THE IMITATION OF CHRIST , Divided into four Books .

Written in Latin by THOMAS à KEMPIS , And the Translations of it Corrected & amended by W. P.

ANd to whom should I more fitly commend this pious worke of the Imitation of Christ , then to thee good Christian Reader whosoever thou art , and wheresoever thou dwellest ; I say wheresoever thou dwellest , for nowadaies it is an hard matter to find a good Christian : the Prophet bid them run to & fro , through the streets of Ierusalem , and seeke in the broad places thereof if they could finde a man , Ier. 5. 1. They were not so much troubled to find out a man as we shall be to find out a Christian. We so busie our selves about Controversies , that we forget to be good Christians . There was a time indeed when the name was first given at Antioch , Act. 11. 26. that it was then well set by ; but this lasted not long , for presently after they fell a sideing amongst themselves , and one cryed I am of Paul , another I am of Apollos , and another I am of Cephas , and another I am of Christ , and much adoe had S. Paul 1. Cor. 1. 12. to appease these factions : for presently after they fell to them againe , and have so continued , yea and encreased in them even unto this day . But Christ is not divided , saith the same Apostle , neither is this to imitate Christ the God of love and peace , who loved us when we were his enemies ; and the Apostle makes a good inference of imitation upon it . 1. Iohn . 4. 11. Beloved , if God so loved us we ought also to love one another : Nay as though there were nothing else required of a good Christian , and a follower of Christ , our saviour saith , Ioh. 13. 15. by this shall all men know you are my disciples , if you have love one to another . Seeing then this is the proper and peculiar badge and cognisance of a disciple of Christ to love his fellow disciples , what preface would be fitter here , then an introduction to all Christians to be in peace and charity one with another .

But alas how unwelcome a taske is it , to entreat of peace and charity ! For he that goes about to part a fray , in all likelyhood will have blowes on both sides , especially where the opposites & combatants are fierce and violent , he that is eager on any one side shall be sure to finde some fast friends , but he that bewaileth the miserable distraction of the whole , and doth but set a foote forward to make up the breach , will finde few to take his part , but shall be sure to have many about his eares : And therefore we may observe that presently after our Saviour had said , Blessed are the peace-makers , Mat. 5. 9. 10. he immediatly addeth , Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousnesse sake : knowing well enough that if a man will undertake to be a peacemaker , he must presently prepare to suffer persecution , and I know none greater then that of peace-makers in religion for they suffer on all sides , either by sharpe and bitter words , or by scoffing & jeering speeches . For although the hot-spurres of these times be at deadly fewde and bitter enmity one with another , yet will they like Herod and Pilate , joyne together and muster up their forces against those who labour any kind of pacification and desire to be quiet in the land . Wee is me ( saith David Ps. 120. 4. 5 6. that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech , and to have mine habitation amongst the tents Kedar : my soule hath long dwelt among them , that be enemies unto peace . I labour for peace but whn I speak unto them thereof , they make them ready to Battell . Never could the pious and peaceable Christian more truly cry out then now , My mothers Children were angry with me . Cant. 1. 5. A strange speech to call them Mothers children : had it not been a more easy & familiar way to say my Brethren or my Sisters were angry with me ( for so they must be , if they were her Mothers Children ) why then doth she make such an involved speech of it , My mothers children were angry with me . True indeed though they cannot choose but be her brethren , ( as being her Mothers children ) yet she doth not , she dares not call them brethren , for they will not acknowledge it , they hate the name of brethren , and make themselves professed enemies , and therefore she is forced to leave out this loving and affectionate compellation of brethren , and say in a kinde of strange phrase , My mothers children were angry with me . Yet should no man be discouraged , from performing so worthy a duty , for though there be a per●ecution that attends upon peace-makers here , yet is there a blessing promised them hereafter . And seeing our blessed Lord and Master Christ Iesus , when he was about to leave his Apostles and Disciples , he left unto them this golden legacy : Ioh. 14. 27. Peace I leave with you , my peace I give unto you , O how well would it become us his Priests to be men of peace , to write for the peace of Ierusalem , to pray for the peace of Ierusalem , for they shall prosper that love it . Psal. 122. 6.

I will begin this exhortation unto peace and Charity , from that common name which we all beare in that we are called Christians , and doe all pretend to imitate Christ in our doctrine and practice . There was a time indeed when this name was much taken notice of and great danger for any man to owne it , when they had no other argument then , nor any other cause of their cruell persecutions , but to heare a man confesse Christianus sum , I am a Christian : But when these stormes were blown over , and the Church began to be in peace , this name of Christian was not so much regarded . And yet methinks the very name of Christian is not altogether to be contemned , for , unlesse I am deceived whosoever hath but this appellation may challenge a brotherhood with me , for in Scripture I find a brother and a Christian to be the very same , so that whosoever is a Christian will necessarily be my brother . 1. Cor. 7. 12. 13. If any brother hath a wife , saith the Apostle , that believeth not , and she be pleased to dwell with him , let him not put her away ; and if the woman hath an husband which believeth not , if he be pleased to dwell with her , let her not leave him : But if the unbelieving depart let him depart , a brother or a sister is not in bondage in such cases . Where the Apostle plainly sheweth that a brother and a sister are such as are Christians and opposite only to Infidels and unbelievers . Neither ought we to take that exhortation of Saint Paul 1. Pet. 2. 17. when he saith love the brotherhood , in any narrower sense , but that we should love every one that is a Christian , not only because he agreeth with me in some opinions concerning religion , but I ought to love him in that respect he is a Christian , and professeth Christ crucified . Neither ought we to love him thus with an ordinary kinde of love , in wishing him well and doing him good , for so we ought to love and doe good to all , but there is a more strict tie of love that lies upon us Christians one to another ; and therefore although the Apostle wisheth us to doe good to all men , yet especially to the houshold of faith , Gal. 6 , 10. that is , to such as be Christians .

Were this precept of the Apostle practised as it ought to be , there would not be so much uncharitablenesse , nor peradventure so much dissention amongst Christians . Why can wee not consider one another as united in this blessed name of Christian , and set aside for a time those names of faction and division● why should wee not rejoyce awhile in those things wherein we agree , and not alwaies be wrangling about those things wherein wee differ ? Of what moment those opinions are wherein we disagree I am not able to determine ; this I dare be bold to say , that the points wherein we are friends are of farre greater consequence , then those are wherein wee fall out . And yet we so eagerly contend one with another , and damne each other to the pit of hell , as though our differences were very important , & our agreement not worth the talking of . For my part I should be loath to exclude any visible Christian Church from all hopes of salvation , and if I must needs offend , I had rather give account to a mercifull God for too much mildnesse and Charity , then too much fiercenesse and severity : yet I hope to make it appeare that my opinion of Charity shall not exceed the bounds of verity .

A chiefe cause of the continuance of these dissentions is , that men minde not so much the common cause of Christianity , as their own particular engagements , nor stndy how they may agree one with another , as how to uphold the side they are on : whereas would they set aside prejudice and partiality and cast an equall eye upon all the Churches , they would not spye so many faults abroad , and so few at home , but would freely confesse there might bee greater concord amongst Christians then now there is . No other unity doe I labour for at this time but that of charity , that Christians would not for some differences in opinion , pronounce such an heavy sentence upon one another , as is that of Damnation . If God should deale with us as we deale with one another , if he should censure us all , as we censure one another , I know not who should be saved : The Papist damning the Protestant , and some among us the Papists , and both of them any other that shall differ from them both . But my hope is , and my hearty prayer to God shall be , that he would be more mercifull to all these then they are one to another . When I consider with my selfe the manifold distractions of Christians about Religion , and the great fiercenes and violence used on all sides , every one thinking his own opinion truest , and consequently damning all others that differ from him , I could not but call to minde that prophecy of our blessed Saviour Mat. 24. 12. concerning these latter and worser times , Because iniquity shall abound ( saith he ) the love of many shall waxe cold : for although charity of it selfe be of a hot and diffusive nature , yet now clean contrary to the nature of it , it is in most men grown cold ; it being the nature of cold to contract and combine to congeale and draw into a narrow roome ; thus is it now with our charity . For whereas like the heat in our naturall bodies , it should diffuse it selfe into all the members thereof , unto the whole Christian Church , yet I know not how it hath , taken cold , for men contract their love now into a very small compasse and narrow roome , that is , to no more then to such who jumpe with them in the same opinion about Religion , leaving others who differ from them , to nothing but death and damnation . For not only in severall countries but in the same Kingdome , in the same City , nay in the same family there are severall Religions , or at the least severall opinions about Religion raigning : So that what Saint Austine complained of in his time is truly verified in these , Epist. 147. Thou seest ( saith he ) with how great and miserable distraction Christian houses and families are divided & troubled ; husbands and wives can agree well enough to goe to bed together , but they cannot agree to goe to Christs Altar together : There they sweare peace one to another , but here they can have no peace . Parents and children live well enough together in one house of their own , but one house of Gods will not hold them both . Their desire is that those should succeed them in their own inheritance , who yet think they have no inheritance with Christ . Masters & servants divide the common Lord and Master of us all , who yet took upon him the forme of a servant , that so he might free all : I say never more fully verified then in these daies ; For in how many families shall we observe this great division , the husband goes to Church and the wife staies at home , or the wife goes to Church and the husband staies at home , and so between parents and children , Masters and servants . The father will give his sonne the portion of his land , who yet thinks he shall have no portion in the land of the living .

The great division of the Christian world , was first between the East and West Churches , and this West hath been since subdivided into the Roman and the reformed Religion : So that the division amongst Christians which is considerable is but into three parts , the Eastern , the Romanist , & our Reformed . All Christian Churches , and so farre forth the members of them brethren and sisters ; and not only Christian Churches , but also Catholike & Orthodoxe in these points wherein they agree one with another , & with the Primitive Church . Why may it not be with these Churches as it was with those seven Churches of Asia which S. Iohn wrote unto , in which there were some things commendable , & other things amisse ? they were encouraged in the former and reproved for the latter . And although some of them were better then others , yet you shall scarce finde one of them to which he doth not say , habeo adversus to pauca , I have a few things against thee : And yet we shall finde that Christ himself was in the midst of all these seaven Churches , for he was in the midst of the seaven golden candlesticks , Revel. 1. 13. and had in his right hand seaven starres . Revel. 1. 16. For writing to the Church of Ephesus , he maketh this one of his attributes : Apoc. 21. These things ( saith he ) who holdeth the seaven starres in his right hand , who walketh in the midst of the seaven golden Candlesticks . So that our Saviour walked in the midst of all these Churches , even in that lukewarme Church of Laodicea , which he threatned to spue out of his mouth . And let Rome tell us never so much of her infallibility and unerring chaire , yet questionlesse there is none of our Churches , no not the best of them , that our Saviour may not say to her , habeo adversus to pauca , I have a few things against thee . And as those severall Churches , though some of them very faulty , yet were all severall members of Christ , and helped to make up one body : so all those Churches , though some of them much to blame , yet may all help to make up one Chatholique Church : and why may it not be so in these . Churches I speak of ? For first they all agree in that one and only foundation of Religion , Iesus Christ as the Apostle calleth him , No other foundation can any other man lay , then that which is laid , to wit Iesus Christ , and this no doubt is a sure and good foundation , and this maketh them to be Christian Churches , they are all baptized into Christ , and looke to be saved by his sufferings : And think not this to be a small matter ; for S. Paul desired to know nothing else , I esteemed not ( saith he ) to know any thing among you but Iesus Christ , and him crucified , and it worked upon his affection as much as upon his understanding . God forbid that I should rejoyce ( saith he ) save in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ , Gal. 6. 14. that is in Christ crucified . Besides this one foundation , they all embrace the two Testaments , the three Creeds , and the foure first generall Councells , and many other very materiall points . The discord amongst us Christians hath been long agoe objected to us ; and certainely there hath nothing so much drawn some out of the Church , and kept others from comming to the Church , as these quarrels amongst our selves ; Vnto whom I briefly answere : If they like not our differences , let them joyne with us in those things wherein we agree , and that is to be Christians , to beleeve in Christ and him crucified , and those other principall points whereof I speak , and to strive to imitate Christ to their power , and then our discords will lesse trouble them . It is true , we have not all built alike upon this foundation , but some no question have built wood and straw , as well as silver and gold ; yet all of us no doubt did strive to imitate Christ as neare as we could , both in our doctrine and in our practice : and certainly in these superstructures of religion , good intentions must goe farre , or else it will goe hard with many of us ; not that they altogether excuse the fault , but doubtlesse they take off much from the punishment . There is a difference between the East and west Churches , in what kinde of bread the Eucharist is to be receaved ; th● East receiving in unleavene● bread , the west in leavened . And herein though they differ among themselves , yet the● both strive to imitate Christ , because the one Church thought our Saviour used then the bread that was leavened , the other , that which was unleavened . Either Church is the lesse blameable because they think both that they follow our Saviours example .

S. Austin in like manner doth prettily reconcile a difference between some concerning the time how often we should receave the holy Sacrament of the Lords supper ; for some it seemes in his time thought we were bound to receave the Eucharist every day , others but now and then . Some ( saith he Epist. 118. ) communicate daily , others but upon certain daies , some will omit no day , others will only receive on the Sabbath , and the Lords day . There is a freedome to be used in both these : Some will say we must not daily receive the Sacrament , because we ought to select and set apart some daies wherein we must live more carefully and religiously , and so come to the Sacrament more worthily and with greater devotion : On the other side , another tells us , yea but if the plague-sore of sinne and violence of the disease be so great and dangerous , such soveraigne medicines as these are not to be deferred . Of both these saith he let every man take his choice , and doe that which he thinks in his conscience he may best and most piously performe ; for neither of these dishonour the body and blood of our Saviour , but rather both of them doe strive to honour this saving Sacrament . For Zacheus rejoyced greatly to entertaine our Saviour in his house . The Centurion said , Lord I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roofe ; both of these did worship and honour our Saviour , though after a diverse , and as it were a contrary manner , both of them being miserable by reason of sinne , both of them obtaining mercy for their sinnes . Thus one man to honour Christ dares not receive every day , another also to honour Christ dares not omit any day . And although these be but petty differences , yet why may I not apply it to controversies of greater moment , especially seeing that ancient Father S. Salvian lib. 5. de Providentia , hath found a good intention in the Arians the most pernitious and most dangerous hereticks accounted that ever have been in the Church ▪ They whom we account hereticks ( saith he ) account not themselves hereticks , for they so much esteeme themselves good Catholikes , that they defame us with the note and appellation of heresy . That therefore which they be to us , the very same are we to them . We are certaine that they injure the divine generation in that they say the Sonne is lesse and inferior to the Father : They think us likewise injurious to the Father , because we make the Sonne equall unto him . The true honour of God is amongst us , but they think that to be the honour of the Deity , to believe as they believe . They are undutifull but they think it the greatest duty of their Religion : They are impious but they think this to be true piety . They erre therefore , but they erre with a very good minde and intention , not with a hatred , but with a good affection towards God , verily believing that they honour and love God . Although they have not the right Faith , yet they notwithstanding think this to be perfect love towards God . In what manner they shall bee punished in the day of Iudgement for this very error of false opinion , no man can tell but the judge himselfe .

A good lesson for the hot●purres of these times , with whom it is a very easy matter to pronounce damnation upon the very least disagreement in Religion , whereas this good Father would not determine any thing concerning these great hereticks the Arians , but leaves them to the mercy of the judge , not being able to discerne what they did deserve . You see that this holy Father findes out a good intention even in these hereticks . And if there was a good intention amongst those that were so grossely erroneous , why may there not be good intentions found out amongst us also , who are not at such great oddes , and acknowledged on all sides to have no such dangerous opinions amongst us .

I speak not this any whit to countenance that opinion of the Arians , which is creeping into the Church againe , but leave them to stand or fall to their own master , and shall in the mean time be perswaded that they goe not against their consciences , and so farre forth hit will goe better with them : yet with this holy Father , not free them from punishment , but must referre the manner and measure thereof to the time of judgement .