Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XVII
CHAPTER XVII.
THAT ALL OUR ANXIETIES ARE TO REST ON GOD.
Y son, suffer me to do with thee what I please. I know what is expedient for thee.
Thou thinkest as man; thou judgest in many things as thy feelings persuade thee.
O Lord, what Thou sayest is true. Thy care for me is greater than all the care that I can take for myself.
For he standeth very unsafely, who casteth not all his care upon Thee.
O Lord, if only my will may remain right and firm towards Thee, do with me whatsoever it shall please Thee.
For it cannot be any thing but good, whatsoever Thou shalt do with me.
2. If it be Thy will that I should be in darkness, be Thou blessed; and if it be Thy will that I should be in light, be Thou blessed again. If Thou vouchsafe to comfort me, be Thou blessed; and if Thou wilt have me afflicted, still be Thou blessed.
My son, such as this ought to be thy state, if thou desire to walk with Me.
Thou oughtest to be as ready to suffer as to rejoice.
Thou oughtest as cheerfully to be destitute and poor, as to be full and rich.
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.