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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Ninth Chapter
WANTING NO SHARE IN COMFORT
IT IS not hard to spurn human consolation when we have the divine. It is,
however, a very great thing indeed to be able to live without either divine or
human comforting and for the honor of God willingly to endure this exile of
heart, not to seek oneself in anything, and to think nothing of one's own merit.
Does it matter much, if at the coming of grace, you are cheerful and devout?
This is an hour desired by all, for he whom the grace of God sustains travels
easily enough. What wonder if he feel no burden when borne up by the Almighty
and led on by the Supreme Guide! For we are always glad to have something to
comfort us, and only with difficulty does a man divest himself of self.
The holy martyr, Lawrence, with his priest, conquered the world because he
despised everything in it that seemed pleasing to him, and for love of Christ
patiently suffered the great high priest of God, Sixtus, whom he loved dearly,
to be taken from him. Thus, by his love for the Creator he overcame the love of
man, and chose instead of human consolation the good pleasure of God. So you,
too, must learn to part with an intimate and much-needed friend for the love of
God. Do not take it to heart when you are deserted by a friend, knowing that in
the end we must all be parted from one another.
A man must fight long and bravely against himself before he learns to master
himself fully and to direct all his affections toward God. When he trusts in
himself, he easily takes to human consolation. The true lover of Christ,
however, who sincerely pursues virtue, does not fall back upon consolations nor
seek such pleasures of sense, but prefers severe trials and hard labors for the
sake of Christ.
When, therefore, spiritual consolation is given by God, receive it gratefully,
but understand that it is His gift and not your meriting. Do not exult, do not
be overjoyed, do not be presumptuous, but be the humbler for the gift, more
careful and wary in all your actions, for this hour will pass and temptation
will come in its wake.
When consolation is taken away, do not at once despair but wait humbly and
patiently for the heavenly visit, since God can restore to you more abundant
solace.
This is neither new nor strange to one who knows God's ways, for such change of
fortune often visited the great saints and prophets of old. Thus there was one
who, when grace was with him, declared: "In my prosperity I said: 'I shall never
be moved.'" But when grace was taken away, he adds what he experienced in
himself: "Thou didst hide Thy face, and I was troubled." Meanwhile he does not
despair; rather he prays more earnestly to the Lord, saying: "To Thee, O Lord,
will I cry; and I will make supplication to my God." At length, he receives the
fruit of his prayer, and testifying that he was heard, says "The Lord hath
heard, and hath had mercy on me: the Lord became my helper." And how was he
helped? "Thou hast turned," he says, "my mourning into joy, and hast surrounded
me with gladness."[14]
If this is the case with great saints, we who are weak and poor ought not to
despair because we are fervent at times and at other times cold, for the spirit
comes and goes according to His will. Of this the blessed Job declared: "Thou
visitest him early in the morning, and Thou provest him suddenly."[15]
In what can I hope, then, or in whom ought I trust, save only in the great mercy
of God and the hope of heavenly grace? For though I have with me good men,
devout brethren, faithful friends, holy books, beautiful treatises, sweet songs
and hymns, all these help and please but little when I am abandoned by grace and
left to my poverty. At such times there is no better remedy than patience and
resignation of self to the will of God.
I have never met a man so religious and devout that he has not experienced at
some time a withdrawal of grace and felt a lessening of fervor. No saint was so
sublimely rapt and enlightened as not to be tempted before and after. He,
indeed, is not worthy of the sublime contemplation of God who has not been tried
by some tribulation for the sake of God. For temptation is usually the sign
preceding the consolation that is to follow, and heavenly consolation is
promised to all those proved by temptation. "To him that overcometh," says
Christ, "I will give to eat of the Tree of Life."[16] Divine consolation, then,
is given in order to make a man braver in enduring adversity, and temptation
follows in order that he may not pride himself on the good he has done.
The devil does not sleep, nor is the flesh yet dead; therefore, you must never
cease your preparation for battle, because on the right and on the left are
enemies who never rest.
