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

Chap. 3. That the wordes of God with al reuerence should be heard; and that they are not vnderstood of most men.

LORD.

SOnne heare my words, for they are most comfor∣table, and excel the know∣ledge

of Philosophers, and wise men of this world a 1.1.

My words are spirit, and life b 1.2, and are not to be waied by the sense of man, nor drawen to serue for vaine pleasure, but must be heard with si∣lence, and receaued with humilitie and greedines.

SERVANT.

Blessed is the man c 1.3, whome thou chastisest, O Lord, and teachest in thy Lawe, that thou maist giue him rest from the daies of euil, whiles the pit is digged for y^e wicked.

LORD.

I both inspired the Pro∣phets in old time d 1.4, and ceasse not in these daies to speake vnto al: but manie are deafe and wil not heare my wordes e 1.5. Most harken vnto the world rather than to God, and more gladlie obeie the desire of the flesh f 1.6, than his heauenlie wil.

The world promiseth but tempo∣ral, and smal things, and they serue it euen with greedines g 1.7. I promise most excellent, and eternal things h 1.8, and men care not for them.

Who with such a desire serueth, & obeieth me in al things, as they serue the world i 1.9, and the Prince thereof k 1.10? Be ashamed hereof, & if thou woul∣dest know why, hearken: For smal

wages manie run a great waie: but for eternal life fewe wil once step their foote out of doores l 1.11. Filthie gaine is earnestlie sought for; for one pennie sometime they shamefullie contende; for a vaine thing, and smal reward men feare not euen to wea∣rie themselues night and daie: but for goodes immutable, for a rewarde vnestimable, for honor endles, & im∣mortal glorie, they wil take no pains.

Wherefore blush I saie, thou sloth∣ful, and whining seruant, that they shal be more readie to fal into the pit of hel, than thou to come vnto hea∣uen; that they shal take more plea∣sure in vanity, than thou in the truth.

Againe they manie-times misse of their purpose: but what I promise I fulfil, & he that trusteth in me spee∣deth wel m 1.12. That which I promise in wordes I performe in deede n 1.13, to him which continueth constant vnto the end in louing me o 1.14. I reward al good things, and I am a diligent examiner of al religious men p 1.15.

Write my wordes in thine hart, and meditate earnestlie thereupon. For in the time of tentation they wil doo thee good q 1.16.

That with reading now thou doest

not conceaue, in the time of curing thou shalt vnderstande. And two waies I am wont to cure mine elect, to wit, by tentation, and by comfort r 1.17: and two waies I instruct them dailie, first by reprehending their wicked∣nes, then by exhorting to proceede in virtue, and godlines.

He that heareth my wordes s 1.18, and despiseth them, hath that whereby he shal be condemned in the daie of iudgement.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Prou. 9▪ 10 1. Cor. 1, 18.
• b 1.2

  Ioh. 6, 63.
• c 1.3

  Ps. 94, 12. 13.
• d 1.4

  2. Pet. 1, 21 2. Tim. 3, 16.
• e 1.5

  Esai. 42, 19 20.
• f 1.6

  Rom. 8, 5. 6 Galat. 5, 16. 17.
• g 1.7

  Luk. 16, 13 14.
• h 1.8

  Esai. 64, 4 Esaie. 23, 18 Matt. 7, 11. 1. Cor. 2, 9.
• i 1.9

  Matt. 7, 13. 14.
• k 1.10

  Ioh. 14, 30
• l 1.11

  Matt. 7, 13 14.
• m 1.12

  Ps. 37, 34. Psal. 22, 4. 5.
• n 1.13

  Esa. 46, 11.
• o 1.14

  Matth. 10, 22. Mark. 13, 13
• p 1.15

  Hebr. 11, vers. 36, &c.
• q 1.16

  Ps. 119, 92.
• r 1.17

  1. Sam. 2, 6. 7. Psal. 66, 8. 9, &c. Psal. 94, 12. 13. 19. Tob. 13, 2. Wisd. 16, 11. 13.
• s 1.18

  Ioh. 5, 24. 29. Ioh. 12, 48. 2. Cor. 2. 15 16.