Thomas A Kempis 1.24 (Part 1) - The judgment and punishment of the wicked

Editorial comment: Now and then in translating this, my perspective is strongly different from the author's. Where he sees us facing justice where we each bear our burden alone, I see Christ in that picture with forgiveness and mercy, and will voice some amazement that he makes no mention of that. I'll skip the Lutheran comments about purgatory; they would be predictable and therefore hardly necessary. He anticipates Dante in some imaginative turns. Take from this section what you will; there are still some useful thoughts in it.

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Always keep an eye on how things will end. You will stand before a strict judge. Nothing is hidden from him. He won't be bribed. He doesn't take excuses. Whatever is justice, that is his judgment. O most miserable and foolish, what will you answer to God, who knows every evil done? You sometimes fear the face of an angry man. Can't you foresee yourself on the day of judgment? The day when no one can be excused or defended by someone else, but each shall bear his burden himself alone? Not then but now is the time when your labor can bear fruit, when your tears are acceptable, your groans are heard, your sorrow is satisfying to God and cleansing to your soul.

There is a great and healthy purification for the patient man -- who when he is injured, is more grieved by the other's malice than by his own injury; who willingly prays for those who are against him, and forgives from the heart; who does not delay in asking forgiveness from others; who is more easily moved to pity than anger; who frequently denies himself and in all things strives for his flesh to be subject to his spirit. It is better to purify ourselves from sins, to cut off our vices now, than to save those sins and vices for later, from which we must be purified hereafter. Truly, we are fooling ourselves with that unhealthy love we have towards the flesh.

Let me ask you, what will that fire of judgment devour, except for your sins? The more you spare yourself and chase after the flesh, the harder you are making it for yourself, and the more fuel for the fire. In whatever way a man has sinned, he shall be punished more seriously. There shall the idle(?) be purified with burning spurs, and the gluttons be tormented with unbearable hunger and thirst. There shall the lovers of luxury and pleasure be covered with burning pitch and stinking brimstone. And like mad dogs, the envious will howl. 

There won't be a single sin that doesn't have its own punishment. There the cocky will be confused, and the greedy will be held back by poverty. There, one hour will be a more severe punishment than a hundred years on earth of the bitterest penance. In that place there is no rest for the lost or comfort for the condemned. Here, sometimes there is rest from labors and enjoyment of the comfort of friends. Now is the time to be concerned about your vices and sorrowful for your sins, so that on the day of judgment you may be immediately secure among the blessed. In that day the righteous will stand in great steadiness against them, who have caused affliction and distress. Then will he stand up to judge, who now humbly submits himself to the judgments of men. Then the poor and humble will have great confidence, while fear on every side will overtake the proud. 

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.24 (first part).

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

Thomas A Kempis 1.23 (Part 2) Meditation on Mortality

You, most dear in the Lord, you might free yourself from much danger and fear, if the fear of death were the only one in your mind! Apply yourself now to live so that the hour of death brings no fear, but rather joy. Learn now to die to the world, so that already you begin to live with Christ. Learn now to despise other things so that you may freely go to Christ. Keep your body in penitence, and you will be able to have a sure confidence.

Fool, do you think that you shall live long, when you are not sure of a single day? How many have been deceived, and have been drawn from the body unexpectedly! How often have you heard people speak of death: that one died violently, another drowned, another fell and broke his neck, another choked, another died while at play. They'll say someone died in a fire, someone died being stabbed, another from disease, another by a robber. For all, the end is death, and human life is gone as fast as a shadow. 

Who will keep your memory after your death, and who will pray for you? Most dear in the Lord, now is the time to do all you can for yourself, because you do not know when you will die. Neither do you know what will happen to you after death. While you have time, store up immortal treasure. Consider your salvation, and think of nothing else. Only for the things of God, spend your care. Make yourself friends by venerating the saints, imitating their works, so that when this life fails, they will receive you into your eternal home. 

Carry yourself as a pilgrim and guest on this earth, to whom the concerns of this world are nothing. Keep your heart free, upright, and uplifted towards God, for here have we no enduring city. To Him your prayers and groans are daily directed with tears, that your spirit may deserve after death to pass happily to the Lord.

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.23 (second part).

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

Thomas A Kempis 1.23 (Part 1) Meditation on mortality

Very quickly a certain thing will happen to you; watch how it will be. Today a man exists, and tomorrow he does not appear. And when he is no longer before our eyes, he passes out of our minds. Oh the dullness and hardness of the human heart, which solely sees the present, and does not ponder the future. In every action, in every thought, hold yourself as if you would die immediately. If you had a good conscience, you would not fear death much. It would be better to be careful of sin than to flee from death. If today you are not ready, how do you think you will be tomorrow? Tomorrow is an uncertain day, and how do you know that you'll have a tomorrow?

What does it gain to live long when we improve little? Long life does not always improve, but often increases our faults even more. I wish that for one day we could live well in the world. Many people count up the years since their conversion, but often cannot count the fruit of a changed life. If it is a fearful thing to die, it may be more dangerous to live long. Blessed are they who keep the hour of death always before their eyes, and prepare each day for the end. If you have seen someone die, consider that you will pass away the same way.

In the morning, consider that you may not reach the evening. When evening is done, do not promise yourself tomorrow. Stay ready, and live in such a way that death never finds you unprepared. Many die suddenly and unexpectedly. "In an hour that you do not expect, the Son of Man comes." When that last hour comes, you will begin to feel very differently about your whole life to that point, and will grieve much that you were so negligent and careless.

How happy and wise is someone who strives now to live his life as he wishes to be found in death! To give the soul great confidence in the face of death, have a perfect contempt of the world, a fervent desire to excel in virtues, a love of discipline, the job of repentance, readiness, self-denial, and submission to any adversity for love of Christ. You can do so many good works while you have your health, but when infirmity overtakes you, I don't know what you can do then. Few are made better through infirmity: likewise those who make many pilgrimages rarely return more holy.

Do not rely on your friends and neighbors, and do not defer your wellbeing to the future, for people will forget you more quickly than you think. It is better for you to take the time now to provide for yourself, and to prepare good for the future, rather than hope for the help of others. If you do not make good provision for yourself now, who do you suppose will make good provision for you later? Now the time is most precious. Sadly you take your time and spend it uselessly, when you could lay up treasure for eternal life. There will come a day or hour when you long to make yourself better, and I do not know whether you will have it. 

Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, 1.23 (first part).

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