【英文原著类】theimitationofchrist

THEIMITATIONOFCHRIST1THEIMITATIONOFCHRISTbyThomasaKempisTranslatedbyRev.WilliamBenhamTHEIMITATIONOFCHRIST2INTRODUCTORYNOTEThetreatiseOftheImitationofChristappearstohavebeenoriginallywritteninLatinearlyinthefifteenthcentury.Itsexactdateanditsauthorshiparestillamatterofdebate.ManuscriptsoftheLatinversionsurviveinconsiderablenumbersalloverWesternEurope,andthey,withthevastlistoftranslationsandofprintededitions,testifytoitsalmostunparalleledpopularity.OnescribeattributesittoSt.BernardofClairvaux;butthefactthatiscontainsaquotationfromSt.FrancisofAssisi,whowasbornthirtyyearsafterthedeathofSt.Bernard,disposesofthistheory.InEnglandthereexistmanymanuscriptsofthefirstthreebooks,calledMusicaEcclesiastica,frequentlyascribedtotheEnglishmysticWalterHilton.ButHiltonseemstohavediedin1395,andthereisnoevidenceoftheexistenceoftheworkbefore1400.ManymanuscriptsscatteredthroughoutEuropeascribethebooktoJeanleCharlierdeGerson,thegreatChancelloroftheUniversityofParis,whowasaleadingfigureintheChurchintheearlierpartofthefifteenthcentury.Themostprobableauthor,however,especiallywhentheinternalevidenceisconsidered,isThomasHaemmerlein,knownalsoasThomasaKempis,fromhisnativetownofKempen,neartheRhine,aboutfortymilesnorthofCologne.Haemmerlein,whowasbornin1379or1380,wasamemberoftheorderoftheBrothersofCommonLife,andspentthelastseventyyearsofhislifeatMountSt.Agnes,amonasteryofAugustiniancanonsinthedioceseofUtrecht.HerehediedonJuly26,1471,afteranuneventfullifespentincopyingmanuscripts,reading,andcomposing,andinthepeacefulroutineofmonasticpiety.WiththeexceptionoftheBible,noChristianwritinghashadsowideavogueorsosustainedapopularityasthis.Andyet,inonesense,itishardlyanoriginalworkatall.Itsstructureitoweslargelytothewritingsofthemedievalmystics,anditsideasandphrasesareamosaicfromtheBibleandtheFathersoftheearlyChurch.ButtheseelementsareTHEIMITATIONOFCHRIST3interwovenwithsuchdelicateskillandareligiousfeelingatoncesoardentandsosoundthatitpromisestoremain,whatithasbeenforfivehundredyears,thesupremecallandguidetospiritualaspiration.THEIMITATIONOFCHRIST4CHAPTER1OftheimitationofChrist,andofcontemptoftheworldandallitsvanitiesHethatfollowethmeshallnotwalkindarkness(1),saiththeLord.TherearethewordsofChrist;andtheyteachushowfarwemustimitateHislifeandcharacter,ifweseektrueillumination,anddeliverancefromallblindnessofheart.Letitbeourmostearneststudy,therefore,todwelluponthelifeofJesusChrist.2.Histeachingsurpassethallteachingofholymen,andsuchashaveHisSpiritfindthereinthehiddenmanna.(2)Buttherearemanywho,thoughtheyfrequentlyheartheGospel,yetfeelbutlittlelongingafterit,becausetheyhavenotthemindofChrist.He,therefore,thatwillfullyandwithtruewisdomunderstandthewordsofChrist,lethimstrivetoconformhiswholelifetothatmindofChrist.3.WhatdothitprofittheetoenterintodeepdiscussionconcerningtheHolyTrinity,ifthoulackhumility,andbethusdispleasingtotheTrinity?Forverilyitisnotdeepwordsthatmakeamanholyandupright;itisagoodlifewhichmakethamandeartoGod.Ihadratherfeelcontritionthanbeskilfulinthedefinitionthereof.IfthouknowestthewholeBible,andthesayingsofallthephilosophers,whatshouldallthisprofittheewithouttheloveandgraceofGod?Vanityofvanities,allisvanity,savetoloveGod,andHimonlytoserve.Thatisthehighestwisdom,tocasttheworldbehindus,andtoreachforwardtotheheavenlykingdom.4.Itisvanitythentoseekafter,andtotrustin,therichesthatshallperish.Itisvanity,too,tocovethonours,andtoliftupourselvesonhigh.Itisvanitytofollowthedesiresofthefleshandbeledbythem,forthisshallbringmiseryatthelast.Itisvanitytodesirealonglife,andtohavelittlecareforagoodlife.Itisvanitytotakethoughtonlyforthelifewhichnowis,andnottolookforwardtothethingswhichshallbehereafter.Itisvanitytolovethatwhichquicklypassethaway,andnottohastenwhereeternaljoyabideth.THEIMITATIONOFCHRIST55.Beofttimesmindfulofthesaying,(3)Theeyeisnotsatifiedwithseeing,northeearwithhearing.Strive,therefore,toturnawaythyheartfromtheloveofthethingsthatareseen,andtosetituponthethingsthatarenotseen.Fortheywhofollowaftertheirownfleshlylusts,defiletheconscience,anddestroythegraceofGod.(1)Johnviii.12.(2)Revelationsii.17.(3)Ecclesiastesi.8.THEIMITATIONOFCHRIST6CHAPTER2OfthinkinghumblyofoneselfThereisnaturallyineverymanadesiretoknow,butwhatprofitethknowledgewithoutthefearofGod?BetterofasuretyisalowlypeasantwhoservethGod,thanaproudphilosopherwhowatcheththestarsandneglecteththeknowledgeofhimself.Hewhoknowethhimselfwellisvileinhisownsight;neitherregardethhethepraisesofmen.IfIknewallthethingsthatareintheworld,andwerenotincharity,whatshouldithelpmebeforeGod,whoistojudgemeaccordingtomydeeds?2.Restfrominordinatedesireofknowledge,forthereinisfoundmuchdistractionanddeceit.Thosewhohaveknowledgedesiretoappearlearned,andtobecalledwise.Manythingstherearetoknowwhichprofitethlittleornothingtothesoul.Andfoolishoutofmeasureinhewhoattendethuponotherthingsratherthanthosewhichservetohissoul'shealth.Manywordssatisfynotthesoul,butagoodliferefresheththemind,andapureconsciencegivethgreatconfidencetowardsGod.3.Thegreaterandmorecompletethyknowledge,themoreseverelyshaltthoubejudged,unlessthouhastliv