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. 59. Men carnalie minded finde no fauor before God.

LORD.

SOnne, my fauor is more pretious, than that it wil medle with outwarde things, and earthlie pleasures a 1.1.

Wherfore thou must cast off what soeuer is a let therevnto b 1.2, if thou wouldest be replenished with the same.

Leaue companie c 1.3; loue to dwel by thy selfe alone; auoide communi∣cation; but powre out godlie praiers before the Lorde d 1.4, that thy minde maie be stirred vp vnto godlines, and kept from sinne.

Despise euen the whole world, and prefer the calling of God before al outward things e 1.5. For doubtles thou canst not both serue me, and delight in transitorie things too f 1.6.

Thou must leaue thine acquain∣tance, and deare freends g 1.7; and cal awaie thy minde from al worldlie pleasure h 1.8. So doth Peter admonish the disciples of Christ, that they be∣haue

themselues in this world as pil∣grims, and strangers i 1.9.

O with what a faith & confidence shal he die, who is not kept back with the desire of anie earthlie thing k 1.10!

But no sicke man can haue such a minde; neither doth the carnal man perceaue the libertie of him who is spiritual l 1.11.

But if he wil become spiritual, he must renounce both strangers, and nigh freends also m 1.12, and take heede of none more than of himselfe n 1.13.

If thou hast perfectlie subdued thy selfe o 1.14, thou shalt with more ease vanquish other things. For that is true victorie, to triumph ouer a mans selfe.

For he, who hath his minde so in subiection, that both his desire obei∣eth reason, and his reason fulfilleth my commandements in al things, is doubtles both a conqueror of him∣selfe p 1.15, & also a Lord of the world q 1.16: to which top of perfection if thou wouldest clime, thou must manfulie begin, and laie the axe to the roote r 1.17, so to cut off euen by the roote al hid∣den and immoderate loue, both of thy selfe, and also of euerie priuate and carnal good thing.

For of this immoderate selfe-loue onlie depēdeth almost al that a man must vtterlie roote vp s 1.18: which vice being once subdued, great peace, and perpetual quietnes wil ensue t 1.19.

But, for that fewe do endeuor per∣fectlie to mortifie u 1.20 and altogether to forsake themselues x 1.21, it commeth to passe that manie do remaine snar∣led within y 1.22, and cannot in spirit rise aboue themselues.

But he that freelie would liue with me, must mortifie and slaie al wicked and intemperate affections of his minde z 1.23; and stick to nothing crea∣ted ouer greedilie a 1.24.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Ioh. 14, 27 Iohn. 16, ••3. Phil. 4, 10. 11. 12.
• b 1.2

  Luk. 9, 23 Iohn. 8, 54.
• c 1.3

  Matt. 6, 6. Matt. 14, 23.
• d 1.4

  Luk. 18, 1. 2, &c. 1. Thes. 5, 17 18.
• e 1.5

  Luk. 9, 59. 1. Iohn. 2, 15. 16.
• f 1.6

  Mat. 6, 24.
• g 1.7

  Luk. 9, 23. 24. Luke. 14, 26. 27. Ioh. 12, 25 26.
• h 1.8

  1. Ioh. 2, 15 16.
• i 1.9

  1. Pet. 2, 11
• k 1.10

  Gal. 6. 14. Rom. 8, 35. 36. Phil. 3, 20.
• l 1.11

  Rom. 8, 5. 1. Cor. 2, 14. 15. 16.
• m 1.12

  Matth. 10, verse. 37.
• n 1.13

  Rom. 7, 23 1. Cor. 2, 14.
• o 1.14

  Marke. 8, verse. 34.
• p 1.15

  Matth▪ 5, verse. 38. 39.
• q 1.16

  Rom 8, 37
• r 1.17

  Mat. 3, 10.
• s 1.18

  Matth. 7, 3. 4.
• t 1.19

  Mat. 11, 29
• u 1.20

  Rom. 6, 3. Coloss. 3, 5.
• x 1.21

  Eph. 4, 22. 23. 24.
• y 1.22

  Iames 4, 1. 2▪ 3.
• z 1.23

  Gal. 5, 19. 20. 11.
• a 1.24

  1. Ioh. 2, 15 16. Philip. 3, 7. 8. 1. Cor. 7, 29. 30. 31.