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. 46. That man hath nothing which good is of himselfe; neither that he should glorie of anie thing.

SERVANT.

LOrd, what is man that thou art mindeful of him a 1.1? and the sonne of man, that thou visi∣test him? What hath he deserued b 1.2, that thou shouldest regard him c 1.3?

O Lord, I maie not complaine, if thou do reiect me d 1.4: neither reason with thee, if thou denie my requests.

But thus maie I trulie both thinke with my selfe, and saie, Lord, I am no∣thing, I haue no goodnes of my self e 1.5: but naked came I out of my mothers wombe f 1.6, and naked shal I returne thether.

If thou assist me not, and inward∣lie instruct me, I faint vtterlie, and become dissolute g 1.7.

But thou, Lord, alwaies art one, and abidest the same for euermore h 1.8; thou art alwaies good i 1.9, righteous k 1.10, and holie l 1.11; for thou doest al things wel, righteouslie, purelie, and with wisedome m 1.12.

But I, alas, am more proane to come rather backward than forward; I continue not euermore at one staie n 1.13, because I am subiect to altera∣tion, like the time.

Notwithstanding, if thou reach foorth thine helping hande, I shal speedilie be comforted o 1.14, for thou without mans aide canst assist, and so strengthen me, that my countenance no more shal alter and change di∣uerslie, and my minde shal be fixed, and waite vpon thee alone p 1.15.

Therefore, did I know, while ei∣ther I couet the zeale of the spirit, or am driuen by some occasion to seeke

thee (for there is none that can com∣fort me), how to contemne the com∣fort of this world q 1.16, doubtles I should both hope wel of thy fauor, & looke with ioiefulnes sometime for the gift of thy consolation r 1.17. Finalie, if it fal out wel with me at anie time, it is of thy goodnes s 1.18: I am but vanitie in thy sight t 1.19, of none account u 1.20, mor∣tal x 1.21, and fraile y 1.22.

Whereof then do I boast? Or why couet I to be had in admiration? E∣uen of nothing z 1.23: but that is vanitie.

Doubtles a most pestilent, and vaine thing ambition is; it both draw∣eth man awaie from the true glorie, and spoiles him vtterlie of Gods e∣ternal fauor a 1.24.

For while man pleaseth himselfe, he displeaseth thee b 1.25; while he see∣keth the praise of men c 1.26, he leeseth the true virtues of the minde.

But the true glorie and true reioi∣cing is for a man to glorie not of himselfe, but of thee d 1.27: and to reioice of thy name, not of his virtue, or anie thing besides, but onlie for thy sake.

Wherefore praised be thy Name, not mine; extolled be thy workes, not mine; let thy holie name be ma∣gnified e 1.28, let me haue no praise at al.

I wil euermore glorie in thy praise f 1.29; of my selfe I wil not, except it be of mine infirmities g 1.30.

Let the Iewes receaue honor one of another h 1.31, I wil seeke that which commeth of God alone.

Al the glorie, the credit, the esti∣mation of this world, if it be compa∣red with that euerlasting glorie of thine i 1.32, what it is but mere vanitie, & foolishnes k 1.33?

Wherefore, O my truth, my mer∣cie, my God l 1.34, O blessed Trinitie, to thee be praise m 1.35, and honor, and glo∣rie, and power for euermore,

Amen.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Psal. 8, 4.
• b 1.2

  Rom. 11, 6 Ephes. 2, 8.
• c 1.3

  Psa. 144, 3.
• d 1.4

  Rom 9, 20
• e 1.5

  2. Cor. 3, •• 1. Cor, 4, 7.
• f 1.6

  Iob. 1, 21. Eccl. 5, 14. 1. Tim. 6, 7.
• g 1.7

  Ps. 51, 10. 11, &c.
• h 1.8

  Ps. 102, 12. Esaie. 44, 6.
• i 1.9

  Psalm. 5, 4.
• k 1.10

  Deu. 32, 4.
• l 1.11

  1. Pet. 1, 15.
• m 1.12

  Ps. 104, 1. 2, &c.
• n 1.13

  Iob. 14, 1. 2.
• o 1.14

  Psa. 16, 8.
• p 1.15

  Ps. 104, 27
• q 1.16

  1. Ioh. 2, 15 16.
• r 1.17

  Ioh. 16, 22.
• s 1.18

  Iam. 1, 17.
• t 1.19

  Psa 39, 11.
• u 1.20

  Ps. 144, 3. 4.
• x 1.21

  Ps. 89, 48. Psal 49, 10. 11. 12.
• y 1.22

  Iob. 14, 22
• z 1.23

  Ier. 9, 23.
• a 1.24

  Iames. 3, 1. Iames 4, 6. Eccl. 10, 7.
• b 1.25

  Luk. 18, 9. 14.
• c 1.26

  Ioh. 5, 44. Ioh. 12, 43.
• d 1.27

  Iere. 9, 23. 24 2. Co. 10, 17. 18.
• e 1.28

  Psal. 96, 1. 2. 3, &c. Psal. 145, 3
• f 1.29

  Ps. 106, 47.
• g 1.30

  2. Cor. 11, verse. 30. 2. Cor. 12, 5.
• h 1.31

  Ioh 5, 44. Iohn. 12, 43
• i 1.32

  Reu. 21, 23 24. 25. 26.
• k 1.33

  Eccl. 10, 7. 9. 12, &c.
• l 1.34

  Psal. 25, 2.
• m 1.35

  Reu. 5, 13. Reuel 7, 12. 1. Tim. 1, 17. 2. Tim. 4, ▪ 8.