The Imitation of Christ

Thomas à Kempis — translated by William Benham (1874), from Project Gutenberg.

The most widely read Christian book after the Bible, written in the houses of the Devotio Moderna and circulating anonymously from about 1420. Four books: admonitions for the spiritual life, admonitions concerning inward things, of inward consolation, and of the sacrament — the last turning from counsel into direct address between Christ and the disciple.

Up: Thomas à Kempis

Contents (114)

1. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 1. Of the imitation of Christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities
2. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 2. Of thinking humbly of oneself
3. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 3. Of the knowledge of truth
4. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 4. Of prudence in action
5. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 5. Of the reading of Holy Scriptures
6. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 6. Of inordinate affections
7. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 7. Of fleeing from vain hope and pride
8. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 8. Of the danger of too much familiarity
9. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 9. Of Obedience and Subjection
10. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 10. Of the danger of superfluity of words
11. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 11. Of seeking peace of mind and of spiritual progress
12. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 12. Of the uses of adversity
13. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 13. Of resisting temptation
14. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 14. On avoiding rash judgment
15. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 15. Of works of charity
16. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 16. Of bearing with the faults of others
17. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 17. Of a Religious life
18. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 18. Of the example of the holy fathers
19. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 19. Of the exercises of a religious man
20. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 20. Of the love of solitude and silence
21. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 21. Of compunction of heart
22. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 22. On the contemplation of human misery
23. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 23. Of meditation upon death
24. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 24. Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked
25. The First Book: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life, Chapter 25. Of the zealous amendment of our whole life
26. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 1. Of the inward life
27. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 2. Of lowly submission
28. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 3. Of the good, peaceable man
29. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 4. Of a pure mind and simple intention
30. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 5. Of self-esteem
31. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 6. Of the joy of a good conscience
32. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 7. Of loving Jesus above all things
33. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 8. Of the intimate love of Jesus
34. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 9. Of the lack of all comfort
35. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 10. Of gratitude for the Grace of God
36. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 11. Of the fewness of those who love the Cross of Jesus
37. The Second Book: Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life, Chapter 12. Of the royal way of the Holy Cross
38. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 1. Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul
39. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 2. What the truth saith inwardly without noise of words
40. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 3. How all the words of God are to be heard with humility, and how many consider them not
41. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 4. How we must walk in truth and humility before God
42. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 5. Of the wonderful power of the Divine Love
43. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 6. Of the proving of the true lover
44. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 7. Of hiding our grace under the guard of humility
45. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 8. Of a low estimation of self in the sight of God
46. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 9. That all things are to be referred to God, as the final end
47. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 10. That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God
48. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 11. That the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed
49. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 12. Of the inward growth of patience, and of the struggle against evil desires
50. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 13. Of the obedience of one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus Christ
51. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 14. Of meditation upon the hidden judgments of God, that we may not be lifted up because of our well-doing
52. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 15. How we must stand and speak, in everything that we desire
53. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 16. That true solace is to be sought in God alone
54. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 17. That all care is to be cast upon God
55. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 18. That temporal miseries are to be borne patiently after the example of Christ
56. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 19. Of bearing injuries, and who shall be approved as truly patient
57. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 20. Of confession of our infirmity and of the miseries of this life
58. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 21. That we must rest in God above all goods and gifts
59. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 22. Of the recollection of God’s manifold benefits
60. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 23. Of four things which bring great peace
61. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 24. Of avoiding of curious inquiry into the life of another
62. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 25. Wherein firm peace of heart and true profit consist
63. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 26. Of the exaltation of a free spirit, which humble prayer more deserveth than doth frequent reading
64. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 27. That personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good
65. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 28. Against the tongues of detractors
66. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 29. How when tribulation cometh we must call upon and bless God
67. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 30. Of seeking divine help, and the confidence of obtaining grace
68. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 31. Of the neglect of every creature, that the Creator may be found
69. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 32. Of self-denial and the casting away all selfishness
70. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 33. Of instability of the heart, and of directing the aim towards God
71. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 34. That to him who loveth God is sweet above all things and in all things
72. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 35. That there is no security against temptation in this life
73. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 36. Against vain judgments of men
74. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 37. Of pure and entire resignation of self, for the obtaining liberty of heart
75. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 38. Of a good government in external things, and of having recourse to God in dangers
76. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 39. That man must not be immersed in business
77. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 40. That man hath no good in himself, and nothing whereof to glory
78. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 41. Of contempt of all temporal honour
79. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 42. That our peace is not to be placed in men
80. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 43. Against vain and worldly knowledge
81. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 44. Of not troubling ourselves about outward things
82. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 45. That we must not believe everyone, and that we are prone to fall in our words
83. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 46. Of having confidence in God when evil words are cast at us
84. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 47. That all troubles are to be endured for the sake of eternal life
85. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 48. Of the day of eternity and of the straitnesses of this life
86. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 49. Of the desire after eternal life, and how great blessings are promised to those who strive
87. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 50. How a desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of God
88. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 51. That we must give ourselves to humble works when we are unequal to those that are lofty
89. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 52. That a man ought not to reckon himself worthy of consolation, but more worthy of chastisement
90. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 53. That the Grace of God doth not join itself to those who mind earthly things
91. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 54. Of the diverse motions of Nature and of Grace
92. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 55. Of the corruption of Nature and the efficacy of Divine Grace
93. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 56. That we ought to deny ourselves, and to imitate Christ by means of the Cross
94. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 57. That a man must not be too much cast down when he falleth into some faults
95. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 58. Of deeper matters, and God’s hidden judgments which are not to be inquired into
96. The Third Book on Inward Consolation, Chapter 59. That all hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone
97. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 1. With how great reverence Christ must be received
98. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 2. That the greatness and charity of God is shown to men in the Sacrament
99. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 3. That it is profitable to Communicate often
100. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 4. That many good gifts are bestowed upon those who Communicate devoutly
101. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 5. Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and of the office of the priest
102. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 6. An inquiry concerning preparation for Communion
103. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 7. Of the examination of conscience, and purpose of amendment
104. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 8. Of the oblation of Christ upon the cross, and of resignation of self
105. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 9. That we ought to offer ourselves and all that is ours to God, and to pray for all
106. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 10. That Holy Communion is not lightly to be omitted
107. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 11. That the Body and Blood of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are most necessary to a faithful soul
108. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 12. That he who is about to Communicate with Christ ought to prepare himself with great diligence
109. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 13. That the devout soul ought with the whole heart to yearn after union with Christ in the Sacrament
110. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 14. Of the fervent desire of certain devout persons to receive the Body and Blood of Christ
111. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 15. That the grace of devotion is acquired by humility and self-denial
112. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 16. That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ and to require His Grace
113. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 17. Of fervent love and vehement desire of receiving Christ
114. The Fourth Book of the Sacrament of the Altar, Chapter 18. That a man should not be a curious searcher of the Sacrament, but a humble imitator of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith