Thomas à Kempis · translated by Richard Challoner

The Following of Christ

Name: The Following of Christ
Author: Thomas à Kempis

From Thomas à Kempis, The Following of Christ, tr. Richard Challoner (15th ed., London: Keating, Brown and Co., 1819). Wording reflects its time. Public domain; the text is given word for word as printed.

The whole book, 115 chapters, each on its own page.

Book I

Of following Christ, and despising all the vanities of the world.Book I, Chapter I
Of having an humble sentiment of one's self.Book I, Chapter II
Of the doctrine of truth.Book I, Chapter III
Of prudence in our doings.Book I, Chapter IV
Of reading the holy Scriptures.Book I, Chapter V
Of inordinate affection.Book I, Chapter VI
Of flying vain hope and pride.Book I, Chapter VII
Of shunning too much familiarity.Book I, Chapter VIII
Of obedience and subjection.Book I, Chapter IX
Of avoiding superfluity of words.Book I, Chapter X
Of acquiring peace and zeal of spiritual progress.Book I, Chapter XI
Of the advantage of adversity.Book I, Chapter XII
Of resisting temptation.Book I, Chapter XIII
Of avoiding rash judgment.Book I, Chapter XIV
Of works done out of charity.Book I, Chapter XV
Of bearing the defects of others.Book I, Chapter XVI
Of a monastic life.Book I, Chapter XVII
Of the example of the holy fathers.Book I, Chapter XVIII
Of the exercises of a good religious man.Book I, Chapter XIX
Of the love of solitude and silence.Book I, Chapter XX
Of compunction of heart.Book I, Chapter XXI
Of the consideration of the misery of man.Book I, Chapter XXII
Of the thoughts of death.Book I, Chapter XXIII
Of judgment and the punishment of sins.Book I, Chapter XXIV
Of the fervent amendment of our whole life.Book I, Chapter XXV

Book II

Of interior conversation.Book II, Chapter I
Of humble submission.Book II, Chapter II
Of a good peaceable man.Book II, Chapter III
Of a pure mind and simple intention.Book II, Chapter IV
Of the consideration of one's self.Book II, Chapter V
Of the joy of a good conscience.Book II, Chapter VI
Of the love of Jesus above all things.Book II, Chapter VII
Of familiar friendship with Jesus.Book II, Chapter VIII
Of the want of all comfort.Book II, Chapter IX
Of gratitude for the grace of God.Book II, Chapter X
Of the small number of the lovers of the Cross of Jesus.Book II, Chapter XI
Of the king's highway of the holy cross.Book II, Chapter XII

Book III

Of the internal speech of Christ to a faithful soul.Book III, Chapter I
That truth speaks within us without noise of words.Book III, Chapter II
That the words of God are to be heard with humility, and that many weigh them not.Book III, Chapter III
That we ought to walk in truth and humility in God's presence.Book III, Chapter IV
Of the wonderful effect of divine love.Book III, Chapter V
Of the proof of a true lover.Book III, Chapter VI
That grace is to be hid under the guardianship of humility.Book III, Chapter VII
Of the mean esteem of one's self in the sight of God.Book III, Chapter VIII
That all things are to be referred to God, as to our last end.Book III, Chapter IX
That it is meet to serve God, despising this world.Book III, Chapter X
That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated..Book III, Chapter XI
Of learning patience, and of fighting against concupiscence.Book III, Chapter XII
Of the obedience of an humble subject after the example of Jesus Christ.Book III, Chapter XIII
Of considering the secret judgments of God, lest we be puffed up by our good works.Book III, Chapter XIV
How we are to be disposed, and what we are to say when we desire any thing.Book III, Chapter XV
That true comfort is to be sought in God alone.Book III, Chapter XVI
That we ought to cast all our care upon God.Book III, Chapter XVII
That temporal miseries are to be borne with patience after the example of Jesus Christ.Book III, Chapter XVIII
Of supporting injuries; and who is proved to be truly patient.Book III, Chapter XIX
Of the confession of our infirmity, and of the miseries of this life.Book III, Chapter XX
That we are to rest in God above all goods and gifts.Book III, Chapter XXI
Of the rememberance of the manifold benefits of God.Book III, Chapter XXII
Of four things which bring much peace.Book III, Chapter XXIII
That we are not to be curious in enquiring into the life of others.Book III, Chapter XXIV
In what things the firm peace of the heart and true progress doth consist.Book III, Chapter XXV
Of the eminence of a free mind, which humble prayer better procures than reading.Book III, Chapter XXVI
That self-love chiefly keeps a person back from the Sovereign Good.Book III, Chapter XXVII
Against the tongues of detractors.Book III, Chapter XXVIII
How in the time of tribulation God is to be invoked and blessed.Book III, Chapter XXIX
Of asking the divine assistance, and of confidence of recovering grace.Book III, Chapter XXX
Of disregarding all things created, that so we may find the Creator.Book III, Chapter XXXI
Of the denying ourselves, and renouncing all cupidity.Book III, Chapter XXXII
Of the inconstancy of our heart, and of directing our final intention to God.Book III, Chapter XXXIII
That he that loves God relishes him above all things, and in all things.Book III, Chapter XXXIV
That there is no being secure from temptation in this life.Book III, Chapter XXXV
Against the vain judgments of men.Book III, Chapter XXXVI
Of a pure and full resignation of ourselves, for the obtaining freedom of heart.Book III, Chapter XXXVII
Of the good government of ourselves in outward things, and of having recourse to God in dangers.Book III, Chapter XXXVIII
That a man must not be over eager in his affairs.Book III, Chapter XXXIX
That man hath no good of himself, and that he cannot glory in any thing.Book III, Chapter XL
Of the contempt of all temporal honour.Book III, Chapter XLI
That our peace is not to be placed in men.Book III, Chapter XLII
Against vain and worldly learning.Book III, Chapter XLIII
Of not drawing to ourselves exterior things.Book III, Chapter XLIV
That credit is not to be given to all men; and that men are prone to offend in words.Book III, Chapter XLV
Of having confidence in God, when words arise against us.Book III, Chapter XLVI
That all grievious things are to be endured for life everlasting.Book III, Chapter XLVII
Of the day of eternity, and of the miseries of this life.Book III, Chapter XLVIII
Of the desire of eternal life: and how great things are promised to them that fight.Book III, Chapter XLIX
How a desolate person ought to offer himself into the hands of God.Book III, Chapter L
That we must practise ourselves in humble works, when we cannot attain to high things.Book III, Chapter LI
That a man ought not to esteem himself worthy of consolation; but rather guilty of stripes.Book III, Chapter LII
That the grace of God is not communicated to the earthly minded.Book III, Chapter LIII
Of the different motions of nature and grace.Book III, Chapter LIV
Of the corruption of nature, and of the efficacy of divine grace.Book III, Chapter LV
That we ought to deny ourselves, and to imitate Christ by the cross.Book III, Chapter LVI
That a man should not be too much dejected when he falls into some defects.Book III, Chapter LVII
Of not searching into high matters, nor into the secret judgments of God.Book III, Chapter LVIII
That all hope and confidence is to be fixed in God alone.Book III, Chapter LIX

Book IV

Of The Sacrament.Book IV, opening
With how great reverence Christ is to be received.Book IV, Chapter I
That the great goodness and charity of God is shewed to man in this sacrament.Book IV, Chapter II
That it is profitable to communicate often.Book IV, Chapter III
That many benefits are bestowed on them who communicate devoutly.Book IV, Chapter IV
Of the dignity of the sacrament, and of the priestly state.Book IV, Chapter V
A Petition concerning the exercise proper before Communion.Book IV, Chapter VI
Of the discussion of one's own conscience, and of a resolution of amendment.Book IV, Chapter VII
Of the oblation of Christ on the cross, and of the resignation of ourselves.Book IV, Chapter VIII
That we must offer ourselves, and all that is ours, to God, and pray for all.Book IV, Chapter IX
That the holy communion is not lightly to be forborne.Book IV, Chapter X
That the body of Christ and the holy scripture are most necessary to a faithful soul.Book IV, Chapter XI
That he who is to communicate ought to prepare himself for Christ with great diligence.Book IV, Chapter XII
That a devout soul ought to desire with her whole heart to be united to Christ in the sacrament.Book IV, Chapter XIII
Of the ardent desire of some devout persons to receive the body of Christ.Book IV, Chapter XIV
That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility and self-denial.Book IV, Chapter XV
That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ, and crave his grace.Book IV, Chapter XVI
Of fervent love and vehement desire to receive Christ.Book IV, Chapter XVII
That a man be not a curious searcher into this sacrament, but a follower of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith.Book IV, Chapter XVIII

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