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Chapter VIII - Of the oblation of Christ upon the cross, and of resignation of
self
The Voice of the Beloved
As I of my own will offered myself unto God the Father on the
Cross for thy sins with outstretched hands and naked body, so
that nothing remained in Me that did not become altogether a
sacrifice for the Divine propitiation; so also oughtest thou
every day to offer thyself willingly unto Me for a pure and holy
oblation with all thy strength and affections, even to the utmost
of thine heart. What more do I require of thee than thou study
to resign thyself altogether to Me? Whatsoever thou givest
besides thyself, I nothing care for, for I ask not thy gift, but
thee.
2. As it would not be sufficient for thee if thou hadst all
things except Me, even so whatsoever thou shalt give Me, if thou
give Me not thyself, it cannot please Me. Offer thyself to Me,
and give thyself altogether for God, so shall thy offering be
accepted. Behold I offered Myself altogether to the Father for
thee, I give also My whole body and blood for food, that thou
mightest remain altogether Mine and I thine. But if thou stand
in thyself, and offer not thyself freely to My will, thy offering
is not perfect, neither shall the union betwixt us be complete.
Therefore ought the freewill offering of thyself into the hands
of God to go before all thy works, if thou wilt attain liberty
and grace. For this is the cause that so few are inwardly
enlightened and made free, that they know not how to deny
themselves entirely. My word standeth sure, Except a man forsake
all, he cannot be My disciple.(1) Thou therefore, if thou wilt
be My disciple, offer thyself to Me with all thy affections.
(1) Luke xiv. 32.
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