The Imitation of Christ, and the Contempt of All the Vanities of the World. Ch. 1.

HE that followeth me, walketh not in dark-
saith our Lord. Jn 8:12.

These are the words of Christ, by which we are admonished, that we must imitate his life and manners, if we would be truly enlightened, and delivered from all blindness of heart.

Let it then be our chief study to meditate on
the life of Jesus Christ.

2. The doctrine of Christ surpasses all the
doctrines of the saints; and whosoever hath His Spirit will find therein a hidden manna.

But it happens that many, by frequent hearing of the Gospel, are very little affected: because they have not the spirit of Christ.

But he who would fully and feelingly under-
stand the words of Christ, must study to make his whole life conformable to that of Christ.

3. What doth it avail thee to discourse profoundly of the Trinity if thou be void of humility, and consequently, displeasing to the Trinity?

In truth, sublime words make not a man holy and just: but a virtuous life maketh him dear to God.

I would rather feel compunction than know
its definition.

If thou didst know the whole Bible by heart
and the sayings of all the philosophers, what would it all profit thee without the love of God and His grace?

“Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity” – Eccles
except to love God and serve Him alone.
This is the highest wisdom, by despising the
world to tend to heavenly kingdoms.

4. It is vanity, therefore, to seek after riches
which must perish and to trust in them.

It is vanity also to be ambitious of honors,
and to raise one’s self to a high station.

It is vanity to follow the lusts of the flesh and to desire that for which thou must afterwards be grievously punished.

It is vanity to wish for a long life and to take
little care of leading a good life.

It is vanity also to mind this present life and
not to look forward unto those things which are to come.

It is vanity to love that which passeth with
all speed and not to hasten thither where everlasting joy remaineth.

5. Often remember that proverb: “The eye
is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing.” – Eccles. 1. 8.

Study, therefore, to withdraw thy heart from
the love of visible things, and to turn thyself
things invisible, For they that follow their sensuality defile their conscience and lose the grace of God. [Without which we cannot see Him].”

— The 500+ year old spiritual classic The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a’ Kempis.

Lord help us to desire it, to repent of our sins, and, by thy grace, to step out into the Deep to walk in thy Word which is Truth (Jn. 17:17). .

This website is intended for penitents. It is not intended for those who are merely curious, even if all are welcome. Jesus, the Lord, asks us to repent of the sins of our life and to do penance for these sins. Historical and political subjects found here are intended as object lessons to help us see where we can (and often have) gone wrong and to help us see how to avoid such mistakes as we proceed into the future which is Christ our Lord, the Alpha and Omega of being.

Progressivist Theology: What it is

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life,^[a] and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. In the world you shall have Tribulations, but fear not, I have overcome the world. I am with you always, even to the end of the world.

“In the world you shall have Tribulations, but fear not, I have overcome the world. I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” —Mt. 28:19, 20; Mt. 28-19-20