Thomas A Kempis 1.20 (Part I) - Loving solitude and silence

Loving solitude and silence

Find that free time for your meditation, and frequently think of God's goodness to you. Let go of the curiosity questions; prefer to ponder what strengthens you against evil, rather than what occupies your mind. If you withdraw from excess talk and idle gatherings, and from listening to news and rumors, you will find plenty of time suitable for good meditation. The greatest saints used to avoid the company of men when they could, choosing to live in secret before God.

As someone has said, “Whenever I have gone out among men, I have come back a lesser man.” This is typical when we have spent long in conversation. It is easier to be silent than to speak without being excessive or transgressive. It is easier to keep yourself at home than keep a close watch on yourself when you're out. Someone who tends toward the inner life, which is spiritual, must go with Jesus “apart from the multitude.” No one safely goes out in company except the one who loves the peace of home. No one safely talks except the one who loves to hold his peace. No one safely rules except the one who loves to serve. No one safely commands except the one who has learned to obey. No one safely rejoices except the one who has the testimony of a good conscience within himself. 

The boldness of the Saints was always full of the fear of God. They were not less watchful of themselves or less humble because they shone forth with great virtues and grace. But the boldness of the wicked comes from pride and arrogance, and in the end it turns to hopelessness. Never promise yourself security in this life, no matter how good you may appear in the religious life. 

Often those who have better esteem among men are at greater risk spiritually because of their over-confidence. So it's much more useful that they are not entirely free from temptation and even suffer some reproach, or they may grow over-confident, or be lifted up into arrogance, or comfort themselves too much with externals. Now, a man who never chased a passing pleasure, who never became preoccupied with the world, how good a conscience would that man keep! If someone would whole-heartedly reject all futile anxiety, and focus fully on the healthful and the holy, and build his whole hope upon God, how great peace and rest that man would possess!

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.20 (first part, it's a long chapter to translate in one sitting). 

Translation focused on contemporary English and preservation of rhetorical force and art

Essential Bible Verses on Peace

1. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)
2. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end. (Isaiah 9:6-7a)
3. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
4. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)
5. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God, and the peace of God which passes understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
6. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2)
7. Whoever would love life and see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no deceit. Let him disown evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. (1 Peter 3:11-12)
8. Wisdom's ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17)
9. The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the bond-service of righteousness will be quietness and security for ever. (Isaiah 32:17)
10. He shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people, and they will turn their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they study war any more. (Isaiah 2:4)

Thomas A Kempis 1.19 (Part 2) - Spiritual exercises

The exercises which are not common to all are not for showing outwardly but are safest in secret, carried out privately. Watch out that you don't become lazy about the common exercises and eager for special ones. When you have fully and faithfully completed your obligations and fulfilled your orders, if you still have more free time, then take up your own interests as your devotion desires. It's not possible for everyone to have the same spiritual exercise, since one thing serves one man better, and another works better for another. And in different seasons, different exercises are needed: some for holy days, some for great feasts. Some serve well in times of temptations and others in times of peace and rest. In times of sadness I like certain meditations, and others when we are joyful in the Lord.

Around the time of the major festivals the good exercises should be renewed, and the prayers of the Saints more fervently sought. We should resolve to move from Feast to Feast as if each were our time to migrate from this world to the eternal feast. So we should prepare ourselves earnestly in times of devotion, and in holy conversation, and keep a close watch on all our observances as if we would soon receive the reward of our labors from God. 

And if we postpone preparing ourselves, let us believe that we are less well prepared and still unworthy of the glory which shall be revealed in us at the appointed time. May we study to prepare ourselves the better for our end. Blessed is that servant, as the Evangelist Luke says, whom, when the Lord returns He finds watching. Truly I tell you, He will make him ruler over all that He has.

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.19 (second part, it's a long chapter to translate in one sitting). 

Translation focused on contemporary English and preservation of rhetorical force and art

Thomas A Kempis 1.19 (Part I) - Spiritual exercises

The life of someone religious should be filled with all virtues, so that inwardly he is the same as he outwardly seems to others. There should be much more inside than is seen outside because God is the one who sees our hearts. He is the one we should respect and revere above all, no matter where we are, and like the angels in his sight we should walk in this world. Every day we should renew our purpose, and kindle our hearts to warmth and devotion, as if each day were the first day of our conversion, and say, “Help me, God, in good purpose, and in your holy love, and grant me now today to begin perfectly, because there is nothing I have yet done.”

As goes our purpose, so goes our progress. If we desire good progress, it takes diligence. If someone who resolves strongly still falls short often, what about someone who rarely resolves, and not so strongly? There are so many ways where things depend on circumstances.  A small lapse from our intentions still brings us some loss. The purpose of the upright depends more on the grace of God rather than their own patient endurance; for in Him they always trust, regardless of what they take in hand. For man proposes, but God disposes; and it is not in a man's power to direct his own steps. 

If a spiritual exercise is sometimes skipped for the sake of some act of good, some fellowship or useful work, it can easily be recovered afterwards. But if a weary mind or neglect causes us to skip then it is a fault, and the omission will be felt. If we try to the best of our abilities, we will still see small shortcomings in many things. Always we should have a firm purpose, and focus especially on the things that give us the most trouble. Both outwardly and inwardly we should reflect on ourselves, and keep ourselves in order, because both will affect our progress. 

If you aren't continually reflecting on yourself, set aside certain times, that is in the morning or evening. In the morning set your purpose, and in the evening reflect on what was done, how you have been that day in word, action, and thought. Review if in these things you may have offended God and those around you. If you are facing something wicked or diabolical then prepare yourself for a serious struggle, and show up as a warrior. Curb any appetite that is out of control starting with food and drink, and from there it will become easier to curb any physical appetite. Never be completely without something to do; you could be reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or doing something that is useful for the common good. Bodily exercises, however, are to be done with discretion, and are not to be used equally by all.

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.19 (first part, it's a long chapter to translate in one sitting). 

Translation focused on contemporary English and preservation of rhetorical force and art

Thomas A Kempis 1.18 - The example of the holy fathers, and their legacy

Consider the Holy Fathers as vivid examples, where we see real perfection and religion shining. Compared to them, everything we do is so little that it amounts to nothing. Now, what is our life when compared to theirs? Those saints and friends of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in labor and weariness, in vigils and fasts, in prayer and holy meditations, in persecutions and many insults.

And oh how many troubles -- serious ones -- they suffered. Those Apostles, Martyrs and Confessors, Virgins, and all the others who willingly followed the footsteps of Christ. When it came to their souls they hated them in this world so that they might keep them in eternal life. And what about the hardships of the holy fathers in the desert, who renounced their lives -- what long and serious temptations they suffered! Think how often were they assailed by the enemy, what serious and passionate prayers they offered to God, what strict fasts they undertook, what great enthusiasm and eagerness for spiritual growth. Think how strongly they waged war to tame their vices, how pure and upright was their intention toward God. Throughout the day they worked, and the night they filled with prayer -- though even when they were working they scarcely stopped praying in their minds. 

They spent all their time usefully. Every hour seemed short to devote to God. And through the great sweetness of contemplation, they even forgot the need of bodily refreshment. All riches, reputation, honors, friends, relatives -- they renounced them; they desired nothing from the world. They took the bare necessaries of life; they would rather not be servants of their bodies even in necessity. So they were poor in earthly things, but so rich in grace and virtue. On the outside they were needy, on the inside they were filled with grace and heavenly comforts.

They were strangers to the world, but close to God as kinsmen and friends. To themselves they seemed nothing, to the world they seemed contemptible; but in the sight of God they were precious and chosen. They stood fast in true humility, they lived in simple obedience, they walked in love and patience; and so every day they prospered and lived in great favor before God. The saints are given as an example to all religious people to challenge us to accomplish well, rather than how the many lukewarm tempt us to lack of effort.

How great was the enthusiasm of all the oath-taking religious when they first joined the holy institution! They were so devoted to prayer! There was rivalry for holiness! They had such great self-discipline! Their reverence and obedience flourished in all things under the rule of the spiritual master! The traces of them that remain until now testify that they were truly holy and perfect, supplying the world with those who strove so energetically. Now a man is counted great if he is not a transgressor, and if he is able to endure with patience. 

The temperature of our times is one of negligence, that we so quickly decline from the former love, and it is tiresome to be alive because of fatigue and lukewarmness. May the growth of virtue not become dormant in you, since you have seen so many examples of those who are devoted. 

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.18

Translation focused on contemporary English and preservation of rhetorical force and art

Thomas A Kempis 1.17 - The religious life

Thomas A Kempis 1.17 - The religious life

It is necessary to learn to break away from your own will in many things, if you want to remain in peace and harmony with others. It is not easy to live in a religious community or congregation, and to live there without complaint, and to remain faithful even until death. Blessed is the one who has lived a good life there, and completed it happily. If you want to stand your ground and prosper there, carry yourself as an exile and a pilgrim on this earth. You must become a fool for the sake of Christ, if you want to lead a religious life.

The clothing and the outward appearance of being religious aren't that important; it is the change of character and the willingness to kill off our passions that truly make a religious man. The one who seeks something else besides purely God and the health of his soul, will find only trouble and sorrow. It's not possible to stay peaceably without relying on being the least, and servant of all.

You have come to serve, not to rule. Know your vocation: peacemaking and labor, not relaxation and small-talk. This life tests men as gold in the furnace. No one can stand here unless with all his heart for God's sake he will become humble. 

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.17

Translation focused on contemporary English and preservation of rhetorical force and art

Thomas A Kempis 1.16 - Patience with others' faults

In some things, it is truly rare for a man to be able to improve himself or others, so he should endure patiently until God orders otherwise. Think how it may be better for your patience, because untested merits are unproven. You should then plead that God, who is worthy, may come to your aid in such trials so that you can endure them well and kindly. 

If someone who is warned once or twice does not listen, don't keep arguing, but let go and give it to God, that His will may be done and His honor be shown in all his servants. He knows well how to turn evil into good. Commit yourself and learn to be patient in tolerating others' faults and whatever weaknesses they may have, because you too have plenty of faults that must be tolerated by others. If you cannot make yourself into the person you want to be, how would you be able to turn someone else into what you wish? We are eager to see others made perfect, and yet we don't amend our own faults. 

We want others to be corrected strictly, but we will not be corrected ourselves or be denied what we ask. We want laws passed to restrain others, but will not tolerate being restrained ourselves in any way. It's clear enough that we rarely think of our neighbors in the same way as ourselves. If we were all perfect, then what would we have to suffer from others for God?

But now God has ordained, so let us learn, to bear one another’s burdens because none is without defect, none without a burden, none sufficient for himself, none wise enough by himself; so we bear with each other, comfort each other, as well has helping and warning each other. Adversity is an occasion to prove our strengths. For such occasions do not make a man weak, but they reveal it.

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.16

Translation focused on contemporary English and preservation of rhetorical force and art