IMITATION OF CHRIST

TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC. | 1418 | Thomas à Kempis, Translated by Rev. Richard Challoner, D.D. from the Original Latin

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Chapter 1

Of the Imitation of Christ, and the Contempt of All the Vanities of the World

"HE that followeth me, walketh not in darkness," saith Our Lord. (John 8:12).These are the words of Christ, by which we are admonished, that we must imitate His life and manners, if we would be truly enlightened, and delivered from all blindness of heart.

Let it then be our chief study to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ.

(John 8:12 Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world. He that followeth me walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.)

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Practical Reflections

The thoughts of man, says the Scripture, are vain and useless, if, in them, he does not apply his mind to know and to love God, to forget and to hate himself.

The simple and lively faith of a soul which believes all that God teaches, without examination or hesitation, and performs all that He requires for the attainment of salvation, is preferable to all divine and human sciences, which of themselves, without such a faith, only fill the mind with pride, leave the heart dry, and avail naught for salvation.

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Prayer

Moderate, O Jesus, my eagerness to know so much, and correct my negligence in doing so little for salvation, since Thou wilt not judge me according to what I have known, but by what I have done, or neglected to do, to obtain it.

Can I apply my thoughts to know Thee throughly, and not admire and love Thee?

and can I truly know myself, and not despise and hate myself?

O life unknown! life hidden in Jesus Christ, in God!

what an excellent means art thou of sanctification and salvation, yet how little art thou practiced amongst Christians!

Grant, O Lord, that all may know, esteem, and love it, and be directed by it.

Amen.

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Chapter 3

Of the Doctrine of Truth

Happy is he whom Truth teacheth by itself, not by figures and words that pass, but as it is in itself.(Ps. 17:36; Is. 28:26).

Our opinion and our sense often deceive us, and discover but little.

What availeth a great dispute about abstruse and obscure matters, for not knowing which we shall not be questioned at the Day of Judgment?

It is a great folly for us to neglect things profitable and necessary, and willingly to busy ourselves about those which are curious and hurtful.

We have eyes and see not.(Ps. 115:5).

(Psalms 17:36 And thou hast given me the protection of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath held me up: And thy discipline hath corrected me unto the end: and thy discipline, the same shall teach me.)

(Isaias 28:26 For he will instruct him in judgment: his God will teach him.)

(Psalms 113:5 They have mouths and speak not: they have eyes and see not.)

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2. And what need we concern ourselves about terms of philosophy?

He to whom the eternal Word speaketh, is set at liberty from a multitude of opinions.

From one word are all things, and this one all things speak; and this is the beginning which also speaketh to us.

Without this word, no one understands or judges rightly.

He to whom all things are one, and who draws all things to one, and who sees all things in one, may be steady in heart, and peaceably repose in God.(1 Corinthians 2:2 For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ.)

O Truth! my God, make me one with Thee in eternal love.(John 17:21 That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.)

I am wearied with often reading and hearing many things; in Thee is all that I will or desire.

Let all teachers hold their peace; let all creatures be silent in Thy sight; speak Thou alone to me.