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. 63. That we should take heede of despaire, though we fal sometime.

LORD.

SOnne, patience, and repentance in aduersi∣tie a 1.1, doth more please mee than much ioie, and deuotion in pro∣speritie.

Why art thou vexed at so smal a thing spoken against thee? the which were it greater should not mooue thee b 1.2.

Care not for this, it is no newe thing, nor the first c 1.3, and shal not be the last, if thou liue longer.

Thou art man good inough, while prosperitie doth last d 1.4; yea thou canst giue counsel also to others, and en∣courage them with words: but when sudden aduersitie is at hand, thou art straight waie without both counsel and courage e 1.5.

Waigh what thy frailtie is, of which thou hast proofe oftentimes in litle chances. Notwithstanding these and such like, are good for thee f 1.6.

Cast these things out of thy mind, as thou knowest thou shouldest doo; and if they touch thee, endeuor that they neuer ouerthrowe thee, nor o∣uer troble thee: at the lest wise beare them patientlie g 1.7, if thou canst not ioiefulie.

Now if thou heare such things a∣gainst thy wil, and conceauest indig∣nation thereat, bridle thy selfe, and take heede that nothing slip out of thy mouth, wherebie the litle ones maie be offended h 1.8. So wil both this perturbation of thine quicklie be set∣led, and the griefe of minde, through the returne of Gods grace, be turned into ioie.

I yet liue, saith the Lord, readie to helpe, and extraordinarilie to com∣fort thee, if thou cal vpon me i 1.9 religi∣ouslie

in faith k 1.10.

Be thou patient, and prepare thy selfe to greater trobles l 1.11. Thou must not therefore be out of hart, though thou see thy selfe greatlie to be affli∣cted, & tempted grieuouslie m 1.12. Thou art a man, no God; neither Angel, but flesh.

Thinkest thou alwaies to abide in one and the same state of godlines? when neither the Angel in hea∣uen n 1.13, nor Adam the first man in pa∣radise o 1.14 could, for both fel quicklie?

I am he who wil both strengthen the mourners with health p 1.15, and ex∣alt vnto my dignitie such as acknow∣ledge their owne weakenes q 1.16.

SERVANT.

O Lord, for thy wordes, more sweete to me than ho∣nie, & y^e honie-combe r 1.17, I thank thee.

Alas, in such calamitie and trobles what should I doo, didest not thou strengthen mee with this ghostlie speech s 1.18!

So that at length I maie come vn∣to the port of saluation, what skil∣leth it what and how great things I endure t 1.19?

O Lord, grant me a good end; and a blessed departure out of this life: O my God, remember me u 1.20, & guide

me the right way into thy kingdome,

Amen.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Esai. 30, 15 Luk. 21, 19.
• b 1.2

  Matt. 5, 11.
• c 1.3

  Heb. 12, 3. 1. Pet. 2, 21. 22.
• d 1.4

  Matth. 26, verse. 33. 35. Luk. 22, 33.
• e 1.5

  Matth. 26, verse. 69. 70. Luk. 22, 56. 57.
• f 1.6

  Pf. 119, 67 71. Prou. 3, 11. 12. Hebr. 12, 7. 8. 9.
• g 1.7

  Rom. 12, verse. 12. Iames. 1, 1. 2.
• h 1.8

  Mat. 18, 6. 7. Mark. 9, 42. Luke. 17, 1. 2.
• i 1.9

  Psa. 50, 15. Psal. 91, 15. Esaie. 49, 8.
• k 1.10

  Mat. 21, 22 Iames. 1, 6.
• l 1.11

  Ps. 27, 14. Psal. 31, 24. 1. Co. 16, 13
• m 1.12

  1. Cor. 10, verse. 13. Iames. 1, 1. 2.
• n 1.13

  Iob. 4, 18 2. Pet. 2, 4. Iude. 6.
• o 1.14

  Gen. 3, 17.
• p 1.15

  Ps. 113, 7.
• q 1.16

  Ps. 145, 19 Luke. 1, 52.
• r 1.17

  Psal. 119, verse. 103.
• s 1.18

  Psal. 119, verse. 92.
• t 1.19

  Rom. 8, 18. 35. 36.
• u 1.20

  Luke. 23, verse. 42.