<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Imitation of Christ&nbsp;by Thomas à Kempis -&nbsp;CHAPTER VIII</h1>
<p class="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Of the intimate love of Jesus</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When Jesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth hard, but when Jesus is not present everything is hard. When Jesus speaketh not within, our comfort is nothing worth, but if Jesus speaketh but a single word great is the comfort we experience. Did not Mary Magdalene rise up quickly from the place where she wept when Martha said to her, The Master is come and calleth for thee?(1) Happy hour when Jesus calleth thee from tears to the joy of the spirit! How dry and hard art thou without Jesus! How senseless and vain if thou desirest aught beyond Jesus! Is not this greater loss than if thou shouldst lose the whole world?</p>
