Imitation 1 2445 verses
1In all that thou doest, remember the end, and how thou wilt stand before a strict judge, from whom nothing is hid, who is not bribed with gifts, nor accepteth excuses, but will judge righteous judgment.
2O most miserable and foolish sinner, who art sometimes in fear of the countenance of an angry man, what wilt thou answer to God, who knoweth all thy misdeeds?
3Why dost thou not provide for thyself against the day of judgment, when no man shall be able to be excused or defended by means of another, but each one shall bear his burden himself alone?
4Now doth thy labour bring forth fruit, now is thy weeping acceptable, thy groaning heard, thy sorrow well pleasing to God, and cleansing to thy soul.
5Even here on earth the patient man findeth great occasion of purifying his soul.
6When suffering injuries he grieveth more for the other’s malice than for his own wrong; when he prayeth heartily for those that despitefully use him, and forgiveth them from his heart; when he is not slow to ask pardon from others; when he is swifter to pity than to anger; when he frequently denieth himself and striveth altogether to subdue the flesh to the spirit.
7Better is it now to purify the soul from sin, than to cling to sins from which we must be purged hereafter.
8Truly we deceive ourselves by the inordinate love which we bear towards the flesh.
9What is it which that fire shall devour, save thy sins?
10The more thou sparest thyself and followest the flesh, the more heavy shall thy punishment be, and the more fuel art thou heaping up for the burning.
11For wherein a man hath sinned, therein shall he be the more heavily punished.
12There shall the slothful be pricked forward with burning goads, and the gluttons be tormented with intolerable hunger and thirst.
13There shall the luxurious and the lovers of pleasure be plunged into burning pitch and stinking brimstone, and the envious shall howl like mad dogs for very grief.
14No sin will there be which shall not be visited with its own proper punishment.
15The proud shall be filled with utter confusion, and the covetous shall be pinched with miserable poverty.
16An hour’s pain there shall be more grievous than a hundred years here of the bitterest penitence.
17No quiet shall be there, no comfort for the lost, though here sometimes there is respite from pain, and enjoyment of the solace of friends.
18Be thou anxious now and sorrowful for thy sins, that in the day of judgment thou mayest have boldness with the blessed.
19For “then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him and made no account of his labours.” Then shall he stand up to judge, he who now submitteth himself in humility to the judgments of men.
20Then shall the poor and humble man have great confidence, while the proud is taken with fear on every side.
21Then shall it be seen that he was the wise man in this world who learned to be a fool and despised for .
22Then shall all tribulation patiently borne delight us, while the mouth of the ungodly shall be stopped.
23Then shall every godly man rejoice, and every profane man shall mourn.
24Then the afflicted flesh shall more rejoice than if it had been alway nourished in delights.
25Then the humble garment shall put on beauty, and the precious robe shall hide itself as vile.
26Then the little poor cottage shall be more commended than the gilded palace.
27Then enduring patience shall have more might than all the power of the world.
28Then simple obedience shall be more highly exalted than all worldly wisdom.
29Then a pure and good conscience shall more rejoice than learned philosophy.
30Then contempt of riches shall have more weight than all the treasure of the children of this world.
31Then shalt thou find more comfort in having prayed devoutly than in having fared sumptuously.
32Then thou wilt rather rejoice in having kept silence than in having made long speech.
33Then holy deeds shall be far stronger than many fine words.
34Then a strict life and sincere penitence shall bring deeper pleasure than all earthly delight.
35Learn now to suffer a little, that then thou mayest be enabled to escape heavier sufferings.
36Prove first here, what thou art able to endure hereafter.
37If now thou art able to bear so little, how wilt thou be able to endure eternal torments?
38If now a little suffering maketh thee so impatient, what shall hellfire do then?
39Behold of a surety thou art not able to have two Paradises, to take thy fill or delight here in this world, and to reign with hereafter.
40If even unto this day thou hadst ever lived in honours and pleasures, what would the whole profit thee if now death came to thee in an instant?
41All therefore is vanity, save to love God and to serve Him only.
42For he who loveth God with all his heart feareth not death, nor punishment, nor judgment, nor hell, because perfect love giveth sure access to God.
43But he who still delighteth in sin, no marvel if he is afraid of death and judgment.
44Nevertheless it is a good thing, if love as yet cannot restrain thee from evil, that at least the fear of hell should hold thee back.
45But he who putteth aside the fear of God cannot long continue in good, but shall quickly fall into the snares of the devil.
