The Imitation of Jesus-Christi; In Four Books (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1726 Excerpt: ... CHAP. XX. Of acknowledging our own Weakness and the Miseries of this Life. The Disciple. T Will confess, against my self, my Fail" ings to my Lord. I will own to thee ray Weakness. A little thing frequently casts me down, and oppresses me with Grief. I propose to take Courage, but am baffled with every little Temptation: Trifles sometimes are the occasion of great Temptations: And otherwhiles, when 1 think my self a little safe, I am surpriVd, and sometimes almost overcome with a little Breath of Wind. Look down then, Lord, upon my Lowliness, and behold my Weaknesses on every side expos'd to thee: Take Pity on me, and rescue me from the Mire, lest I. should sink in, and remain there abandon'd for ever. The thing that often gives me a Remorse, and puts me to Confusion bejsore thee, is, that I am so subject to fall, and so weak in resisting my Passions: And tho' I am not altogether consenting, yet their repeated Assaults are uneasy and grievous; and I am weary of living la a continual Conflict. Then again Kseover my own. Infirmity most evi-. dently, . dently, by remarking that evil Thoughts enter into my Mind much more easily than they are rooted out. O mighty God of Israel, thou zealous Lover of faithful Souls, look down upon' the Labours and Pains of thy Servant, and assist me m all my Necessities. Strengthen me with Force from Heavenr to fight manfully against the Old Man, this miserable Flesh, still in Rebellion against the Spirit; and never, to the last Breath of my Life, submit to the least of his Usurpations. Alas.1 what a wretched Life is this; attended with continual Troubles and Miseries, and beset on every side with Snares and Enemies? One Temptation or Trouble goes away, and another comes; nay, many times one overtakes another; and, whilst ...