Imitation 1 2124 verses
1If thou wilt make any progress keep thyself in the fear of God, and long not to be too free, but restrain all thy senses under discipline and give not thyself up to senseless mirth.
2Give thyself to compunction of heart and thou shalt find devotion.
3Compunction openeth the way for many good things, which dissoluteness is wont quickly to lose.
4It is wonderful that any man can ever rejoice heartily in this life who considereth and weigheth his banishment, and the manifold dangers which beset his soul.
5Through lightness of heart and neglect of our shortcomings we feel not the sorrows of our soul, but often vainly laugh when we have good cause to weep.
6There is no true liberty nor real joy, save in the fear of God with a good conscience.
7Happy is he who can cast away every cause of distraction and bring himself to the one purpose of holy compunction.
8Happy is he who putteth away from him whatsoever may stain or burden his conscience.
9Strive manfully; custom is overcome by custom.
10If thou knowest how to let men alone, they will gladly let thee alone to do thine own works.
11Busy not thyself with the affairs of others, nor entangle thyself with the business of great men.
12Keep always thine eye upon thyself first of all, and give advice to thyself specially before all thy dearest friends.
13If thou hast not the favour of men, be not thereby cast down, but let thy concern be that thou holdest not thyself so well and circumspectly, as becometh a servant of God and a devout monk.
14It is often better and safer for a man not to have many comforts in this life, especially those which concern the flesh.
15But that we lack divine comforts or feel them rarely is to our own blame, because we seek not compunction of heart, nor utterly cast away those comforts which are vain and worldly.
16Know thyself to be unworthy of divine consolation, and worthy rather of much tribulation.
17When a man hath perfect compunction, then all the world is burdensome and bitter to him.
18A good man will find sufficient cause for mourning and weeping; for whether he considereth himself, or pondereth concerning his neighbour, he knoweth that no man liveth here without tribulation, and the more thoroughly he considereth himself, the more thoroughly he grieveth.
19Grounds for just grief and inward compunction there are in our sins and vices, wherein we lie so entangled that we are but seldom able to contemplate heavenly things.
20If thou thoughtest upon thy death more often than how long thy life should be, thou wouldest doubtless strive more earnestly to improve.
21And if thou didst seriously consider the future pains of hell, I believe thou wouldest willingly endure toil or pain and fear not discipline.
22But because these things reach not the heart, and we still love pleasant things, therefore we remain cold and miserably indifferent.
23Oftentimes it is from poverty of spirit that the wretched body is so easily led to complain.
24Pray therefore humbly unto that He will give thee the spirit of compunction and say in the language of , “Feed me, O Lord, with bread of tears, and give me plenteousness of tears to drink.”
