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English Christian Web Book · Public-Domain Edition

The Imitation of Christ

Thomas à Kempis

Cover of an 1880s gift edition of The Imitation of Christ, digitized from the Internet Archive

About this book

The Imitation of Christ (Latin: De Imitatione Christi) is a devotional classic on the inner spiritual life, written in Latin in the Netherlands around 1418–1427 and traditionally attributed to the monk and canon Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380–1471) of the community of the Brothers of the Common Life. Cast in four books of short, meditative chapters, it counsels detachment from worldly vanity, humility, inward conversation with Christ, and frequent devout Communion. After the Bible, it is among the most translated and most widely read books in Christian history.

This UECF.NET web book presents the complete four books and all 114 chapters in William Benham's English translation, first published in the 19th century and long in the public domain. The text is sourced from a scanned edition digitized by the Internet Archive.

Author: Thomas à Kempis (traditionally attributed) · Translated by William Benham (1831–1910)

  • 4 books
  • 114 chapters
  • 63,161 words
  • ≈ 316 min read
  • English · Public Domain

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Translator's Preface: Thomas à Kempis → About this edition →

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    Table of Contents

    Book One — Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life

    IOf the Imitation of Christ, and of Contempt of the World and All Its VanitiesIIOf Thinking Humbly of OneselfIIIOf the Knowledge of TruthIVOf Prudence in ActionVOf the Reading of Holy ScriptureVIOf Inordinate AffectionsVIIOf Fleeing from Vain Hope and PrideVIIIOf the Danger of Too Much FamiliarityIXOf Obedience and SubjectionXOf the Danger of Superfluity of WordsXIOf Seeking Peace of Mind, and of Spiritual ProgressXIIOf the Uses of AdversityXIIIOf Resisting TemptationXIVOn Avoiding Rash JudgmentXVOf Works of CharityXVIOf Bearing with the Faults of OthersXVIIOf a Religious LifeXVIIIOf the Example of the Holy FathersXIXOf the Exercises of a Religious ManXXOf the Love of Solitude and SilenceXXIOf Compunction of HeartXXIIOn the Contemplation of Human MiseryXXIIIOf Meditation upon DeathXXIVOf the Judgment and Punishment of the WickedXXVOf the Zealous Amendment of Our Whole Life

    Book Two — Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life

    IOf the Inward LifeIIOf Lowly SubmissionIIIOf the Good, Peaceable ManIVOf a Pure Mind and Simple IntentionVOf Self-EsteemVIOf the Joy of a Good ConscienceVIIOf Loving Jesus above All ThingsVIIIOf the Intimate Love of JesusIXOf the Lack of All ComfortXOf Gratitude for the Grace of GodXIOf the Fewness of Those Who Love the Cross of JesusXIIOf the Royal Way of the Holy Cross

    Book Three — Of Inward Consolation

    IOf the Inward Voice of Christ to the Faithful SoulIIWhat the Truth Saith Inwardly without Noise of WordsIIIHow All the Words of God Are to Be Heard with Humility, and How Many Consider Them NotIVHow We Must Walk in Truth and Humility before GodVOf the Wonderful Power of the Divine LoveVIOf the Proving of the True LoverVIIOf Hiding Our Grace under the Guard of HumilityVIIIOf a Low Estimation of Self in the Sight of GodIXThat All Things Are to Be Referred to God, as the Final EndXThat It Is Sweet to Despise the World and to Serve GodXIThat the Desires of the Heart Are to Be Examined and GovernedXIIOf the Inward Growth of Patience, and of the Struggle against Evil DesiresXIIIOf the Obedience of One in Lowly Subjection after the Example of Jesus ChristXIVOf Meditation upon the Hidden Judgments of God, That We May Not Be Lifted Up because of Our Well-DoingXVHow We Must Stand and Speak, in Everything That We DesireXVIThat True Solace Is to Be Sought in God AloneXVIIThat All Care Is to Be Cast upon GodXVIIIThat Temporal Miseries Are to Be Borne Patiently after the Example of ChristXIXOf Bearing Injuries, and Who Shall Be Approved as Truly PatientXXOf Confession of Our Infirmity, and of the Miseries of This LifeXXIThat We Must Rest in God above All Goods and GiftsXXIIOf the Recollection of God's Manifold BenefitsXXIIIOf Four Things Which Bring Great PeaceXXIVOf Avoiding Curious Inquiry into the Life of AnotherXXVWherein Firm Peace of Heart and True Profit ConsistXXVIOf the Exaltation of a Free Spirit, Which Humble Prayer More Deserveth Than Doth Frequent ReadingXXVIIThat Personal Love Greatly Hindereth from the Highest GoodXXVIIIAgainst the Tongues of DetractorsXXIXHow, When Tribulation Cometh, We Must Call upon and Bless GodXXXOf Seeking Divine Help and the Confidence of Obtaining GraceXXXIOf the Neglect of Every Creature, That the Creator May Be FoundXXXIIOf Self-Denial, and the Casting away All SelfishnessXXXIIIOf Instability of the Heart, and of Directing Our Final Intention towards GodXXXIVThat to Him Who Loveth, God Is Sweet above All Things and in All ThingsXXXVThat There Is No Security against Temptation in This LifeXXXVIAgainst Vain Judgments of MenXXXVIIOf Pure and Entire Resignation of Self, for the Obtaining Freedom of HeartXXXVIIIOf Good Government in Outward Things, and of Having Recourse to God in DangersXXXIXThat a Man Must Not Be Overmuch Cast Down When He Falleth into Some FaultsXLThat Man Hath No Good in Himself, and Nothing Whereof to GloryXLIOf the Contempt of All Temporal HonourXLIIThat Our Peace Is Not to Be Placed in MenXLIIIAgainst Vain and Worldly KnowledgeXLIVOf Not Troubling Ourselves about Outward ThingsXLVThat We Must Not Believe Everyone, and That We Are Prone to Fall in Our WordsXLVIOf Having Confidence in God When Evil Words Are Cast at UsXLVIIThat All Troubles Are to Be Endured for the Sake of Eternal LifeXLVIIIOf the Day of Eternity, and of the Straitnesses of This LifeXLIXOf the Desire after Eternal Life, and How Great Blessings Are Promised to Those Who StriveLHow a Desolate Man Ought to Commit Himself into the Hands of GodLIThat We Must Give Ourselves to Humble Works When We Are Unequal to Those That Are LoftyLIIThat a Man Ought Not to Reckon Himself Worthy of Consolation, but More Worthy of ChastisementLIIIThat the Grace of God Doth Not Join Itself to Those Who Mind Earthly ThingsLIVOf the Diverse Motions of Nature and GraceLVOf the Corruption of Nature and the Efficacy of Divine GraceLVIThat We Ought to Deny Ourselves, and to Imitate Christ by Means of the CrossLVIIThat a Man Must Not Be Too Much Cast Down, When He Falleth into Some FaultsLVIIIOf Deeper Matters, and God's Hidden Judgments, Which Are Not to Be Inquired IntoLIXThat All Hope and Trust Is to Be Fixed in God Alone

    Book Four — Of the Sacrament of the Altar

    —A Devout Exhortation to the Holy CommunionIWith How Great Reverence Christ Must Be ReceivedIIThat the Great Goodness and Charity of God Is Shown to Man in the SacramentIIIThat It Is Profitable to Communicate OftenIVThat Many Good Gifts Are Bestowed upon Those Who Communicate DevoutlyVOf the Dignity of This Sacrament, and of the Office of the PriestVIAn Inquiry Concerning Preparation for CommunionVIIOf the Examination of Conscience, and Purpose of AmendmentVIIIOf the Oblation of Christ upon the Cross, and of Resignation of SelfIXThat We Ought to Offer Ourselves and All That Is Ours to God, and to Pray for AllXThat Holy Communion Is Not Lightly to Be OmittedXIThat the Body of Christ and the Holy Scriptures Are Most Necessary to a Faithful SoulXIIThat He Who Is about to Communicate with Christ Ought to Prepare Himself with Great DiligenceXIIIThat the Devout Soul Ought with the Whole Heart to Yearn after Union with Christ in the SacramentXIVOf the Fervent Desire of Certain Devout Persons to Receive the Body of ChristXVThat the Grace of Devotion Is Acquired by Humility and Self-DenialXVIThat We Ought to Lay Open Our Necessities to Christ, and to Ask His GraceXVIIOf Fervent Love and Vehement Desire to Receive ChristXVIIIThat a Man Should Not Be a Curious Searcher of the Sacrament, but a Humble Imitator of Christ, Submitting His Sense to Holy Faith

    About the author

    Thomas à Kempis (born Thomas Hemerken, c. 1380 – 1471) entered the religious community of the Brothers of the Common Life at Deventer as a boy, and in 1406 became a canon regular at the monastery of Mount St. Agnes near Zwolle, where he spent most of his long life copying manuscripts, writing, and directing novices. The Imitation of Christ grew out of that quiet, disciplined life of prayer and transcription. Read the full translator's preface for more on his life and on the authorship of this work.

    About this edition

    This web edition reproduces William Benham's public-domain English translation of The Imitation of Christ, digitized from a scanned 1880s gift edition held by the University of California and made available by the Internet Archive. See About this Edition for full source and correction notes.

    Latest updates

    • 2026 — Published on UECF.NET: all four Books and 114 chapters, full-text search, dark mode and mobile reading.

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