Divinity United

"If a man will only be humble about his own short-comings, how little it takes to disarm ill-feeling, how little it costs to put things right! It's humble people God protects and preserves, God loves and comforts; he stoops down and gives his grace lavishly, raising the humble man to heights of glory, as soon as neglect has done its work. Such a man he chooses fro his confidant, beckons to him gently and class him apart. Only a humble man takes it calmly when he is put to the blush; what does it matter? It is God, not the world, that gives him countenance. Never think that you have made any progress, till you have learned to regard all men as your betters."    -- Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ , 2.2.2

"What a half-hearted, careless state we must have fallen into, that we should have lost, so soon, our early enthusiasm; that we should be tired out, lukewarm, weary of life itself! Never be it said that you fell asleep over your task of growth in holiness, you, who have had all these examples of devotion constantly before your eyes." -- Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ , 1.18.6.

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas 'a Kempis is a Christian classic. In the preface to "The Christian Classics" series published in 1940 (reprinted as the Preface of the 2005 Ignatius Press edition), R.A. Knox noted that few books in the history of the world are known by one name as is the Imitation . Knox also states: "The whole work was meant to be, surely, what it is--a sustained irritant which will preserve us, if it is read faithfully, from sinking back into relaxation: from self-conceit, self-pity, self-love." I have begun rereading the Imitation in this beautiful edition, and I didn't get very far before I needed to pause. Here is one brief quote of 'a Kempis from 1.1.5: "There is one proverb of which we cannot remind ourselves too often, Eye looks on unsatisfied; ear listens, ill content . Make up your mind to detach your thoughts from the love of things seen, and let them find their centre in things invisible."