Classics
The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis, translated by William Benham · about 1418–27 (Benham’s translation 1874)
Four short books of counsel on the inner life: humility, contempt of the world, communion with Christ and the Lord’s Supper.
Reading on more than one device? Sign in and your place in The Imitation of Christ follows you.
Contents
Book I. Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life25 pages
- 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
Book II. Admonitions concerning the Inner Life12 pages
- 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
Book III. On Inward Consolation59 pages
- 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
Book IV. Of the Sacrament of the Altar19 pages
- Introduction
- 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, trans. William Benham (1874). Public domain. Text from Project Gutenberg (eBook #1653).