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Of the imitation of Christ, three, both for wisedome, and godlines, most excellent bookes; made 170. yeeres since by one Thomas of Kempis, and for the worthines thereof oft since translated out of Latine into sundrie languages by diuers godlie and learned men: now newlie corrected, translated, and with most ample textes, and sentences of holie Scripture illustrated by Thomas Rogers

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Title
Of the imitation of Christ, three, both for wisedome, and godlines, most excellent bookes; made 170. yeeres since by one Thomas of Kempis, and for the worthines thereof oft since translated out of Latine into sundrie languages by diuers godlie and learned men: now newlie corrected, translated, and with most ample textes, and sentences of holie Scripture illustrated by Thomas Rogers
Publication
Imprinted at London :: By Henrie Denham, dwelling in Pater noster Row, at the signe of the Starre,
[1580]
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Subject terms
Meditations -- Early works to 1800.
Christian life -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"Of the imitation of Christ, three, both for wisedome, and godlines, most excellent bookes; made 170. yeeres since by one Thomas of Kempis, and for the worthines thereof oft since translated out of Latine into sundrie languages by diuers godlie and learned men: now newlie corrected, translated, and with most ample textes, and sentences of holie Scripture illustrated by Thomas Rogers." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A13680.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 3, 2024.

Pages

Page 79

Chap. 4. Of purenes in minde, and plainenes in meaning.

MAn is carried ouer earthlie thinges with two wings, to wit with plainenes a, and pure∣nes b. Plainenes is of meaning, purenes is of the minde; that mindeth God, this apprehen∣deth, and tasteth what he is c.

No good action shal hinder thee, if thy minde be free from al inordi∣nate affections d.

If thou onelie seeke, and minde to please God, & to profite others, thou shalt enioie the freedome of mind e.

Were thy minde vpright, ye whole world were nought vnto thee but e∣uen a glasse to frame thy life, and a booke of godlie instructions f. For nothing is there so smal, & vile, but it representeth the goodnes of God g.

And if thy minde were good, and pure, thou shouldest easilie behold, and wel perceaue al things h.

For a pure mind penetrateth both into heauen i, and hel: & as a mans mind is, so doth he iudge of things k.

If there be any ioie, the man which

Page 80

hath a pure heart doth enioie the same l: and if there be anie sorowe, and miserie, he hath it which hath a guiltie conscience m.

As fire taketh awaie the rust from iron, and maketh it bright: so doth repentance wipe awaie wickednes, & maketh of a sinner a new man n.

A man that is but warme in godli∣nes, flieth euen the least paines, and seeketh outwarde comforte o; but would he once earnestlie begin to subdue himself, and stoutlie take the readie waie to a virtuous life, doubt∣les those things which at the first he counted greeuous, wil seeme light, and easie p.

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