Imitation 3 3717 verses
1“My Son, lose thyself and thou shalt find Me.
2Stand still without all choosing and all thought of self, and thou shalt ever be a gainer.
3For more grace shall be added to thee, as soon as thou resignest thyself, and so long as thou dost not turn back to take thyself again.”
4O Lord, how often shall I resign myself, and in what things shall I lose myself?
5“Always; every hour: in that which is little, and in that which is great.
6I make no exception, but will that thou be found naked in all things.
7Otherwise how canst thou be Mine and I thine, unless thou be inwardly and outwardly free from every will of thine own?
8The sooner thou dost this, the better shall it be with thee; and the more fully and sincerely, the more thou shalt please Me, and the more abundantly shalt thou be rewarded.
9“Some resign themselves, but with certain reservations, for they do not fully trust in God, therefore they think that they have some provision to make for themselves.
10Some again at first offer everything; but afterwards being pressed by temptation they return to their own devices, and thus make no progress in virtue.
11They will not attain to the true liberty of a pure heart, nor to the grace of My sweet companionship, unless they first entirely resign themselves and daily offer themselves up as a sacrifice; without this the union which bringeth forth fruit standeth not nor will stand.
12“Many a time I have said unto thee, and now say again, Give thyself up, resign thyself, and thou shalt have great inward peace.
13Give all for all; demand nothing, ask nothing in return; stand simply and with no hesitation in Me, and thou shalt possess Me.
14Thou shalt have liberty of heart, and the darkness shall not overwhelm thee.
15For this strive thou, pray for it, long after it, that thou mayest be delivered from all possession of thyself, and nakedly follow who was made naked for thee; mayest die unto thyself and live eternally to Me.
16Then shall all vain fancies disappear, all evil disturbings, and superfluous cares.
17Then also shall immoderate fear depart from thee, and inordinate love shall die.”
