Rent 9780140440270 | The Imitation of Christ | Kempis, Thomas a (Author); Sherley-Price, Leo (Translator); Sherley-Price, Leo (Introduction by) @knetbooks.com

Summary Table of Contents Author Biography

After the bible, this is the touchstone and probably the best-loved book of Christianity. Its author, Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), had a wide knowledge of the Scriptures and classical philosophy, and although most of his life was spent in a Dutch monastery, he also possessed a deep understanding of human nature. His acquired wisdom convinced him of man's complete dependence on God's love and the empty futility of life without it. The book has exercised a profound influence for over 500 years, and Thomas More, Ignatius Loyola and John Wesley are among the many who have acknowledged their debt to it. Book jacket.

Introduction	p. 11
The Chapters of the First Book: Counsels on the Spiritual Life
On the Imitation of Christ	p. 27
On Personal Humility	p. 28
On the Teaching of Truth	p. 30
On Prudence in Action	p. 32
On Reading the Holy Scriptures	p. 33
On Control of the Desires	p. 33
On Avoiding Vain Hope and Conceit	p. 34
... MOREOn Guarding against Familiarity	p. 35
On Obedience and Discipline	p. 36
On Avoiding Talkativeness	p. 36
On Peace, and Spiritual Progress	p. 37
On the Uses of Adversity	p. 39
On Resisting Temptations	p. 40
On Avoiding Rash Judgements	p. 42
On Deeds Inspired by Love	p. 43
On Bearing with the Faults of Others	p. 44
On the Monastic Life	p. 45
On the Examples of the Holy Fathers	p. 46
On the Practices of a Good Religious	p. 48
On the Love of Solitude and Silence	p. 50
On Contrition of Heart	p. 53
On Human Misery	p. 55
A Meditation on Death	p. 57
On Judgement, and the Punishment of Sinners	p. 60
On the Zealous Amendment of our Life	p. 63
The Chapters of the Second Book: Counsels on the Inner Life
On the Inner Life	p. 67
On Humble Submission to God	p. 70
On the Good and Peaceful Man	p. 70
On Purity of Mind and Simplicity of Purpose	p. 72
On Knowing Ourselves	p. 73
On the Joys of a Good Conscience	p. 74
On Loving Jesus above all Things	p. 75
On Close Friendship with Jesus	p. 76
On the Lack of all Comfort	p. 78
On Gratitude for God's Grace	p. 81
On the Few Lovers of the Cross of Jesus	p. 83
On the Royal Road of the Holy Cross	p. 84
The Chapters of the Third Book: On Inward Consolation
How Christ Speaks Inwardly to the Soul	p. 91
How Truth Instructs us in Silence	p. 92
On Humble Attention to God's Word	p. 93
On Truth and Humility	p. 95
On the Wonderful Effect of Divine Love	p. 97
On the Proof of a True Lover	p. 99
On Concealing Grace under Humility	p. 101
On Humility in the Sight of God	p. 103
How God Alone is our True End	p. 104
On the Joy of God's Service	p. 105
On Control of the Heart	p. 107
On Learning Patience	p. 108
On Obedience, after the Example of Christ	p. 110
On the Secret Judgements of God	p. 111
On the Ordering of our Desires	p. 112
How True Comfort is to be Sought in God Alone	p. 114
How we must put our Whole Trust in God	p. 115
How Sorrows are to be Borne Patiently	p. 116
On Enduring Injuries, and the Proof of Patience	p. 117
On our own Weakness, and the Trials of This Life	p. 118
How we must Rest in God Alone above all Things	p. 120
On Being Mindful of God's Blessings	p. 122
On Four Things that Bring Peace	p. 124
On the Evils of Curiosity	p. 126
On Lasting Peace and True Progress	p. 127
On the Excellence of a Free Mind	p. 128
How Self-Love Hinders our Search for God	p. 130
Against Slander	p. 131
How we should Bless God in all Trouble	p. 132
On Asking God's Help, and the Certainty of his Grace	p. 133
On Forsaking Creatures to Find the Creator	p. 135
On Self-Denial, and Renunciation of our Desires	p. 137
On Inconstancy of Heart	p. 138
On God's Graciousness to Those who Love Him	p. 139
How There is no Security from Temptation	p. 140
Against the Vain Judgements of Men	p. 142
How Surrender of Self Brings Freedom of Heart	p. 143
On the Right Ordering of our Affairs	p. 144
How we should not be Over Anxious	p. 145
How Man has no Personal Goodness of which to Boast	p. 146
On Contempt for Worldly Honours	p. 147
That our Peace cannot Depend on Man	p. 148
A Warning against Vain and Worldly Learning	p. 149
On Avoiding Distractions	p. 150
How we should not Believe all we Hear	p. 151
On Putting our Entire Trust in God	p. 153
How Burdens must be Borne to win Eternal Life	p. 155
On Eternity, and the Limitations of This Life	p. 156
On the Desire for Eternal Life, and the Wonder of God's Promises	p. 159
On Trust in God in all Trouble	p. 162
How when we Lack Strength for Higher Work we should Undertake Humble Tasks	p. 165
How no Man is Worthy of God's Comfort	p. 165
How God's Grace is not Granted to the Worldly-Minded	p. 167
On the Contrary Workings of Nature and Grace	p. 168
On the Corruption of Nature, and the Power of Grace	p. 171
How we must Follow Christ's Way of the Cross in Self-Denial	p. 174
That we should never Despair	p. 175
How we may not Inquire into the Unsearchable Judgements of God	p. 177
That we should Hope and Trust in God Alone	p. 180
The Chapters of the Fourth Book: On the Blessed Sacrament
On the Deep Reverence with which Christ should be Received	p. 183
On the Great Goodness and Love of God in this Sacrament	p. 187
On the Value of Frequent Communion	p. 190
On the Many Blessings Granted to the Devout Communicant	p. 192
On the Dignity of the Sacrament, and of the Priestly Office	p. 194
On Preparation for Communion	p. 196
On Self-Examination, and the Purpose of Amendment	p. 196
On the Offering of Christ on the Cross	p. 198
How we must Offer Ourselves wholly to God, and Pray for all Men	p. 199
That Holy Communion is not to be Lightly Foregone	p. 201
How the Body of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are most Necessary to the Faithful Soul	p. 204
On the Need for Careful Preparation to Receive Christ in Holy Communion	p. 207
How the Devout Soul should Sincerely Desire Union with Christ in his Sacrament	p. 209
On Ardent Desire for the Body of Christ	p. 210
How Devotion is Won by Humility and Self-Denial	p. 211
How we should Declare our Needs to Christ, and Ask his Grace	p. 213
On Ardent Love and Eager Desire to Receive Christ	p. 214
How we should Approach Christ's Sacrament Humbly, Submitting Reason to Holy Faith	p. 216
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Born in 1379, Thomas Haemerken was but thirteen when he left his home in Cologne to further his schooling in Holland. Informed upon his arrival that his older brother, who had gone on before, had entered a monastic order, Thomas followed suit entering the order of The Common Life. Upon entry he took no vows, yet chose on his own to live a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Well-loved and respected by all, he was promoted within the order on more than one occasion. Those who knew him spoke often of his love for reading, writing, and prayer. Though considered a man of few words, he was known to express his thoughts quite passionately when conversations turned to matters of the soul. Both the impression he left behind and the power of his writings are revered to this day by people of faith.

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