The Imitation of Christ | Page 4

maketh a man dear to God. I had rather
feel contrition than be skilful in the definition thereof. If thou knewest
the whole Bible, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what should all
this profit thee without the love and grace of God? Vanity of vanities,
all is vanity, save to love God, and Him only to serve. That is the
highest wisdom, to cast the world behind us, and to reach forward to
the heavenly kingdom.
4. It is vanity then to seek after, and to trust in, the riches that shall
perish. It is vanity, too, to covet honours, and to lift up ourselves on
high. It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh and be led by them,

for this shall bring misery at the last. It is vanity to desire a long life,
and to have little care for a good life. It is vanity to take thought only
for the life which now is, and not to look forward to the things which
shall be hereafter. It is vanity to love that which quickly passeth away,
and not to hasten where eternal joy abideth.
5. Be ofttimes mindful of the saying,(3) The eye is not satisfied with
seeing, nor the ear with hearing. Strive, therefore, to turn away thy
heart from the love of the things that are seen, and to set it upon the
things that are not seen. For they who follow after their own fleshly
lusts, defile the conscience, and destroy the grace of God.
(1) John viii. 12. (2) Revelations ii. 17. (3) Ecclesiastes i. 8.



CHAPTER II
Of thinking humbly of oneself
There is naturally in every man a desire to know, but what profiteth
knowledge without the fear of God? Better of a surety is a lowly
peasant who serveth God, than a proud philosopher who watcheth the
stars and neglecteth the knowledge of himself. He who knoweth
himself well is vile in his own sight; neither regardeth he the praises of
men. If I knew all the things that are in the world, and were not in
charity, what should it help me before God, who is to judge me
according to my deeds?
2. Rest from inordinate desire of knowledge, for therein is found much
distraction and deceit. Those who have knowledge desire to appear
learned, and to be called wise. Many things there are to know which
profiteth little or nothing to the soul. And foolish out of measure is he
who attendeth upon other things rather than those which serve to his

soul's health. Many words satisfy not the soul, but a good life refresheth
the mind, and a pure conscience giveth great confidence towards God.
3. The greater and more complete thy knowledge, the more severely
shalt thou be judged, unless thou hast lived holily. Therefore be not
lifted up by any skill or knowledge that thou hast; but rather fear
concerning the knowledge which is given to thee. If it seemeth to thee
that thou knowest many things, and understandest them well, know also
that there are many more things which thou knowest not. Be not
high-minded, but rather confess thine ignorance. Why desirest thou to
lift thyself above another, when there are found many more learned and
more skilled in the Scripture than thou? If thou wilt know and learn
anything with profit, love to be thyself unknown and to be counted for
nothing.
4. That is the highest and most profitable lesson, when a man truly
knoweth and judgeth lowly of himself. To account nothing of one's self,
and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect
wisdom. Even shouldest thou see thy neighbor sin openly or grievously,
yet thou oughtest not to reckon thyself better than he, for thou knowest
not how long thou shalt keep thine integrity. All of us are weak and
frail; hold thou no man more frail than thyself.



CHAPTER III
Of the knowledge of truth
Happy is the man whom Truth by itself doth teach, not by figures and
transient words, but as it is in itself.(1) Our own judgment and feelings
often deceive us, and we discern but little of the truth. What doth it
profit to argue about hidden and dark things, concerning which we shall
not be even reproved in the judgment, because we knew them not? Oh,

grievous folly, to neglect the things which are profitable and necessary,
and to give our minds to things which are curious and hurtful! Having
eyes, we see not.
2. And what have we to do with talk about genus and species! He to
whom the Eternal Word speaketh is free from multiplied questionings.
From this One Word are all things, and all things