BOOK THREE
INTERNAL CONSOLATION
chapter1-the-inward-conversation-of-christ-with-the-faithful-soul
chapter2-truth-speaks-inwardly-without-the-sound-of-words
chapter3-listen-humbly-to-the-words-of-god-many-do-not-heed-them
chapter4-we-must-walk-before-god-in-humility-and-truth
chapter5-the-wonderful-effect-of-divine-love
chapter6-the-proving-of-a-true-lover
chapter7-grace-must-be-hidden-under-the-mantle-of-humility
chapter8-self-abasement-in-the-sight-of-god
chapter9-all-things-should-be-referred-to-god-as-their-last-end
chapter10-to-despise-the-world-and-serve-god-is-sweet
chapter11-the-longings-of-our-hearts-must-be-examined-and-moderated
chapter12-acquiring-patience-in-the-fight-against-concupiscence
chapter13-the-obedience-of-one-humbly-subject-to-the-example-of-jesus-christ
chapter14-consider-the-hidden-judgments-of-god-lest-you-become-proud-of-your-own-good-deeds
chapter15-how-one-should-feel-and-speak-on-every-desirable-thing
chapter16-true-comfort-is-to-be-sought-in-god-alone
chapter17-all-our-care-is-to-be-placed-in-god
chapter18-temporal-sufferings-should-be-borne-patiently-after-the-example-of-christ
chapter19-true-patience-in-suffering
chapter20-confessing-our-weakness-in-the-miseries-of-life
chapter21-above-all-goods-and-all-gifts-we-must-rest-in-god
chapter22-remember-the-innumerable-gifts-of-god
chapter23-four-things-which-bring-great-peace
chapter24-avoiding-curious-inquiry-about-the-lives-of-others
chapter25-the-basis-of-firm-peace-of-heart-and-true-progress
chapter26-the-excellence-of-a-free-mind-gained-through-prayer-rather-than-by-study
chapter27-self-love-is-the-greatest-hindrance-to-the-highest-good
chapter28-strength-against-slander
chapter29-how-we-must-call-upon-and-bless-the-lord-when-trouble-presses
chapter30-the-quest-of-divine-help-and-confidence-in-regaining-grace
chapter31-to-find-the-creator-forsake-all-creatures
chapter32-self-denial-and-the-renunciation-of-evil-appetites
chapter33-restlessness-of-soul’s directing-our-final-intention-toward-god
chapter34-god-is-sweet-above-all-things-and-in-all-things-to-those-who-love-him
chapter35-there-is-no-security-from-temptation-in-this-life
chapter36-the-vain-judgments-of-men
chapter37-pure-and-entire-resignation-of-self-to-obtain-freedom-of-heart
chapter38-the-right-ordering-of-external-affairs-recourse-to-god-in-dangers
chapter39-a-man-should-not-be-unduly-solicitous-about-his-affairs
chapter40-man-has-no-good-in-himself-and-can-glory-in-nothing
chapter41-contempt-for-all-earthly-honor
chapter42-peace-is-not-to-be-placed-in-men
chapter43-beware-vain-and-worldly-knowledge
chapter44-chapter-do-not-be-concerned-about-outward-things
chapter45-all-men-are-not-to-be-believed-for-it-is-easy-to-err-in-speech
chapter46-trust-in-god-against-slander
chapter47-every-trial-must-be-borne-for-the-sake-of-eternal-life
chapter48-the-day-of-eternity-and-the-distresses-of-this-life
chapter49-the-desire-of-eternal-life-the-great-rewards-promised-to-those-who-struggle
chapter50-how-a-desolate-person-ought-to-commit-himself-into-the-hands-of-god
chapter51-when-we-cannot-attain-to-the-highest-we-must-practice-the-humble-works
chapter-52-a-man-ought-not-to-consider-himself-worthy-of-consolation-but-rather-deserving-of-chastisement
chapter53-god’s-grace-is-not-given-to-the-earthly-minded
chapter54-the-different-motions-of-nature-and-grace
chapter55-the-corruption-of-nature-and-the-efficacy-of-divine-grace
chapter56-we-ought-to-deny-ourselves-and-imitate-christ-through-bearing-the-cross
hchapter57-a-man-should-not-be-too-downcast
chapter58-high-matters-and-the-hidden-judgments-of-god-are-not-to-be-scrutinized
chapter59-all-hope-and-trust-are-to-be-fixed-in-god-alone
The Fifty-Ninth Chapter
All Hope and Trust Are to Be Fixed In God Alone
The Disciple
WHAT, Lord, is the trust which I have in this life, or what is my greatest comfort among all the things that appear under heaven? Is it not You, O Lord, my God, Whose mercies are without number? Where have I ever fared well but for You? Or how could things go badly when You were present? I had rather be poor for Your sake than rich without You. I prefer rather to wander on the earth with You than to possess heaven without You. Where You are there is heaven, and where You are not are death and hell. You are my desire and therefore I must cry after You and sigh and pray. In none can I fully trust to help me in my necessities, but in You alone, my God. You are my hope. You are my confidence. 208 You are my consoler, most faithful in every need.
All seek their own interests. You, however, place my salvation and my profit first, and turn all things to my good. Even though exposing me to various temptations and hardships, You Who are accustomed to prove Your loved ones in a thousand ways, order all this for my good. You ought not to be loved or praised less in this trial than if You had filled me with heavenly consolations.
In You, therefore, O Lord God, I place all my hope and my refuge. On You I cast all my troubles and anguish, because whatever I have outside of You I find to be weak and unstable. It will not serve me to have many friends, nor will powerful helpers be able to assist me, nor prudent advisers to give useful answers, nor the books of learned men to console, nor any precious substance to win my freedom, nor any place, secret and beautiful though it be, to shelter me, if You Yourself do not assist, comfort, console, instruct, and guard me. For all things which seem to be for our peace and happiness are nothing when You are absent, and truly confer no happiness.
You, indeed, are the fountain of all good, the height of life, the depth of all that can be spoken. To trust in You above all things is the strongest comfort of Your servants.
My God, the Father of mercies, to You I look, in You I trust. Bless and sanctify my soul with heavenly benediction, so that it may become Your 209 holy dwelling and the seat of Your eternal glory. And in this temple of Your dignity let nothing be found that might offend Your majesty. In Your great goodness, and in the multitude of Your mercies, look upon me and listen to the prayer of Your poor servant exiled from You in the region of the shadow of death. Protect and preserve the soul of Your poor servant among the many dangers of this corruptible life, and direct him by Your accompanying grace, through the ways of peace, to the land of everlasting light.
[...] CHAPTER14 Consider the Hidden Judgments of God Lest You Become Proud of Your Own Good Deeds Filed under: Imitation of Christ — by mari2nii @ 3:59 am BOOK THREE INTERNAL CONSOLATION chapter1-the-inward-conversation-of-christ-with-the-faithful-soul chapter2-truth-speaks-inwardly-without-the-sound-of-words chapter3-listen-humbly-to-the-words-of-god-many-do-not-heed-them chapter4-we-must-walk-before-god-in-humility-and-truth chapter5-the-wonderful-effect-of-divine-love chapter6-the-proving-of-a-true-lover chapter7-grace-must-be-hidden-under-the-mantle-of-humility chapter8-self-abasement-in-the-sight-of-god chapter9-all-things-should-be-referred-to-god-as-their-last-end chapter10-to-despise-the-world-and-serve-god-is-sweet chapter11-the-longings-of-our-hearts-must-be-examined-and-moderated chapter12-acquiring-patience-in-the-fight-against-concupiscence chapter13-the-obedience-of-one-humbly-subject-to-the-example-of-jesus-christ chapter14-consider-the-hidden-judgments-of-god-lest-you-become-proud-of-your-own-good-deeds chapter15-how-one-should-feel-and-speak-on-every-desirable-thing chapter16-true-comfort-is-to-be-sought-in-god-alone chapter17-all-our-care-is-to-be-placed-in-god chapter18-temporal-sufferings-should-be-borne-patiently-after-the-example-of-christ chapter19-true-patience-in-suffering chapter20-confessing-our-weakness-in-the-miseries-of-life chapter21-above-all-goods-and-all-gifts-we-must-rest-in-god chapter22-remember-the-innumerable-gifts-of-god chapter23-four-things-which-bring-great-peace chapter24-avoiding-curious-inquiry-about-the-lives-of-others chapter25-the-basis-of-firm-peace-of-heart-and-true-progress chapter26-the-excellence-of-a-free-mind-gained-through-prayer-rather-than-by-study chapter27-self-love-is-the-greatest-hindrance-to-the-highest-good chapter28-strength-against-slander chapter29-how-we-must-call-upon-and-bless-the-lord-when-trouble-presses chapter30-the-quest-of-divine-help-and-confidence-in-regaining-grace chapter31-to-find-the-creator-forsake-all-creatures chapter32-self-denial-and-the-renunciation-of-evil-appetites chapter33-restlessness-of-soul’s directing-our-final-intention-toward-god chapter34-god-is-sweet-above-all-things-and-in-all-things-to-those-who-love-him chapter35-there-is-no-security-from-temptation-in-this-life chapter36-the-vain-judgments-of-men chapter37-pure-and-entire-resignation-of-self-to-obtain-freedom-of-heart chapter38-the-right-ordering-of-external-affairs-recourse-to-god-in-dangers chapter39-a-man-should-not-be-unduly-solicitous-about-his-affairs chapter40-man-has-no-good-in-himself-and-can-glory-in-nothing chapter41-contempt-for-all-earthly-honor chapter42-peace-is-not-to-be-placed-in-men chapter43-beware-vain-and-worldly-knowledge chapter44-chapter-do-not-be-concerned-about-outward-things chapter45-all-men-are-not-to-be-believed-for-it-is-easy-to-err-in-speech chapter46-trust-in-god-against-slander chapter47-every-trial-must-be-borne-for-the-sake-of-eternal-life chapter48-the-day-of-eternity-and-the-distresses-of-this-life chapter49-the-desire-of-eternal-life-the-great-rewards-promised-to-those-who-struggle chapter50-how-a-desolate-person-ought-to-commit-himself-into-the-hands-of-god chapter51-when-we-cannot-attain-to-the-highest-we-must-practice-the-humble-works chapter-52-a-man-ought-not-to-consider-himself-worthy-of-consolation-but-rather-deserving-of-chastisement chapter53-god’s-grace-is-not-given-to-the-earthly-minded chapter54-the-different-motions-of-nature-and-grace chapter55-the-corruption-of-nature-and-the-efficacy-of-divine-grace chapter56-we-ought-to-deny-ourselves-and-imitate-christ-through-bearing-the-cross hchapter57-a-man-should-not-be-too-downcast chapter58-high-matters-and-the-hidden-judgments-of-god-are-not-to-be-scrutinized chapter59-all-hope-and-trust-are-to-be-fixed-in-god-alone [...]
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