AGAINST VAIN JUDGMENTS OF MEN “My Son, anchor your soul firmly upon God, and fear not man's judgments, when conscience pronounces you pious and innocent. It is good and blessed thus to suffer; nor will it be grievous to the heart which is humble, and which trusts in God more than in itself. Many men [...]
Category: The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis, tr. by William Benham, 1886
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxxv (that there is no security against temptation in this life)
THAT THERE IS NO SECURITY AGAINST TEMPTATION IN THIS LIFE “My Son, you are never secure in this life, but your spiritual armor will always be needful for you as long as you live. You dwell among foes, and are attacked on the right hand and on the left. If therefore you use not, on [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxxiv (that to him who loves God is sweet above all things and in all things)
THAT TO HIM WHO LOVES GOD IS SWEET ABOVE ALL THINGS AND IN ALL THINGS Behold, God is mine, and all things are mine! What will I more; and what more happy thing can I desire? O delightsome and sweet world, that is, to him that loves the Word, not the world, neither the things [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxxiii (instability of the heart and of directing the aim towards God)
OF INSTABILITY OF THE HEART AND OF DIRECTING THE AIM TOWARDS GOD “” My Son, trust not your feeling, for that which is now, will be quickly changed into somewhat else. As long as you live, you are subject to change, howsoever unwilling; so that you are found now joyful, now sad; now at peace, [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxxii (self-denial and the casting away all selfishness)
OF SELF-DENIAL AND THE CASTING AWAY ALL SELFISHNESS “” My Son, you cannot possess perfect liberty unless you altogether deny yourself. All they are enslaved who are possessors of riches, they who love themselves, the selfish, the curious, the restless; those who ever seek after soft things and not after the things of Jesus Christ; [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxxi (the neglect of every creature that the creator may be found)
OF THE NEGLECT OF EVERY CREATURE THAT THE CREATOR MAY BE FOUND “O Lord, I still need more grace if I would arrive where neither man nor any other creature may hinder me. For so long as anything keeps me back, I cannot freely fly unto You. He desired eagerly thus to fly, who cried, [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxx (seeking divine help and the confidence of obtaining peace)
OF SEEKING DIVINE HELP AND THE CONFIDENCE OF OBTAINING GRACE “” My Son, I the Lord am a stronghold in the day of trouble, (Nahum 1:7). Come unto Me, when it is not well with you. “This it is, which chiefly hinders heavenly consolation, that you too slowly betake yourself unto prayer. For before you [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxix (how when tribulation comes, we must call upon and bless God)
HOW WHEN TRIBULATION COMES, WE MUST CALL UPON AND BLESS GOD “Blessed be your name, O Lord, forevermore, who has willed this temptation and trouble to come upon me. I cannot escape it, but have need to flee unto You, that You may succour me and turn it unto me for good. Lord, now am [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxviii (against the tongues of detractors)
AGAINST THE TONGUES OF DETRACTORS “My Son, take it not sadly to heart, if any think ill of you, and say of you what you are unwilling to hear. You ought to think worse of yourself, and to believe no man weaker than yourself. If you walk inwardly, you will not weigh flying words above [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 3rd book: chapter xxvii (that personal love greatly hinders from the highest good)
THAT PERSONAL LOVE GREATLY HINDERS FROM THE HIGHEST GOOD “My Son, you must give all for all, and be nothing of your own. Know you that the love of yourself is more hurtful to you than anything in the world. According to the love and inclination which you have, everything more or less cleaves to [...]
