Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/285

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Of Self-Denial.
271

3. For immediately thou givest thyself to God from thy whole heart, and seekest not this nor that, according to thine own pleasure, thou shalt find thyself united to Him, and at peace; for nothing can afford so sweet a relish, nothing can be so delightful, as the good pleasure of the divine will.

Whosoever therefore, with a single heart, lifteth up his intention to God, and keepeth himself clear of all inordinate love or dislike of any created thing, he shall be the most fit to receive grace, and meet for the gift of true devotion.

For the Lord bestoweth His blessings where He findeth the vessels empty.

And the more perfectly a man forsaketh these low things, and the more he dieth to himself by contempt of himself, the more speedily shall grace come, and shall enter in the more plentifully, and shall lift up the free heart higher.

4. Then shall he see, and flow together, and wonder, and his heart shall be enlarged, because the hand of the Lord is with him, and he hath put himself wholly into His hand, even for ever and ever.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed, who seeketh God with his whole heart.

This man in receiving the Holy Eucharist, obtaineth the grace of divine union; for that he looketh not to his own devotion and comfort, but to the honour and glory of God.