The follovving of Christ. Deuided into foure bookes. Written in Latin by the learned and deuout man Thomas a Kempis chanon-regular of the Order of S. Augustine. And translated into English by B. F.

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Title:	The follovving of Christ. Deuided into foure bookes. Written in Latin by the learned and deuout man Thomas a Kempis chanon-regular of the Order of S. Augustine. And translated into English by B. F.
Print source:	The follovving of Christ. Deuided into foure bookes. Written in Latin by the learned and deuout man Thomas a Kempis chanon-regular of the Order of S. Augustine. And translated into English by B. F. Hoskins, Anthony, 1568-1615,, Thomas, 1380-1471, [Saint-Omer: English College Press], 1613.
Alternate titles:	Following of Christ.
Notes:	Imitatio Christi. English. The traditional attribution to Thomas aá Kempis is disputed. A translation, by Anthony Hoskins, of: Imitatio Christi. B.F. = Anthony Hoskins. Place of publication and publisher from STC. Signatures: * A-Y Z. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.
Subject terms:	Meditations -- Early works to 1800. Christian life -- Early works to 1800.
URL:	https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A13693.0001.001
How to cite:	For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents

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TO THE HONOVRABLE AND VERTVOVS ELIZABETH VAVX Mother to the LORD Harrodowne.

A TABLE Of the Chapters of this ensuing Booke.

THE FIRST BOOKE.

THE SECOND BOOKE.

THE THIRD BOOKE.

THE FOVRTH BOOKE.

OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST.

THE FIRST BOOKE.

CHAP. I. Of the imitation of Christ, and con∣tempt of all the vanities of the world.

CHAP. II. Of the humble conceipt of our selues.

CHAP. III. Of the doctrine of Truth.

CHAP. IV. Of Prudence, and Foresight in our actions.

CHAP. V. Of the reading of holy Scriptures.

CHAP. VI. Of inordinate desires, and affections.

CHAP. VII. Of flying vaine Hope, and Pride.

CHAP. VIII. That too much familiarity is to be shunned.

CHAP. IX. Of Obedience, and Subiection.

CHAP. X. Of the auoyding superfluity of words.

CHAP. XI. Of the obteyning of peace, and zeale of spirituall profit.

CHAP. XII. Of the profit of Aduersity.

CHAP. XIII. Of resisting Temptations.

CHAP. XIV. Of auoyding rash Iudgement.

CHAP. XV. Of VVorkes done of Charity.

CHAP. XVI. Of bearing with the defects of others.

CHAP. XVII. Of Religious life.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the examples of the holy Fathers.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Exercise of a good, and Religious person.

CHAP. XX. Of the loue of Solitude, and Silence.

CHAP. XXI. Of Compunction of hart.

CHAP. XXII. Of the consideration of humane misery.

CHAP. XXIII. Of the consideration of death.

CHAP. XXIV. Of Iudgment, and the punish∣ment of sinne.

CHAP. XXV. Of the seruent amendment of our whole life.

OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST. THE SECOND BOOKE.

CHAP. I. Of spirituall conuersation.

CHAP. II. Of humble submission.

CHAP. III. Of a good and peaceable man.

CHAP. IIII. Of a pure mind and vpright intention.

CHAP. V. Of the consideration of ones selfe.

CHAP. VI. Of the comfort of a good Conscience.

CHAP. VII. Of the loue of IESVS aboue all things.

CHAP. VIII. Of familiar conuersation with IESVS.

CHAP. IX. Of the want of all comfort.

CHAP. X. Of thankefulnesse for the Grace of God.

CHAP. XI. How few the louers of the Crosse of Christ are.

CHAP. XII. Of the high way of the holy Crosse.

OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST. THE THIRD BOOKE.

CHAP. I. Of the inward speach of Christ vn∣to a saithfull soule.

CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardely without noyse of VVordes.

CHAP. III. That the wordes of God are to be heard with humility, and that many weigh them not.

CHAP. IIII. That we ought to line in truth and humility in the sight of God.

CHAP. V. Of the wonderfull effect of di∣ume grace.

CHAP. VI. Of the proofe of a true Louer.

CHAP. VII. That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humility.

CHAP. VIII. Of a meane conceipt of our selues in the sight of God.

CHAP. IX. That all things are to be reserred vnto God, as vnto the last end.

CHAP. X. That despising the world, it is sweet to serue God.

CHAP. XI. That the desires of our hart are to be examined & moderated.

CHAP. XII. Of the effect of Patience, and of strise against Concupi∣scence.

CHAP. XIII. Of the humble obedience of a sub∣iect, according to the ex∣ample of Christ.

CHAP. XIIII. Of the secret Iudgments of God to be considered, least we be extolled in our good deeds.

CHAP. XV. VVhat we ought to do, and say in e∣uery thing which we desire.

CHAP. XVI. That true comfort is to be sought in God alone.

CHAP. XVII. That all our care is to be placed in God.

CHAP. XVIII. That temporall miseries, by the example of Christ, are to be borne patiently.

CHAP. XIX. Of suffering of iniuries, and who is proued to be truly patient.

CHAP. XX. Of the acknowledging of our owne infirmity: and of the mi∣series of this life.

CHAP. XXI. That we are to rest in God a∣boue all his gifts.

CHAP. XXII. Of the remembrance of the ma∣nifould benefits of God.

CHAP. XXIII. Of soure thinges that bring much peace.

CHAP. XXIIII. Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others.

CHAP. XXV. VVherin doth the firme peace of the hart, and true profit consist.

CHAP. XXVI. Of the excellency of a free mind, which humble prayer better deserueth, then reading.

CHAP. XXVII. That priuate loue most hindreth from the chiefest good.

CHAP. XXVIII. Against the tongue of Slaunderers.

CHAP. XXIX. How we ought to call vpon God, and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere.

CHAP. XXX. Of crauing the diuine aide, and con∣fidence of recouering grace.

CHAP. XXXI. Of the contempt of all creatures to find our Creatour.

CHAP. XXXII. Of the denrall of our selues, and for∣saking all our affections.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of Inconstancy of hart, and of directing our finall intenti∣ons vnto God.

CHAP. XXXIIII. That God is sweet aboue all things, and in all thinges to him that loueth.

CHAP. XXXV. That there is no security from tem∣ptation in this life.

CHAP. XXXVI. Against the vaine Iudgments of men.

CHAP. XXXVII. Of a full and pure resignation of our selues for the obtayning free∣dome of heart.

CHAP. XXXVIII. Of good gouernment in outward things, and of recourse to God in dangers.

CHAP. XXXIX. That a man be not ouer earnest in his affaires.

CHAP. XL. That man hath no good of himsefe, nor anything whereof he can glory.

CHAP. XLI. Of the contempt of all temporall honours.

CHAP. XLII. That our peace is not to be pla∣ced in men.

CHAP. XLIII. Against vaine and secular knowledge.

CHAP. XLIIII. Of not drawing outward things to our selues.

CHAP. XLV. That credit is not to be giuen to all men: and how prone man is to offend in words.

CHAP. XLVI. Of putting our trust in God, when euill words arise.

CHAP. XLVII. That all grieuous thinges are to be en∣dured for life euerlasting.

CHAP. XLVIII. Of the euerlasting day, and shortnesse of this life.

CHAP. XLIX. Of the desire of euerlasting life, & how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly.

CHAP. L. How a desolate person ought to offer himselfe into the hands of God.

CHAP. LI. That a man ought to imploy himselfe in workes of humility, when force is wanting for high∣er exercises.

CHAP. LII. That a man ought not to esteeme him∣selfe vnworthy of comfort, and to haue deserued stripes.

CHAP. LIII. That the grace of God is not giuen to those that sauour of earthly things.

CHAP. LIV. Of the different motions of Nature and Grace.

CHAP. LV. Of the corruption of nature & effica∣cy of diuine grace.

CHAP. LVI. That we ought to deny our selues, and imitate Christ, by the Crosse.

CHAP. LVII. That a man be not too much de∣iected, when he falleth into some defects.

CHAP. LVIII. Of not searching into high matters, & into the secret iudgments of God.

CHAP. LIX. That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone.

OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST. THE FOVRTH BOOKE.

CHAP. I. VVith how great reuerence Christ ought to be receaued.

CHAP. II. That great goodnesse and charity of God is bestowed vpon man in this Sacrament.

CHAP. III. That it is profitable to communi∣cate often.

CHAP. IIII. That many benefits are bestowed vpon them that communi∣cate deuoutly.

CHAP. V. Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and Priestly sunction.

CHAP. VI. An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion.

CHAP. VII. Of the discussing of our owne conscience, and purpose of amendment.

CHAP. VIII. Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse and resignation of our selues.

CHAP. IX. That we ought to offer vp our selues & all that is ours vnto God, and to pray for all.

CHAP. X. That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne.

CHAP. XI. That the Body of Christ, and the holy Scripture are most necessary vnto a faythfull soule.

CHAP. XII. That he that is to communicate, ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence.

CHAP. XIII. That a deuout soule ought to desire with her whole hart to be vnited vnto Christ in the Sacrament.

CHAP. XIIII. Of the feruent desire of some deuout persons to receaue the Body of Christ.

CHAP. XV. That the grace of deuotion is obtayned by humility and deny all of our selues.

CHAP. XVI. That we ought to manifest our ne∣cessities vnto Christ, and to craue his grace.

CHAP. XVII. Of burning loue & vehement de∣sire to receaue Christ.

CHAP. XVIII. That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacrament, but an humble follower of Christ, submit∣ting his sense vnto faith.