The Imitation of Christ

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 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

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 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