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The Imitation of Christ

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Thomas à Kempis
The Imitation of Christ

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Thomas à Kempis

The Imitation of Christ

Four books on the spiritual life, inward devotion, consolation and the Eucharist, in William Benham’s English translation.

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Contents

The First Book · Admonitions Profitable For The Spiritual Life

Chapter I · Of the imitation of Christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities
Chapter Ii · Of thinking humbly of oneself
Chapter Iii · Of the knowledge of truth
Chapter Iv · Of prudence in action
Chapter V · Of the reading of Holy Scriptures
Chapter Vi · Of inordinate affections
Chapter Vii · Of fleeing from vain hope and pride
Chapter Viii · Of the danger of too much familiarity
Chapter Ix · Of Obedience and Subjection
Chapter X · Of the danger of superfluity of words
Chapter Xi · Of seeking peace of mind and of spiritual progress
Chapter Xii · Of the uses of adversity
Chapter Xiii · Of resisting temptation
Chapter Xiv · On avoiding rash judgment
Chapter Xv · Of works of charity
Chapter Xvi · Of bearing with the faults of others
Chapter Xvii · Of a Religious life
Chapter Xviii · Of the example of the holy fathers
Chapter Xix · Of the exercises of a religious man
Chapter Xx · Of the love of solitude and silence
Chapter Xxi · Of compunction of heart
Chapter Xxii · On the contemplation of human misery
Chapter Xxiii · Of meditation upon death
Chapter Xxiv · Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked
Chapter Xxv · Of the zealous amendment of our whole life

The Second Book · Admonitions Concerning The Inner Life

Chapter I · Of the inward life
Chapter Ii · Of lowly submission
Chapter Iii · Of the good, peaceable man
Chapter Iv · Of a pure mind and simple intention
Chapter V · Of self-esteem
Chapter Vi · Of the joy of a good conscience
Chapter Vii · Of loving Jesus above all things
Chapter Viii · Of the intimate love of Jesus
Chapter Ix · Of the lack of all comfort
Chapter X · Of gratitude for the Grace of God
Chapter Xi · Of the fewness of those who love the Cross of Jesus
Chapter Xii · Of the royal way of the Holy Cross

The Third Book · On Inward Consolation

Chapter I · Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul
Chapter Ii · What the truth saith inwardly without noise of words
Chapter Iii · How all the words of God are to be heard with humility, and how many consider them not
Chapter Iv · How we must walk in truth and humility before God
Chapter V · Of the wonderful power of the Divine Love
Chapter Vi · Of the proving of the true lover
Chapter Vii · Of hiding our grace under the guard of humility
Chapter Viii · Of a low estimation of self in the sight of God
Chapter Ix · That all things are to be referred to God, as the final end
Chapter X · That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God
Chapter Xi · That the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed
Chapter Xii · Of the inward growth of patience, and of the struggle against evil desires
Chapter Xiii · Of the obedience of one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus Christ
Chapter Xiv · Of meditation upon the hidden judgments of God, that we may not be lifted up because of our well-doing
Chapter Xv · How we must stand and speak, in everything that we desire
Chapter Xvi · That true solace is to be sought in God alone
Chapter Xvii · That all care is to be cast upon God
Chapter Xviii · That temporal miseries are to be borne patiently after the example of Christ
Chapter Xix · Of bearing injuries, and who shall be approved as truly patient
Chapter Xx · Of confession of our infirmity and of the miseries of this life
Chapter Xxi · That we must rest in God above all goods and gifts
Chapter Xxii · Of the recollection of God’s manifold benefits
Chapter Xxiii · Of four things which bring great peace
Chapter Xxiv · Of avoiding of curious inquiry into the life of another
Chapter Xxv · Wherein firm peace of heart and true profit consist
Chapter Xxvi · Of the exaltation of a free spirit, which humble prayer more deserveth than doth frequent reading
Chapter Xxvii · That personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good
Chapter Xxviii · Against the tongues of detractors
Chapter Xxix · How when tribulation cometh we must call upon and bless God
Chapter Xxx · Of seeking divine help, and the confidence of obtaining grace
Chapter Xxxi · Of the neglect of every creature, that the Creator may be found
Chapter Xxxii · Of self-denial and the casting away all selfishness
Chapter Xxxiii · Of instability of the heart, and of directing the aim towards God
Chapter Xxxiv · That to him who loveth God is sweet above all things and in all things
Chapter Xxxv · That there is no security against temptation in this life
Chapter Xxxvi · Against vain judgments of men
Chapter Xxxvii · Of pure and entire resignation of self, for the obtaining liberty of heart
Chapter Xxxviii · Of a good government in external things, and of having recourse to God in dangers
Chapter Xxxix · That man must not be immersed in business
Chapter Xl · That man hath no good in himself, and nothing whereof to glory
Chapter Xli · Of contempt of all temporal honour
Chapter Xlii · That our peace is not to be placed in men
Chapter Xliii · Against vain and worldly knowledge
Chapter Xliv · Of not troubling ourselves about outward things
Chapter Xlv · That we must not believe everyone, and that we are prone to fall in our words
Chapter Xlvi · Of having confidence in God when evil words are cast at us
Chapter Xlvii · That all troubles are to be endured for the sake of eternal life
Chapter Xlviii · Of the day of eternity and of the straitnesses of this life
Chapter Xlix · Of the desire after eternal life, and how great blessings are promised to those who strive
Chapter L · How a desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of God
Chapter Li · That we must give ourselves to humble works when we are unequal to those that are lofty
Chapter Lii · That a man ought not to reckon himself worthy of consolation, but more worthy of chastisement
Chapter Liii · That the Grace of God doth not join itself to those who mind earthly things
Chapter Liv · Of the diverse motions of Nature and of Grace
Chapter Lv · Of the corruption of Nature and the efficacy of Divine Grace
Chapter Lvi · That we ought to deny ourselves, and to imitate Christ by means of the Cross
Chapter Lvii · That a man must not be too much cast down when he falleth into some faults
Chapter Lviii · Of deeper matters, and God’s hidden judgments which are not to be inquired into
Chapter Lix · That all hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone

The Fourth Book · Of The Sacrament Of The Altar

Chapter I · With how great reverence Christ must be received
Chapter Ii · That the greatness and charity of God is shown to men in the Sacrament
Chapter Iii · That it is profitable to Communicate often
Chapter Iv · That many good gifts are bestowed upon those who Communicate devoutly
Chapter V · Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and of the office of the priest
Chapter Vi · An inquiry concerning preparation for Communion
Chapter Vii · Of the examination of conscience, and purpose of amendment
Chapter Viii · Of the oblation of Christ upon the cross, and of resignation of self
Chapter Ix · That we ought to offer ourselves and all that is ours to God, and to pray for all
Chapter X · That Holy Communion is not lightly to be omitted
Chapter Xi · That the Body and Blood of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are most necessary to a faithful soul
Chapter Xii · That he who is about to Communicate with Christ ought to prepare himself with great diligence
Chapter Xiii · That the devout soul ought with the whole heart to yearn after union with Christ in the Sacrament
Chapter Xiv · Of the fervent desire of certain devout persons to receive the Body and Blood of Christ
Chapter Xv · That the grace of devotion is acquired by humility and self-denial
Chapter Xvi · That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ and to require His Grace
Chapter Xvii · Of fervent love and vehement desire of receiving Christ
Chapter Xviii · That a man should not be a curious searcher of the Sacrament, but a humble imitator of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith

Thomas à Kempis · The Imitation of Christ · English translation by William Benham, 1874. Historical translation in the public domain. Source edition · Read in German.

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