWTH OF PATIENCE IN THE SOUL, AND OF STRIVING AGAINST CONCUPISCENCE.
LORD my God patience is very necessary for me, for many things in this life do not happen as we would.
For whatsoever plans I shall devise for my own peace, my life cannot be without war and affliction.
It is so, my son. But My will is, that thou seek not that peace which is void of temptations, or which suffereth nothing contrary: But rather think that thou hast found peace, when thou art exercised with sundry tribulations, and tried in many adversities.
2. If thou say, that thou art not able to suffer much, how then wilt thou endure the fire hereafter?
Of two evils the less is always to be chosen. That thou mayest therefore avoid the everlasting punishment, endeavour to endure present evils patiently for God's sake.
Dost thou think that the men of this world suffer nothing or but little? Ask even those who live most at their ease, and thou shalt find it otherwise.
But thou wilt say, they have many delights, and follow their own wills, and therefore they do not much weigh their own afflictions.
Be it so, that they have whatsoever they will; but how long dost thou think that it will last?
3. Behold the wealthy of this world shall consume away like smoke, and there shall be no memory of their past joys.
Yea, even while they are yet alive, they do not rest in them without bitterness, and weariness, and fear.
For from the self-same thing in which they delight they oftentimes receive the penalty of sorrow.
For it is but just that having inordinately sought and followed after pleasures, they should enjoy them not without shame and bitterness.
4. O how brief, how false, how inordinate, how base, are all those pleasures.
Yet so drunken and blind are men, that they understand it not: but like dumb beasts, for the poor enjoyment of this corruptible life, they incur the death of the soul.
Thou therefore, my son, "go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites." "Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
5. For if thou desire true delight, and to be more plentifully comforted by Me; behold, in the contempt of all worldly things, and in the cutting off all base delights, shall be thy blessing, and abundant comfort shall be thine.
And the more thou withdraw thyself from all solace of creatures, so much the sweeter and so much the more consolation shalt thou find in Me.
But at the first, thou shalt not attain unto them, without some sadness, nor without a laborious conflict.
Old inbred habits will resist, but it shall be entirely overcome by a better way.
The flesh will murmur against thee; but with fervency of spirit thou shalt bridle it.
The old serpent will tempt and trouble thee, but by prayer he shall be put to flight, and by useful occupation thou shalt greatly stop the way against him.