THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
By
Thomas à Kempis
Translated by Rev.
William Benham
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
II Of lowly submission
CHAPTER
III Of the good, peaceable man
CHAPTER
IV Of a pure mind and simple intention.
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
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
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