OF CHRIST

Thomas a Kempis, whose family name was Haemmerlein, received
the name of Kempis from Kempen, in Holland, the place of his
birth. Either Thomas Haemmerlein or Thomas Kempensis would be
a more correct name than the form "a Kempis," by which he is
generally known; and "Musica Ecclesiastica" is the more
correct title of the "Imitatio Christi." It is not even
certain that Thomas was the author of it, for the names of
other authors have been put forward with more or less
probability; but he was certainly its copyist, and the balance
of evidence is in favour of his authorship. Thomas was born in
1379, the son of a shoemaker; entered in 1400 a monastery at
Agnetenberg, near Zwolle, and died in the monastery on August
8, 1471, with a great reputation for learning and for
sanctity. The "Imitation" was completed about 1420. Editions
and translations in all principal languages are innumerable;
but the definitive edition is the Latin text by Dr. Carl
Hirsche, of Hamburg (1874), from which the following epitome
has been made. The "Imitation" consists of four books of
meditations, which are among the most priceless treasures of
Christian literature.

_I.--ADMONITIONS USEFUL TO THE SPIRITUAL LIFE_

"Whoever follows Me does not walk in darkness," says the Lord. These are
the words of Christ by which we are admonished how far we should imitate
His life and manners if we wish to be truly illumined and liberated from
all blindness of heart. Let it, therefore, be our supreme study to
meditate on the life of Jesus Christ.

Vanity of vanities, all things are vanity, except to love God and to
serve Him only. The highest wisdom is to strive towards celestial
kingdoms, through contempt of the world. It is, therefore, vanity to
seek the riches that are about to perish, and to hope in them. It is
vanity also to solicit honours, and to exalt oneself to high place. It
is vanity to follow after the desires of the flesh, and to seek that for
which we must soon be heavily punished. It is vanity to wish a long
life, and to care little about a good life. It is vanity to attend only
to the present life, and not to provide for things which are to come. It
is vanity to love that which passes away so speedily, and not to hasten
thither where eternal joy remains.

Remember often that proverb--"The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor
the