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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
BOOK THREE
INTERNAL CONSOLATION
The First Chapter
THE INWARD CONVERSATION OF CHRIST WITH THE FAITHFUL SOUL
I WILL hear what the Lord God will speak in me."[24]
Blessed is the soul who hears the Lord speaking within her, who receives the
word of consolation from His lips. Blessed are the ears that catch the accents
of divine whispering, and pay no heed to the murmurings of this world. Blessed
indeed are the ears that listen, not to the voice which sounds without, but to
the truth which teaches within. Blessed are the eyes which are closed to
exterior things and are fixed upon those which are interior. Blessed are they
who penetrate inwardly, who try daily to prepare themselves more and more to
understand mysteries. Blessed are they who long to give their time to God, and
who cut themselves off from the hindrances of the world.
Consider these things, my soul, and close the door of your senses, so that you
can hear what the Lord your God speaks within you. "I am your salvation," says
your Beloved. "I am your peace and your life. Remain with Me and you will find
peace. Dismiss all passing things and seek the eternal. What are all temporal
things but snares? And what help will all creatures be able to give you if you
are deserted by the Creator?" Leave all these things, therefore, and make
yourself pleasing and faithful to your Creator so that you may attain to true
happiness.
