Of the Imitation of Christ/Book IV/Chapter VIII
CHAPTER VIII.
OF THE OBLATION OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS, AND OF RESIGNATION OF OURSELVES.
S of My own will I offered up Myself unto God the Father for thy sins, My hands were stretched forth on the cross, and My body laid bare, so that nothing remained in Me that was not wholly turned into a sacrifice for the appeasing of the divine majesty.
In like manner oughtest thou also to offer thyself willingly unto Me frequently in the holy communion, as a pure and sacred oblation, with all thy strength and affections, and to the utmost of thine inward faculties.
What do I require of thee more, than that thou study to resign thyself entirely unto Me?
Whatsoever thou givest besides thyself is of no value in My sight, for I seek not thy gifts, but thee.
2. As it would not suffice thee to have all things whatsoever, without Me; so neither can it please Me, whatsoever thou givest, if thou give not thyself.
Offer up thyself unto Me, and give thyself wholly for God, and thine offering will be acceptable.
Behold I offered up Myself wholly unto My Father for thee, and gave My whole body and blood for thy food, that I might be wholly thine, and that thou mightest continue Mine to the end.
But if thou abidest in thyself, and dost not offer thyself up freely unto My will, thine oblation is not entire, neither will there be perfect union between us.
Therefore a free offering of thyself into the hands of God ought to go before all thine actions, if thou desire to obtain liberty and grace.
For this cause so few become free and enlightened, because they do not wholly deny themselves.
My sentence standeth sure, "Unless a man forsake all, he cannot be My disciple." If thou therefore desire to be My disciple, offer up thyself unto Me with thy whole heart.