Of the imitation of Christ, three, both for wisedome, and godlines, most excellent bookes; made 170. yeeres since by one Thomas of Kempis, and for the worthines thereof oft since translated out of Latine into sundrie languages by diuers godlie and learned men: now newlie corrected, translated, and with most ample textes, and sentences of holie Scripture illustrated by Thomas Rogers

Chap. 10. Of thankefulnes vnto God for his benefits.

WHat seekest thou for quietnes, seing thou art borne vnto labor a 1.1?

Giue thy selfe to pa∣tience b 1.2 rather than to pleasure; and to beare the crosse, than to delectation c 1.3.

For what worldling is there which would not willinglie enioie spiritual comfort, if he might at al times? as that which surpasseth al the ioies of the world, & pleasures of the flesh d 1.4. For all worldlie delights are either vaine, or vile e 1.5: but the ioies of the Spirit are onelie sweete, onelie ho∣nest, springing of virtue, and powred into pure mindes of God himselfe f 1.6.

But these heauenlie consolations are of that nature, that no man can keepe them at his pleasure; foras∣much as tentation ceasseth not anie long time g 1.7.

Two things are great enimies to this heauenlie ioie, false freedome of the minde h 1.8, and too much confi∣dence in our selues i 1.9.

God doth wel, which bestoweth on man the benefite of his comfort; but man doth ill, which doth not with thankesgiuing k 1.10 acknowledge God to be the giuer of the same l 1.11.

Hence it is that God powreth not his benefites vpon vs; euen because we are vngrateful, and sende not al things backe vnto the spring of the fountaine m 1.12.

He which giueth thankes, beggeth a newe benefit: and that is common∣lie taken from the proudlie vngrate∣ful n 1.13, which is bestowed vpon the mo∣destlie thankful.

I like not that comfort which ta∣keth from me all sorowe for sinne o 1.14: neither desire I that knowledge that makes me forget my selfe p 1.15.

For al that is hie, is not holie; nei∣ther is euerie desire pure; nor al that is sweete, wholesome; nor eue∣rie thing that liketh man, pleaseth God q 1.16.

But those benefites are welcome vnto me, which make me humbler than I was before r 1.17; and readier to forsake my selfe s 1.18.

He whom God hath schooled both by prosperitie, and aduersitie, wil ar∣rogate nothing vnto himselfe t 1.19: but

confesse rather his nakednes, and miserie t 1.20.

Giue vnto GOD that which is Gods, and ascribe vnto thy selfe, that which is thine: that is, giue GOD thankes for his benefits u 1.21, and ascribe sinne to thy selfe x 1.22, & for sinne thinke thou deseruest punishment y 1.23.

Take the lowest roome, and the hiest shal be giuen thee z 1.24: for with∣out the lowest, there cannot be highest.

Those whome God accounteth chefest for holines, they esteeme thē∣selues for vilest: and the more glo∣rious they are, y^e more humblie they behaue themselues, being ful of ce∣lestial truth and glorie a 1.25, not of vain glorie desirous.

They which depend vpon God, ne∣uer waxe insolent; and they, which ascribe vnto God whatsoeuer good thing they haue, receiue not praise one of another b 1.26, but seeke it of God, whome they wish might be extolled aboue al things, both of themselues, and of al other holie men; and to him warde alwaies they tende c 1.27.

Wherefore be thankeful in smal thinges, so shalt thou be meete to at∣taine greater d 1.28.

Albeit account euen the least, and vilest giftes, for glorious and grea∣test. For if you respect the maiestie of the giuer e 1.29; no rewarde or gift ought to seeme vile, or litle.

For that is no smal gift which the most hie God giueth, whatsoeuer it be: yea if he giue thee stripes, and correction, thou oughtest to receaue it in good worth, inasmuch as it ma∣keth alwaies to our welfare whatso∣euer he sendeth or suffereth to come vnto vs.

He that would keepe the fauor of God, let him both be thankeful for benefits giuen f 1.30, and patient if they be taken aware g 1.31; that they may come againe, let him praie: and least he lose them when they are come, let him be wise, and humble.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Gen. 3, 19. Iob. 5, ••.
• b 1.2

  Luke. 21, verse. 19.
• c 1.3

  Eccle. 7, 4.
• d 1.4

  Ioh. 16, 22. Philip. 4, 7.
• e 1.5

  2. Pet. 2, vers. 13, &c.
• f 1.6

  Roma. 14, verse. 17. Rom. 15, 13. 32. 1. Iohn. 1, 4.
• g 1.7

  Luke. 4, verse. 2 &c. 2. Cor. 12, 7.
• h 1.8

  Esai. 66▪ 3.
• i 1.9

  Ierem. 17, verse. 5, &c.
• k 1.10

  1. Thess. 5, verse. 18.
• l 1.11

  1. Cor. 4, 7. Iames. 1, 17.
• m 1.12

  1. Cor. 12, verse 6, &c. Hebr. 2, 6. 7. 8.
• n 1.13

  Matth. 18, vers. 32, &c. Matt. 25, 28
• o 1.14

  Luk. 6, 24 25. 26.
• p 1.15

  1. Cor. 8, 1
• q 1.16

  Luk. 16, ••3
• r 1.17

  Luk. 9, 48. Rom 11, 20 1. Corin. 3, vers. 18, &c.
• s 1.18

  Luk. 9, 23.
• t 1.19

  1. Cor. 4, 7
• t 1.20

  Iob. 1, 21. Eccles. 5, 14 1. Tim. 6, 7.
• u 1.21

  1. Thess. 5, verse. 18.
• x 1.22

  Dan. 9, 5. 8.
• y 1.23

  Deut. 28, verse. 15. 16, &c.
• z 1.24

  Prou. 25, 6 7. Luke. 14, 8. 9. 10. Mat. 23, 12.
• a 1.25

  1. Cor. 1, 31
• b 1.26

  Iohn. 5, 44
• c 1.27

  Psal. 34, 3. 9. 11. 1. Thess. 5, 11 14. 15.
• d 1.28

  Matth. 25, verse. 21. 23.
• e 1.29

  Iames. 1, 17
• f 1.30

  Coloss. 3, verse. 17.
• g 1.31

  Colo. 1, 11