The Christians pattern, or A divine treatise of the imitation of Christ. Written originally in Latin, by Thomas of Kempis, above 200. years since. Faithfully Englished. And printed in a large character for the benefit of the aged

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Title:	The Christians pattern, or A divine treatise of the imitation of Christ. Written originally in Latin, by Thomas of Kempis, above 200. years since. Faithfully Englished. And printed in a large character for the benefit of the aged
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Print source:	The Christians pattern, or A divine treatise of the imitation of Christ. Written originally in Latin, by Thomas of Kempis, above 200. years since. Faithfully Englished. And printed in a large character for the benefit of the aged Thomas, à Kempis, 1380-1471, attributed name., Worthington, John, 1618-1671. London: printed by Richard Wellington, at the sign of the Lute in St. Pauls Church-Yard, 1695.
Alternate titles:	Imitatio Christi. English.
Subject terms:	Thomas, -- à Kempis, 1380-1471 -- Early works to 1800. Jesus Christ -- Example -- Early works to 1800. Devotional literature -- Early works to 1800. Christian life -- Early works to 1800. Meditations -- Early works to 1800.
URL:	https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A64529.0001.001
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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title page

The Contents of the Chapters.

The First Book. CHAP. I.

The Second Book CHAP. I

The Third Book. CHAP. I.

The Fourth Book. CHAP, I.

THE FIRST BOOK.

CHAP. I. Of the Imitation of Christ, and contempt of all wordly vanities.

CHAP. II. Of the humble conceit of our selves.

CHAP. III. Of the doctrine of truth.

CHAP. IV. Of wisdom and providence in our actions.

CHAP. V. Of the reading of holy Scriptures.

CHAP. VI. Of inordinate affections.

CHAP. VII. Of flying vain hope and pride.

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

CHAP. IX. Of obedience and subjection.

CHAP. X. Of the avoiding superfluity in words.

CHAP. XI. Of the obtaining of peace, and zealous desire of profit in grace.

CHAP. XII. Of the profit of adversity.

CHAP. XIII. Of resisting temptations.

CHAP. XIV. Of avoiding rash judgment.

CHAP. XV. Of works done of Charity.

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

CHAP. XVII. Of a retired 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 love of solitude and silence.

CHAP. XXI. Of compunction of heart.

CHAP. XXII. Of the consideration of humane misery.

CHAP. XXIII. Of the meditation of Death.

CHAP. XXIV. Of Iudgment, and the punishment of Sins.

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

THE SECOND BOOK.

CHAP. I. Of the inward Life.

CHAP. II. Of humble submission.

CHAP. III. Of a good and peaceable Man.

CHAP. IV. Of a pure mind, and upright intention.

CHAP. V Of the consideration of ones self.

CHAP. VI. Of the joy of a good conscience.

CHAP. VII. Of the love of Iesus above all things.

CHAP. VIII. Of familiar conversation with Iesus.

CHAP. IX. Of the want of all comfort.

CHAP. X. Of thankfulness for the grace of God.

CHAP. XI. How few the lovers of the Cross of Christ are.

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

THE THIRD BOOK.

CHAP. 1. Of the inward Speech of Christ unto a Faith∣ful Soul.

CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words.

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

A prayer to implore the grace of devotion.

CHAP. IV. That we ought to live in truth and humili∣ty before God.

CHAP. V. Of the wonderful effect of divine Love.

CHAP: VI. Of the proof of a true Lover.

CHAP. VII. That grace is to be hid under the veil of Humility.

CHAP. VIII. Of a mean conceit of our selves in the sight of God.

CHAP. IX. That all things are to be referred unto God, as unto the last end.

CHAP. X. That the World being despised, it is a sweet thing to serve God.

CHAP. XI. That the desires of our heart are to be exami∣ned and moderated.

CHAP. XII. Of patience, and of striving against conou∣piscence.

CHAP. XIII. Of the humble obedience of a Subject, accord∣ing to the example of Christ.

CHAP. XIV. Of the secret Iudgments of God to be consider∣ed, lest we be exalted in our good deeds.

CHAP. XV. How we are to stand affected, and what we are to say, in every thing which we desire.

A Prayer for the fulfilling of the will of God.

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 temporal miseries after the example of Christ, must be born patiently.

CHAP. XIX. Of suffering of injuries: and who is proved to be truly patient.

CHAP. XX. Of the acknowledging of our own infirmities: and of the miseries of this life.

CHAP. XXI. That we are to rest in God above all his gifts, and benefits.

CHAP. XXII. Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God.

CHAP. XXIII. Of Four things that bring much peace.

A Prayer against evil thoughts.

A Prayer for enlightning of the Mind.

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

CHAP. XXV. Wherein the firm peace of the heart, and true spiritual profiting consisteth?

CHAP. XXVI. Of the excellency of a free mind, which hum∣ble Prayer sooner gaineth than Reading.

CHAP. XXVII. That private Love most hindreth from the chiefest Good.

A Prayer for purging the heart, and obtain∣ing of Heavenly wisdom.

CHAP. XXVIII. Against the Tongues of Slanderers.

CHAP. XXIX. How we ought to call upon God, and bless him when tribulation draweth near.

CHAP. XXX. Of craving the divine aid, and confidence of recovering grace.

CHAP. XXXI. Of the contempt of all creatures, to find out the Creator.

CHAP. XXXII. Of denial of our selves, and forsaking all inor∣dinate desires.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of inconstancy of heart, and of directing our final intentions unto God.

CHAP. XXXIV. That God is sweet, above all things, and in all things, to him that loveth.

CHAP. XXXV That there is no security from temptation in this life.

CHAP. XXXVI. Against the vain judgments of Men.

CHAP. XXXVII. Of a full and pure resignation of our selves, for the obtaining freedom of heart.

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

CHAP. XXXIX. That a Man be not over-earnest in his affairs.

CHAP. XL. That Man hath no good of himself nor any thing whereof he can glory.

CHAP. XLI. Of the contempt of all temporal honors.

CHAP. XLII. That our peace is not to be placed in Men.

CHAP. XLIII. Against vain and secular knowledg.

CHAP. XLIV. Of not drawing outward things to our selves.

CHAP. XLV. That credit is not to be given to all Men: and how prone Man is to offend in words.

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

CHAP. XLVII. That all grievous things are to be endured for life everlasting.

CHAP. XLVIII. Of the everlasting day, and shortness of this life.

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

CHAP. L. How a disconsolate person ought to offer him∣self into the hands of God.

CHAP. LI. That a Man ought to imploy himself in works of humility, when strength is want∣ing for higher imployments.

CHAP. LII. That a Man ought to esteem himself not worthy of comfort, but rather to deserve stripes.

CHAP. LIII. That the grace of God doth not joyn it self with those that savor of Earthly things.

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

CHAP. LV. Of the corruption of Nature, and efficacy of divine Grace.

CHAP. LVI. That we ought to deny our selves, and imitate Christ by the Cross.

CHAP. LVII. That a Man be not too much dejected, when he falleth into some defects.

CHAP. LVIII. Of not searching into high matters and into the secret judgments of God.

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

THE FOURTH BOOK. A devout Exhortation unto the holy Com∣munion.

CHAP. I. With how great reverence Christ ought to be received.

CHAP. II. That the great goodness and love of God is exhibited to Man in this Sacrament.

CHAP. III. That it is profitable to communicate often.

CHAP. IV. That many benefits are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly.

CHAP. V. Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and Ministe∣rial function.

CHAP. VI. An interrogation of the exercise before Com∣munion.

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

CHAP. VIII. Of the oblation of Christ on the Cross and re∣signation of our selves.

CHAP. IX. That we ought to offer up our selves, and all that is ours unto God, and to pray for all.

CHAP. X. That the holy communion is not lightly to be forborn.

CHAP. XI. That the Body of Christ, and the holy Scrip∣tures, are most necessary unto a faithful soul.

CHAP. XII. That he who is to communicate ought to pre∣pare himself with great diligence.

CHAP. XIII. That a devout soul ought to desire with her whole heart, to be united unto Christ in the Sacrament.

CHAP. XIV. Of the fervent desire of some devout Persons, to receive the Body of Christ.

CHAP. XV. That the grace of devotion is obtained by hu∣mility and denial of our selves.

CHAP. XVI. That we ought to manifest our necessities to Christ, and crave his grace.

CHAP. XVII. Of fervent love and vehement desire to receive Christ.

CHAP. XVIII. That Man be not a curious searcher of the Sa∣crament, but an humble follower of Christ, submitting his sense to faith.