effectually to perform what thou readest. Thou must allo form practical resolutions correfpondent and conformable to what is read. Moreover it were advisable to fele& fome of the more illuftrious and remarkable fayings, or precepts, and to lay them up in the store-house of thy memory, to be fre quently ruminated and pondered; or as arrows out of a quiver, to be drawn forth in feafon, and as occafion fhall ferve, against this or that temptation, against fuch or fuch a vice, to which thou art by nature or custom most fubject; or to be used as fpurs to virtue, for the exciting and quickning of humility, patience, the love of GOD, and the like.

V. Conclude thy reading with a 'fhort. afpiration to GOD, that he would preferve the feed fown in the ground of thine heart, and give a blessing to it, that it may bring forth fruit in due feafon. Finally, left thou fhouldst reject this practice, as a thing that will take up too much of thy time; know that all may be dispatch'd in a moment almoft, and by one breath, as it were, of the mind. Yet if it fhould require fome finall fpace; think not much of it: Thou canst in nothing lay out thy time more profita

bly.

bly. Confider how in other things; and thofe many times vain too, and of no importance, we grudge no expence of time. If the perufers of this little book of the Imitation carefully obferve these rules in their reading it, Chrift perchance fhall have, for the future, more Imitators.

OF

61

OF THE

IMITATION

O F

CHRIST.

BOOK I.

Admonitions useful towards a Spiritual Life.

CHAP. I.

Of the Imitation of Chrift, and Contempt of all worldly Vanities.

1.

H

E that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, faith the Lord'. These are the words of Chrift, by which we are admonish'd to imitate his life and manners, if we would be truly enlighten'd, and deliver'd from all

⚫ John viii. 12.

blindness

blindness of heart. Let it therefore be our chiefest study to meditate upon the life of Jefus Chrift.

II. The doctrine of Chrift furpafleth all the doctrines of the Saints; and he that had the Spirit, would find therein a hidden Manna. But it falleth out, that many are but little affected by the frequent hearing of the Gofpel; because they are not endu'd with the Spirit of Chrift. But he that would fully and relishingly understand the words of Chrift, muft endeavour to conform form his whole life and converfation to the pattern of Christ.

III. What doth it avail thee to have profound difputes about the Trinity; if thou wanteft humility, whereby thou displeasest the Trinity? Verily, profound fpeculations do not make a man holy and righteous, but a good life renders him dear to GOD.

had rather feel compunction, than know wherein it, confifts. If thou hadft the whole Bible by heart, and a thorough comprehenfion of all the fayings of the philofophers; what would, all profit thee without the love of God, and grace? Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, except only

b Ecclef. i. 2.

the

the loving of GOD, and the ferving of him alone. This is the fovereign wifdom, by a contempt of the world to afpire after the Kingdom of Heaven.

IV. It is therefore Vanity to feek perishing riches, and to place our hope and confidence in them. It is alfo Vanity to court honours, and to advance himself to an exalted station. It is Vanity to indulge the defires of the flefh, and to purfue that, for which thou muft afterwards fuffer grievous pains. It is Vanity, to wifh for a long life, and to be little concerned about a good life. It is Vanity, to mind only the prefent life, and not to look forward to thofe things which are to come. It is Vanity to fet thy affections on that which paffeth away with all fwiftnefs, and not to haften thither where everlasting joy abideth.

V. Call to mind often that proverb; that the eye is not fatisfied with feeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Ufe therefore thy utmost endeavours to withdraw thy heart from the love of the things that are feen, and to turn it upon the things that are not feen. For those who follow their own fenfual appetites and defires, defile

• Ecclef. i. 8.