# Of the Imitation of Christ/Book III/Chapter XXIII

CHAPTER XXIII.
OF FOUR THINGS THAT BRING MUCH INWARD PEACE.
OW will I teach thee, my son, the way of peace and of true liberty.
O Lord, I beseech Thee, do as Thou sayest, for this is delightful to me to hear.
Be desirous, My son, to do the will of another rather than thine own. ​Choose always to have less rather than more.
Seek always the lowest place, and to be inferior to every one.
Wish always, and pray, that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee.
Behold, such a man entereth within the borders of peace and rest.
2. O Lord, this short discourse of Thine containeth within itself much perfection.
It is little in words, but full of meaning, and abundant in fruit.
For if it could faithfully be kept by me, I should not be easily disturbed.
For as often as I feel myself unquiet and weighed down, I find I have strayed from this doctrine.
But Thou Who canst do all things, and ever lovest the profiting of my soul, increase in me Thy grace, that I may be able to fulfil Thy words, and to work out mine own salvation.
A Prayer against evil thoughts.
3. O Lord, my God, be not Thou far from me; my God, make haste to help me: for there have risen up against me sundry thoughts, and great fears, afflicting my soul.
How shall I pass through unhurt? how shall I break them to pieces?
"I will go before thee and will humble the great ones of the earth; I will open the doors of the prison, and reveal unto thee hidden secrets."
​Do, O Lord, as Thou sayest, and let all evil thoughts fly from before Thy face.
This is my hope, my one only consolation, to flee unto Thee in every tribulation, to trust in Thee, to call upon Thee, from my inmost heart, and to wait patiently for Thy consolation.
A Prayer for mental Illumination.
4. O merciful Jesus, enlighten Thou me with the clearness of Thine inward light, and take away all darkness from the habitation of my heart.
Repress Thou my many wandering thoughts, and break in pieces those temptations, which so violently assault me.
Fight Thou strongly for me, and vanquish the alluring desires of the flesh; that so peace may be obtained by Thy power, and that Thine abundant praise may resound in a holy temple, that is, in a pure conscience.
Command the winds and tempests; say unto the sea, be still; say to the north wind, blow not; and there shall be a great calm.
5. Send out Thy light and Thy truth, that they may shine upon the earth; for until Thou enlighten me, I am but as earth without form and void.
Pour forth Thy grace from above, wash my heart in Thy heavenly dew, supply fresh streams of devotion to water the face of the earth, that it may bring forth fruit good and excellent.
Lift Thou up my mind which is pressed down by a load of sin, and draw up my whole desire to things heavenly; that having tasted the sweetness of ​celestial happiness, it may be irksome to me even to think of earthly things.
6. Do Thou pluck me away, and deliver me from all the unlasting comfort of this world: for no created thing can fully comfort and quiet my desires.
Join Thou me to Thyself with an inseparable band of love; for Thou, even Thou alone, dost satisfy him that loveth Thee, and without Thee all things are vain.