The Imitation of Christ, Book 2: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 9 summary

What happens

1. The speaker distinguishes easy devotion during divine favor from the harder task of loving God without comfort.
2. Laurence’s acceptance of losing Sixtus illustrates choosing devotion to God over attachment to a beloved person.
3. The reader is urged to receive spiritual comfort gratefully and endure its withdrawal without despair.
4. An unnamed worshipper’s prayers and Job’s words show that spiritual favor and testing alternate.
5. The speaker finds patience, self-denial, and acceptance of God’s will more helpful than outward religious comforts.
6. The chapter ends by explaining that consolation strengthens endurance, while temptation checks pride and demands continued readiness.

In this chapter

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