Imitation 3 2329 verses
1“My Son, now will I teach thee the way of peace and of true liberty.”
2Do, O my Lord, as Thou sayest, for this is pleasing unto me to hear.
3“Strive, My Son, to do another’s will rather than thine own.
4Choose always to have less rather than more.
5Seek always after the lowest place, and to be subject to all.
6Wish always and pray that the will of God be fulfilled in thee.
7Behold, such a man as this entereth into the inheritance of peace and quietness.”
8O my Lord, this Thy short discourse hath in itself much of perfectness.
9It is short in words but full of meaning, and abundant in fruit.
10For if it were possible that I should fully keep it, disturbance would not so easily arise within me.
11For as often as I feel myself disquieted and weighed down, I find myself to have gone back from this teaching.
12But Thou, Who art Almighty, and always lovest progress in the soul, vouchsafe more grace, that I may be enabled to fulfil Thy exhortation, and work out my salvation.
13A Prayer Against Evil Thoughts
14“O Lord my God, be not Thou far from me, my God, haste Thee to help me,” for many thoughts and great fears have risen up against me, afflicting my soul.
15How shall I pass through them unhurt?
16how shall I break through them?
17“I,” saith He, “will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight.” I will open the prison doors, and reveal to thee the secret places.
18Do, Lord, as Thou sayest; and let all evil thoughts fly away before Thy face.
19This is my hope and my only comfort, to fly unto Thee in all tribulation, to hope in Thee, to call upon Thee from my heart and patiently wait for Thy loving kindness.
20A Prayer for Enlightenment of the Mind
21Enlighten me, Blessed , with the brightness of Thy inner light, and cast forth all darkness from the habitation of my heart.
22Restrain my many wandering thoughts, and carry away the temptations which strive to do me hurt.
23Fight Thou mightily for me, and drive forth the evil beasts, so call I alluring lusts, that “peace may be within Thy walls and plenteousness of praise within Thy palaces,” even in my pure conscience.
24Command Thou the winds and the storms, say unto the sea, “Be still,” say unto the stormy wind, “Hold thy peace,” so shall there be a great calm.
25“Oh send forth Thy light and Thy truth,” that they may shine upon the earth; for I am but earth without form and void until Thou give me light.
26Pour forth Thy grace from above; water my heart with the dew of heaven; give the waters of devotion to water the face of the earth, and cause it to bring forth good and perfect fruit.
27Lift up my mind which is oppressed with the weight of sins, and raise my whole desire to heavenly things; that having tasted the sweetness of the happiness which is from above, it may take no pleasure in thinking of things of earth.
28Draw me and deliver me from every unstable comfort of creatures, for no created thing is able to satisfy my desire and to give me comfort.
29Join me to Thyself by the inseparable bond of love, for Thou alone art sufficient to him that loveth Thee, and without Thee all things are vain toys.
