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. 44. Of the right vse of outward things; and that we should flie vnto God when we are afflicted.

LORD.

MY sonne, thou must haue a special care, that thy minde be single and pure a in eue∣rie place, in euerie action, in al thy busines: also, that al things serue thee, and not thou them b; also that thou be not a slaue, and bondman to thine owne actions c; but a master, a ruler, a free-man, an Hebrue transla∣ted

into the lot, and libertie of the sonnes of God d, whose eies are tur∣ned from worldlie e, and cast vpon heauenlie things f; who looke vpon temporal things with the left, but with the right eie vpon eternal; who wil not be brought vnder the power of anie thing g; but make al things to serue to good purpose, according to the order of almightie God the Creator h, who hath done nothing of al that he did in vaine i.

Furthermore if in thy troble thou wilt not stick vnto outward things, nor with a carnal eie behold the things that are seene and heard: but with Moses in al thine affaires enter by and by into the tabernacle of the Lord k, doubtles thou shalt receaue answere sometime, and returne in∣structed in things both present, and to come.

For it was Moses woont in matters of controuersie, and difficult things to go into the Tabernacle, and to be rid from the wickednes of men he v∣sed praier l, and the calling for Gods assistan••e. So oughtest thou to enter into the priuie closet of thine hart m, and there most earnestly to cal vpon God.

For we reade n that Ioshua, and the rest of the Israëlites were therefore deceaued of the Gibeonites, because they counseled not with the mouth of the Lord, but gaue light credit to their faire tale.

Notes

• a

  Mat. 6, 22. 23.
• b

  Matt. 6, 24
• c

  Galat. 5, 1.
• d

  Gal. 4, 3. 7. 9.
• e

  Gal. 5, 13.
• f

  Colos. 3, 1. 2.
• g

  1. Cor. 6, verse. 12. 1. Ioh. 2, 15. 1. Co. 10, 23
• h

  Psal. 8, 6 7. 8.
• i

  Gen. 1, 31.
• k

  Exo. 33, 9. Nomb. 7, 89
• l

  Exod. 33, verse. 13.
• m

  Matt 6, 6.
• n

  Iosh. 9, 14