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. 21. That the troubles of this life are pa∣tientlie to be suffered after the example of our Sa∣uior Christ.

LORD.

MY sonne, for thy sal∣tion I came downe frō heauen a 1.1, and tooke thy miseries vpon me not of necessitie b 1.2, but vo∣luntarilie; to teach thee to be pa∣tient,

& to beare the miseries of this world gladlie, not grudginglie c 1.3.

For from the houre of my birth e∣uen til my death on the crosse, there neuer wanted sorowes which I was to suffer d 1.4. I bare the want of necessa∣rie things e 1.5; I harde much muttering against me f 1.6; I put vp manie tauntes and reproches g 1.7; for my benefits, I receaued vnkindnes h 1.8; for my mira∣cles, il words i 1.9; for my ghostlie coun∣saile, reprehension k 1.10.

SERVANT.

O my Lord, seeing thou in this life hast shewed thy selfe patient (wherein especialie thou ful∣filledst the commandement of thine heauenlie father l 1.11:) good reason is it, that I a miserable, and sinful wretch do showe my selfe patient according to thy wil, and, while thou thinkest meete, beare the burden of mortal life after thine ensample m 1.12.

For although this present life seeme burdensome: yet through thy fauor it is made the lighter, and maie the more easilie be borne of weake∣lings both by thine example n 1.13, and of thy saincts o 1.14.

Yea much more comfortable is it now, than it was in the old law, when both the waie was harder to finde p 1.15,

and fewe had a desire to seeke the ce∣lestial kingdome q 1.16.

Then how much am I bound to thee, which hast vouchsafed to showe both to me, & to al beleeuers a right and readie waie vnto thine euerla∣sting kingdome r 1.17! For thy waie, is our waie: and by holie patience we striue to come vnto thee, our crowne: whome, vnles thou haddest gone a∣fore s 1.18, and schooled vs t 1.19, who would care to folow? How manie would a∣bide not onelie behind, but a great waie of also, if they had not these thy noble examples before their eies?

And, hearing such commande∣ments and signes, and yet are luke∣warme, what would we do, if we had not such a light giuen vs to folowe thee?

Notes

• a 1.1

  Iohn. 3, 13: Iohn. 6, 33. 38, &c. Philip. 2, 7. 8.
• b 1.2

  Esai. 53, 5.
• c 1.3

  1. Pet. 2. vers. 21, &c.
• d 1.4

  Esaie. 53, verse. 2, &c. Luke. 9, 22
• e 1.5

  Luke. 2, 7. Matth 4, 2. Luke. 9, 58.
• f 1.6

  Ioh. 7, 12.
• g 1.7

  Matth. 12, verse. 24. Iohn. 8, 48.
• h 1.8

  Esaie. 5, verse. 1, &c. Matth. 21, vers. 33, &c.
• i 1.9

  Luk. 11, 14. 15.
• k 1.10

  Iohn. 7, 28. 30.
• l 1.11

  Ioh. 17, 4. Philip. 2, 8.
• m 1.12

  1. Pet. 2, vers. 21, &c.
• n 1.13

  Matth. 11, verse. 29. 30.
• o 1.14

  Phil. 4, 13. Hebr. 6, 11. verse. 12. Hebr. 11, 32. 33, &c.
• p 1.15

  2 Cor. 3, vers. 13, &c.
• q 1.16

  Ro. 9, 29. 1. Cor. 10, 6,
• r 1.17

  Ioh. 14, 6.
• s 1.18

  Iohn. 14, 2. 19. Iohn. 15, 18.
• t 1.19

  Ioh. 16, 32 33.