1 c i Shelf.. ii PRINCETON, N. J. BV 4829 .K47 1877 ^ Kettlewell, S. 1822-1893. The authorship of the De imitatione Christi Number 1 1 THE AUTHORSHIP OF THE 2De 3imitatione Ci)ristt Tlie Imitation of Christ. Being the Autograph Manuscript of Thomas a Kempis reproduced in Fac-simile. (Elliot Stock.) — This is a repro- duction in fac-simile of the well-known manu- script of the very famous book ' De Imitatione Christi,' in the autograph of Thomas a Kempis. The whole volume, which is entirely in the same handnriting, is not given^only that por- tion at the beginning which contains the four books of the ' Imitation '; nine other short devo- tional treatises follow it. The original volume is small, about four inches and a half by tliree and a half ; with the exception of a few leaves on vellum, the material is paper. The hand- writing is good and generally clear ; the cha- racter that of a practised, if not of a professional, transcriber. Originally the manuscript belonged to the monastery of Mount St. Agnes, near Zwolle, which Thomas h Kempis entered as a novice in his twenty-first year, and he lived there all his life. He was employed in their Scriptorium, for other manuscripts are known to have been transcribed by him for the use of the community, some of which have been destroyed or lost sight of, among them especially a Bible and a Missal, to which were appended the same kind of note as at the end of this manuscript, that they were " finished by the hand of brother Thomas h Kempis." About the year 1570, during the troubles in the Netherlands, the monastery was destroyed and many of the brethren took refuge at Louvain. Their visitor- general, Johannes Latomus, carried the present volume away with hira to Antwerp, giving it in 1578 to Jean Belliere, one of the chief printers in that city. This Belliere had two sons, who were members of the Society of Jesus, and, probably under their influence or advice, he gave it to their house at Antwerp, whence it passed, on the suppression of the order, into the Burgundian Library at Brussels, and there it is now preserved. The history of the manuscript is, therefore, certain, and few books of the same date can show so good a pedigree. In June, 1877, we reviewed a trashy book, written by a Mr. Kettlewell, on ' ' the authorship of the ' De Imitatione.' " His object was to prove the claim of Thomas a, Kempis ; and the impression left by the author was not merely that he utterly failed in the attempt, but that, if he could be said to have proved anything at all, it was against, instead of in behalf of, his client. This fac-simile is preceded by a short introduction by Mr. Charles Ruelens, Keeper of the Manuscripts in the Royal Library at Brussels. Naturally Mr. Ruelens insists upon the fact that the ' Imitation ' was written, not as a mere transcriber, but as the author, by Thomas k Kempis. The manuscript is impor- tant from its date, even if he were only th& copyist ; but if he could be proved to have been the author, the interest and value of the book would be increased a thousandfold. Few libraries in the world could show a more desirable pos- session. And, in its degree, the same increase of interest would attach itself to the fac-simile pubhshed by Mr. Stock. Of course, nobody pre- tends that this is the first copy of the ' Imita- tion,' the first draft of it from the hand of the author. That it is a mere transcript is beyond all doubt or dispute. Still, if a Kempis were the author, there would be an equal interest and an equal authority given to the text which, would be given to a play of Shakspeare, fairly copied in his later years by his own hand, without erasures or corrections. The same kind of reckless assertion is to be observed in this preface or introduction as in Mr. Kettle- well's book. For example, Mr. Ruelens tells us that "a controversy arose in 1604" about the authorship of the ' Imitation,' as if it were then for the first time called in question. Yet every one knows, who has ever heard anything about it, that even before the death of a Kempis himself the claim of John Gerson had spread widely abroad. Again, we are assured that "the last embers of the controversy are dying out," and that " the attempts of those who still try to rekindle the fire are powerless. " But there is not a single new argument, even of the lightest weight, proposed to siipport all this unquali- fied assertion. In fact, the manuscript is in- sisted on, and nothing more. The signature at the end, common enough in mediajval manu- scripts, is nothing new ; " Finitus et completus per manus fratris thome Kempis " suggests no argument which would not equally prove the transcriber to have been the original author of the Bible. We would repeat what was said in our review of Mr. Kettlewell's inquiry, that where so much difiiculty and obscurity exists, we are dis- posed to believe in the claim of Jolin Gerson rather than that of Thomas k Kempis ; and we cannot reasonably account for the existence of copies of the 'Imitation,' published during the lifetime of a Kempis, which bear Gerson's name as the undoubted author, unless there had been good grounds at the time for knowing it. And — much more than this — the book has internal evidence, over and over again, that the author must have had large experience of life in the world and amongst men and women. That a mere monk, who entered a monastery in his youth and never left its walls, could have written the ' Imitation ' cannot possibly be accounted for by any amount of natural abilities or personal piety ; inspira- tion alone could have supplied the power. Nevertheless, though we regard k Kempis as nothing more than the copyist of the 'Imita- tion,' our hearty thanks are due to the publisher of the fac-simile and to M. Louis Alvin, the chief librarian of the Brussels Library, by whose permission this celebrated manuscript has been reproduced. Nothing can be more praise- worthy than the care and accuracy which have been spent upon it : the ink and paper are ex- cellent, so good that we maj^ almost suppose we have the original in our hands. So far as accu racy is concerned, photography adds the assur- ance that there can be no possible error of tran- scrijjtion. A pretty and suitable style of binding (taken from a contemporary Dutch Horse) com- pletes the merits of a very charming and de- sirable little volume. One omission alone is to be regretted, viz., the inscription at the end. A fac-simile of this, " per manus fratris thome Kempis," S:c., might easily have been given in the preface. ^2 ^S 1;^ -? n THE AUTHORSHIP OF THE Be ^mitatione Cljristi WITH MANY INTERESTING PARTICULARS ABOUT THE BOOK BY SAMUEL KETTLEWELL, M.A. LATE VICAR OF ST. IIARK's, LEEDS Containing Photographic Engravings of the " De Imitationc '" written by Thomas a Kempis, 1441, andoftioo other MSS. RIVINGTONS WATERLOO PLACE, LONDON (©xforti anti CDamiritigE MDCCCLXXVII. PREFACE. ~r\UKING a season of leisure, when free from parochial duties, and desirous of being usefully employed, I had formed the design of ^viiting the Life of Thomas ^ Kempis, and had spent some time in collecting and arranging materials for it. Much of the celebrity of this pious individual arises from his being recognised as the author of the ' De Imitatione Christi,' and it was upon this assumption that I was preparing to write his life. I was well aware, however, that the fact had been warmly disputed, and that other persons had been acknowledged instead, and therefore I pur- posed to write an introduction to the Life, showing briefly the grounds upon which I had formed my deci- sion that the priceless work of the ' De Imitatione ' had been written by him. For if I had not in the first place entered upon this question, it might have been said by some, and especially by those who had espoused the cause of other writers. You take it for granted that Thomas ^ Kempis is the author of the vi Preface. "book, — are you aware that great doubts exist about it, and that there are serious objections to his being accounted as such ?— first prove that he is the author, in some adequate degree, and that the other claimants have not a right to it, and then will it be time enough to assume that Thomas a Kempis has a true claim. There would be force in such a remark, and the feeluig prevailed that it would be more satisfactory to meet such a reasonable demand. Knowing that objections did exist, I had taken great pauis to satisfy myself on this point, from Euse- bius Amort's Scutum Kempense, which gives a resume of the controversy, and other works, and I felt that there were sufficient grounds to claim the authorship for Thomas a Kempis, and that it would only be his proper due openly to acknowledge him as such. But then came the consideration. Is it likely, in an age like this, when everything is questioned — when some men of learning and research have come to an opposite opinion — that the public will take your word for it ? They may imagine that you have taken a side, as others have done, the opposite to yours, and that you are carried away merely by the popular view, without having any solid ground to rest your judgment upon. If, hoAvever, you would convince them, and have them with you in the belief that Thomas a Kempis composed the ' De Imitatione Christi,' give them the opportunity of knowing what you have learnt upon the matter, Preface. vii and how you have arrived at this conclusion. Yielding to this just requirement, I proceeded to write an intro- duction fully embracing the question. There were, however, two reasons which led eventually to an alteration in the plan. First, I found that there were so many points to consider that nearly half the volume would be taken up with them, which would hardly be fair to the readers of the Life of Thomas h, Kempis, or allow space for doing justice to it ; and secondly, whilst engaged on the introduction, two or three notices relative to the authorship of the book appeared, — one or two making it seem very questionable whether Thomas was the real author, and giving the preference to one John Gerson, Chancellor of Paris ; and one or two others even positively denying that Thomas could have composed the book, and producing fresh evidence, which seemed very convincing at the first sight, to show that the * De Imitatione ' had been written about two hundred years before by John Gersen of Vercelli. It was necessary, then, to give more precise information than it was at first designed, and to go more fully into the recent charges against the rights of Thomas. This led to a change in the project ; for it was deemed wiser to bring out some separate account of the controversy, where a thorough defence in behalf of the claims of Thomas ^ Kempis might be made, without at all burdening the book on his Life with such an intro- duction as contemplated. viii Preface. Adopting the plan of bringing out an independent work upon the authorship of the ' De Imitatione Christi/ I took more time to make a further examination into the subject, consulting many more works, and atten- tively considering, not only the older controversies afresh, but the more recent objections which had been produced in favour of Gersen ; for I was anxious to ascertain whether after all there were really any good grounds for altering the decision I had come to ; for if there had been I was prepared to abandon the design altogether. I found, however, that there were not ; and that further research only the more fully established the authorship in favour of Thomas a Kempis. The evidence is very voluminous ; and though I have endeavoured to draw out the most salient points, and present them in as clear and concise a form as possible, the work has extended to a greater length than was at first designed. It would, however, scarcely have done to reduce it, for there were many points attacked, and so many various matters to consider, that it was danger- ous to leave one place of assault undefended, or to miss out any material matter that would contribute to support the cause of Thomas. If tliis had not been done, there would have been the greater possibility of the question being re-opened, but which a thorough statement of the whole controversy might prevent. Preface. ix In the various works wliich have been consulted, much information respecting the ' De Imitatione ' was brought to light, and many particulars of interest. Some critical remarks also seemed to be needed. These have been incorporated into the work, so as to make it as complete a book upon the ' De Imitatione Christi ' as could well be. It is impossible but that some errors and mistakes may have crept into the work, but the mam parti- culars of the evidence may be rehed upon, and oppor- tunity has been afforded of testing it all along. I haA^e added three Appendices — one of the Manuscripts, and another of the older Latin editions to be found in this country, and a thu-d of the older English editions of the ' De Imitatione,' — to show how much the people of England in past generations possessed, and highly esteemed the work. There are doubtless several more manuscripts scattered up and down the country than those named, and copies of the very old editions ; the list therefore can only be regarded as somewhat incom- plete, but I shall be pleased to receive further infor- mation about any others that exist, and will insert them in a future edition of the work, should it be called for. Among the many works to which I am indebted, 1 would especially mention the several books of Eusebius Amort, which are a host in themselves ; an account drawn up by an anonymous writer of the various X Preface. claimants for the autliorsliip, published in 1710, found in a collection of Tracts in the British Museum ; the volumes of M. de Gregory ; that of the Abbe de Ghesquiere ; of G. de Boissy ; and the late Bishop Malou's work, of which I have largely availed myself, and to which I am chiefly indebted for information respecting the recent controversies about the author- ship. I have often quoted these works, and in many places given a translation from them when their words fell in with the thread of my argument, and only occa- sionally giving the words in the original when the subject seemed to require it, or a reference to the place where the information is obtained. I cannot omit mentioning the kind attention I have received from those connected with the British Museum and other libraries; and especially the authorities of theBourgogne Library at Brussels, for the permission to take a few negative photographs of some of the most valuable manuscripts relative to the authorship of the ' De Imitatione ' in favour of Thomas ^ Kempis. S. K. London, March 1877. CONTENTS IXTRODUC TORY CHAPTER I. PAGE The cause of the inquiry. — The authorship disputed.— Much controversy about it on the Continent. — The claims of Thomas a Kempis often questioned and denied by English writers. — Evidences of this. — The necessity of further inquiry, . . . . • • I CHAPTER 11. The excellency of the ' De Imitatione' as a book of devotion. —Its merits set forth by Dean Milman, Dr. Farrar, John Wesley, M. Mennais, and others, ....•• . . lo CHAPTER III. The influence of the book on the life and character.— The change wrought in those who have been influenced by it. — The instance of Monsieur de Renty. — Equally serviceable for those engaged in worldly duties, as for those who live more retired lives, . . . • .21 CHAPTER IV. A precursor of the Reformation. — Its teaching drawn from Holy Scripture. — Its opposition to existuig errors and corraptions. — Its call to live with God in true holiness. — Many manuscripts and editions before the Reformation. — The book much esteemed by Luther. — It was well known and read before his time, especially in Upper Holland, . 26 xii Contents, CHAPTER V. PAGE Its design to further the attainment of a saintly life. — Its resistance to a worldly and nominal Christianity. — Its use as a spiritual guide and counsellor in all conditions of life, . . . . • 3^ CHAPTER VI. The beauties of the book. — On attaining Perfection. — Counsels for the narrow way. — On Rest in God. — On Temptations. — On the Love of Jesus. — On Afflictions. — On bearing the Cross. — On heavenly Blessed- ness.— Many scattered pieces. — Concluding with Rules on Holy Living, 43 CHAPTER VII. The desirability of finding out the real author. — The unfair treatment given to the claims of Thomas a Kempis. — Bellarmine converted to his side. — -The indignant pi^otest of Thomas Carre against Cajetan. — Several reasons for pursuing the inquiry, . . . . -59 Part ii INDIVIDUALS ACCREDITED WITH THE AUTHORSHIP; A AD A LENGTHENED INQUIRY INTO THE CLAIMS OF THE TWO MOST OPPOSED TO THOMAS A KEMPIS CHAPTER VIII. A brief sketch of the Life of Thomas a Kempis. — Allusion to the copy of the ' De Imitatione ' written by him in 1441. — Difficulty in coming to a conclusion without further examination. — His method of writing or compiling his books. — A reference to it in his preface to the Soliloquy of the Soul. — (2. ) St. Bernard said to be the first in possession of the title. - — The evidence for him inconclusive and undefended. — (3.) Jean Gersen of Vercelli wamily supported. — (4.) Ludolph of Saxony has a very slender claim. — (5.) Ubertinus de Casalis. — A reference to his writings. — (6.) Peter Rainaluzzi, a deposed Pope. — Evidence unsatisfactory. — (7.) Pope Innocent III. — His deeds at variance with the ' De Imita- tione,' . . . . . . . . -67 Contents. xiii CHAPTER IX. PAGE (S. ) John De Canabaco : his name appropriated by the Gersenists. — How Thomas a Kempis might have become acquaintetl with his writings. — His claim unsupported. — (9.) Jean Gerson, Chancellor of Paris, has still many to espouse his claim. — (10.) John a Kempis, the brother of Thomas. — Several points in his favour. — Some imagine that the Arone MS. refers to him rather than to Gersen. — (11.) Walter Hilton, an Englishman. — Wrote several works. — His claim defended in some letters. — Mss. at Oxford and Cambridge entitled Musica Ecclcsiastica, containing the words of the 'De Imitatione,' ascribed to him. — The incompleteness of the evidence. — The result in favour of Thomas i Kempis. — An old impression of 1485 ascribes the ' De Imitatione' to an unknown author, . . . . . . • Ss CHAPTER X. The controversy has reference mainly to three persons. — The claims of John Gersen more fully set forth. — Benham's remarks supported by the Guardian. — Reference to the Avogadri MS. — M. de Gregory's discovery of an old MS. of the ' De Imitatione.' — Dr. Farrar and M. Renan. — Necessary to sift the evidence. — The earlier controversies respecting Gersen. — A review of their origin and histoiy. — Quotations from the ' De Imitatione,' said to be in a work before Thomas a Kempis was bom. — The Arone MS. wrongly supposed to belong to the ancient house of the Benedictines. — Brought to Arone by Majoli from his home long after the death of Thomas a Kempis. — Rosweyde's defence of Thomas. — The controversy mainly originated by one man, . . .96 CHAPTER XL Cajetan's mania for the glory of the Benedictines. — His assumptions in sup- port of Gersen. — The Venice edition of 1501 made to contribute to this — And the MS. respecting Jean de Canabaco. — Cajetan supported by the members of his Order. — Rosweyde's Vindkia: Kcinpenses. — Leave from the Congregation of the Index to print the ' De Imitatione ' under the name of Gersen. — Cardinal Richelieu orders a magnificent copy of the ' De Imitatione' to be printed. — He is besieged both by the Bene- dictines and Canons-Regular.— .Several wi-iters enter into the contro- versy.— Thomas Carre's work in defence of Thomas a Kempis. — G. Naude accuses Cajetan of fraud. — The controversy brought before the Parliament of Paris. — A decision against Gersen, and in favour of Thomas a Kempis. — Silence for twenty years. — The Benedictines pre- pare for a fresh struggle. — They obtain permission from the Archbishop of Paris to produce their MSS. before learned men in 167 1. — They assemble again at St. Germain in 1674. — The Canons-Regular call xiv Contents. PAGE together an assembly of the learned in i6Si at St. Genevieve.— Then the Benedictines assemble others again in 1687.— A truce for fifty years. —The renewal of the controversy in the seventeenth century.— Eusebius Amort the great defender of the rights of Thomas a Kempis.— His several works in his support— P. Ghesquiere on the same side.— The controversy carried into the nineteenth century.— Very little doubt in Germany and Holland about the rights of Thomas a Kempis, . . 107 CHAPTER XII. The Gersenistshaveyetto prove the existence of Gersen.— He was unknown and unheard of till Cajetan's time.— The historians who speak of him are modem.— M. de Gregory's defence questioned and overthrown.— No satisfactory evidence /r(7?« history of such an individual as Gersen.— Can it be proved from Manuscripts ?—T\\k>?.& which the Gersenists advance are (i.) the Arone.—lts age ascertained to be some time after the birth of Thomas a Kempis, and not before.— The Court of Rome decided against this MS. being in favour of Gersen.— More than eight hundred mistakes in it.— The writer an ignorant man.— (2.) The Farma MS.— (3.) The Bobi>io MS.— (4.) The Padoliro,ie MS.— {5.) The Slusio MS.— (6.) The Biscian MS. giving the title to John de Canabaco.— (7.) The Cave MS.— Had never belonged to the Monastery of Cave, . 123 CHAPTER XIII. The Roman MS.— (9.) The Pollingen MS.— (10.) The Salzburg MS.— (II ) The Florence MS., 1464.— (12.) The Venice MS.— (13.) The Florence MS., 1466.— (14.) The6■^/^JrMS.— (15.) The Verona us. -{16.) The Wolfenbiittel MS.— (17.) An Italian translation.— Lastly, two editions, Augsburg and Venice, before the controversy. —Many MSS. not dated.— The others of late date.— The copyists put titles to MSS. in ignorance of the real author.— Gerson, the Parisian Chancellor, evidently designed under the name of Gersen.— The title of Abbot not suiting Gerson explained.— The particles Gers. and Ges. apply to Gerson as well as Gersen.— The three printed editions yield little support.— The difficulty of fixing upon a name for Gersen. — The Gersenists no right to Canabaco ior \h&\r hero. —Canabaco cannot be intended for Cavaglia. — Gersen's name not found among the records of VerceUi.- The Monastery of St. Andrew belonged to the Canons-Regular.— The Catalogue of Abbots at St. Stephen does not include the name of Gersen, . • • • ■ • • * -J/ CHAPTER XIV. The new defence of M. de Gregory taken up by Mr. Benham.— M. Eenan's remark.— The obtaining the MS. ' De Imitatione ' of Avogadri leads to Contents. xv I- AGE the finding the Diarium. — The Diarium alkides to the ' De Iniitatione ' as existing in 1349. — M. de Gregory's triple argument on the two Mss. — No allusion to Gersen in either. — The 'De Imitatione' belongs to a much later date. — The savans fix the date to the time when printing began. — The connection between the De Imitatione and the Diarium quite imaginary. — The Diarium worthless as evidence. — The Diarium names the gift of the ' Z*^ Imitatione^ m a suspicious way. — Names mentioned in it not known. — The result of the search by the representa- tive of the Avogadri family. — The Diarium stands alone. — Impossible to accept the new defence. — Two reasons why some persons are yet found to believe in Gersen, . . . . . -152 CHAPTER XV. The authorship claimed for Jean Gersoii, Chancellor of the University of Paris. — A brief sketch of his life. — But few resolute upholders of his claim, — The remarks of MM. Daunou and Corneille. — The proposal ofC. Labbe. — Dufresnoy's new defence, and Abbe Faita's blunders. — M. Gence's advocacy supported by M. Barbier. — M. Leroy supports Dufresnoy's view, but seriously contradicts himself — Abbe Carton builds upon his assumption. — Among several others, MM. Thomassy and Vert contend for Gerson. — The latter impulsive, and led into many errors. — In England, among the very few. Dr. Farrar inclines to Gerson. — His inferences questioned. — Gerson, the persecutor, not the author of the ' De Imitatione.' — Gerson advocates also the withholding of the cup from the laity. — And opposes the reading of the Bible in their native tongue, ......... 166 CHAPTER XVI. No contemporary writers support Gerson's claim. — M. Vert's assertion to the contrary utterly absurd. — One of the first editors of Gerson's works denies that he is the author of the ' De Imitatione. ' — The Lyons edition of the ' De Imitatione ' makes Thomas a Kempis the author, w'hilst the De Meditatione Cordis in the same book is attributed to Gerson. — Gerson's brother, in making an exact Catalogue of his works does not name the ' De Imitatione.' — MM. Gence and Thomassy and Vert and Ciresio's explanations of it met and repulsed. — The manuscripts afford little help. — The two manuscripts advanced in Gerson's favour, zoith dates, are some years after his death. — The non-dated manuscripts very uncertain evidence. — The Cambrai manuscript placed at too early a date for Gerson. — How far the manuscripts put down to Gersen indi- cate Gerson. — The editions of Gerson considered. — Why they w-ere probably put down to Gerson. — The editions contrasted with those under the name of Thomas a Kempis. — The Strasburg editor of Gerson's xvi Contents. PAGS works declares the ' De Imitatione ' properly belongs to Thomas a Kempis. — The new conjecture respectmg the Valenciennes MS. examined and refuted. — -The IntenieHe Consolation but a poor translation of the ' De Imitatione' into French. — Vert's works in favour of Gerson too bold, and unworthy of credit, . . . . . . l8l CHAPTER XVII. General observations opposed to Gerson's claim. — The similarity of his writing to that of the ' De Imitatione ' disproved. — An example of his method from De Aleditatione Cordis. — A contrast to the quotation from the ' De Imitatione.' — The illustrations and references are different. — Remarks upon M. Gence's Paralelle des Phrases, and M. Vert's Gersonia. — M. Renan's opinion upon the difference between Gerson's writings and the ' De Imitatione.' — M. Dupin on the same point. — The remarks of Dean Milman also, and of Mgi". Malou. — Also of M. Faugeri, who attributes the ' De Imitatione ' to Gerson. — The doubts and hesitation shown by the defenders of Gerson. — The manner in which this is indi- cated in what M. Dupin says. — Also in the manner in which MM. Secuy, Dupi-e, and Thomassy express themselves. — On the other hand the opponents of Gerson are veiy positive in their denial of his right to the title. — The first editors of the Chancellor's works deny his right to it. — The editor of the French translation, published 1493, in Paris. — Dom Valgrave, Dr. Cave, P. Desbillons, M. Schmidt, and M. Veratti, decidedly opposed to Gerson. — Mgr. Malou's remarks upon the recent phases of the controversy injurious to Gerson's claim.- — The summing up of the arguments and evidences as conclusively against him, . ON THE CLAIMS OF THOMAS A KEMPIS TO BE THE AUTHOR CHAPTER XVIII. The overthrow of other claimants leaves the field open to Thomas. — His former possession of the title remains undisturbed. — The objections made against Thomas by the Christian Remembrancer (1835). — The answer given to them severally. — (i.) The first Contemporaneous Witness in his favour— BUSCHIUS.— Thomas a Kempis's visit to his monastery. — The death of the Prior foreseen by him. — Buschius in the narrative describes Thomas as the author of the ' De Imitatione. ' — The testimony so decisive that his opponents try to overthrow it. — The theory of an Contents. xvii PAGE interpolation fully rebutted. — The attestation obtained by Bosman as to the genuineness of Buschius's testimony. — Delfau would imply that Buschius was in error. — The authenticity of the Chronicle attested. — M. de Gregory's insinuation. — INIalou's reply establishing the testimony, 217 CHAPTER XIX. Contemporaneous Witnesses continued. — A few well authenticated instances of great weight. — Buschius's testimony given to establish the credibility of the vision. — Buschius's statement coincides with the oldest dated manuscript. — (2.) Brother Hermann's testimony. — The testimony certified by a public notary. — (3.) Mathias Farinator a witness for Thomas. — The testimony contested. — The error of the opponents explained, and Farinator established as a contemporary of Thomas. — (4.) Peter Schott acknowledges Thomas as the author of the ' De Imitatione.' — He excludes Gerson. — Delfau's objection removed. — (5.) Jehan Lambert, editor of the French translation, assigns the author- ship to Thomas. — (6.) Gaspar Pforzheim, the German translator, attributes the book to him. — (7.) The Contemporary Biographer speaks of Thomas writing portions of it. — A Catalogue of the Works of Thomas mentions all the four books. — This Catalogue exists in twelve editions before 1501, ....... 234 CHAPTER XX. (8.) John Mauburne, lived for a time at Mount St. Agnes with Thomas. — He quotes the ' De Imitatione,' as written by Thomas, in two or three of his works. — (9.) The Companion of Mauburne. — He alludes to Thomas as the writer of the ' De Imitatione,' and quotes it as his. — (lo.) Albert Hardenberg tells of his spiritual master, Wessel, going to live with Thomas at Mount St. Agnes. — -He directly assigns the book to Thomas. — Hardenberg's visit to the monastery after Thomas's death. — The Brethren assure him of Thomas being the author. — (ii.) Albert Kune attributes the book to him. — (12.) George Pirckamer assigns to Thomas the authorship, and rejects Gerson. — (13.) Peter Dan- HAUSEN, having known Thomas, attests that he is the author. — (14.) John Gailer Kaisperger twice quotes the ' De Imitatione ' as the work of Thomas. — (15.) Jacob Philip Forest acknowledges Thomas as the writer of it. — (16.) JoDOC Badius Ascensius, who pubhshed the works of Thomas, establishes his authorship. — Amort names 170 writers who acknowledge Thomas. — The strength of the defence in the Contemporary Witnesses. — Other evidence will but confirai this, . 252 CHAPTER XXI. Manuscripts in support of Thomas a Kempis. — Two kinds admissible. — Undated manuscripts not to be depended upon. — (l.) The Kirchheim & xvlii Contents. MS., 1425. — The inscription of special value. — The Abbe de Ghes- quiere's remarks upon its antiquity. — Indicates an older MS. deposited at Windesheim. — The date corresponds with Buschius's testimony. — Herman throws light upon the meaning of the inscription. — -The MS. known and written about by Heserus at the beginning of the contro- versy.— It is suddenly lost sight of for more than a hundred years. — How it was found and brought into notice again. — An examination of the MS. — How the genuineness of the date is ascertained. — The time when the ' De Imitatione ' was probably written, and the text fixed upon. — The superiority of Thomas a Kempis in MSS. to his two com- petitors.— (2.) The Gaesdonck ms., 1425. — Belonged to a convent near Zwolle, ........ 268 CHAPTER XXII. (3.) The MS. written by the hand of Thomas a Kempis, 1441. — Thomas the author though he had copied it. — A description of the Codex in which it is found. — Its subsequent history. — The other treatises contained in the Codex. — The attestation at the end of all the treatises.- — The argu- ment that arises therefrom in favour of Thomas. — The injustice of deny- ing his authorship because he was a copyist. — The erasures and corrections manifest in the MS. — Such as an author might make after he had fixed upon the text. — The first and second books of the ' De Imita- tione ' marked as completed. — The third and fourth have signs of a design to extend them. — The disposition of the books differ from other MSS. and the present editions. — Thomas's disposition of the books recognised by other persons, ...... 282 CHAPTER XXIII. The new disposition of the words by Hirsche. — His care to follow the text of Thomas's autograph copy, 1441. — The rhythm and rhyme to be found in it. — Two illustrations given from the 'De Imitatione.' — Indi- cates his mode of composing his prose in verse. — Example of his hymns. — An examination of some other works of Thomas a Kempis. — The same peculiarity observable in them. — Illustrations from t\\e Soliloqiditm Anima, the Hortiilits Rosarum, and the Vallis Liliorttm. — Other pecu- liarities observable in the 1441 MS. — The divisions in the chapters. — The present division into paragraphs and versicles not to be found in the old MSS. — A certain division observable. — Illustrations of the differ- ences.— The mode of punctuation in the 1441 MS. differs also from those in use at present. — Desirable to notice these to gain the true meaning of an author. — The identity of the ' De Imitatione ' with the other works of Thomas a Kempis established, ..... 297 Coiiicnis. xix CHAPTER XXIV. PAGE Manuscripts in favour of Thomas h Ketnpis continued — (4.) The MS. of Indersdorf, dated 1441. — (5.) The MS. of Pollingen, about 1442. — (6.) The MS. of RoTTENBUECH, about 1440. — How the date is arrived at.— {7.) The MS. of Li^ge, 1445.— (8.) The MS. of Cologne, 1447. — (9.) The MS. of Brussels, dated 145 1 and 1463. — How it comes to have two dates. — The MSS. hitherto named are all anterior to the Mss. dated and proved in favour of Gerson or Gersen. — (10.) The MS. of Vienna, 1467. — (11.) The ms. of Buxheim, 1471. — (12.) The ms. of Afflighem, 1471. — (13.) The ms. of Dalheim, 1471. — Reference to the Mass being said in two places for Thomas. — (14.) The ms. of DuN, 1472.— (15.) The MS. of Gries, 1474.— (16.) The ms. of Maeseyk, 1477. — (17.) The MS. of LouvAiN, 1482.— The writer gives his name, profession, and address. — (18.) The MS. of Hohendorf, 1487. — An earlier date by twenty years given to it by Amort. — (19.) The second MS. ofLouvAiN, i487.^This MS. refers to five others which attribute the ' De Imitatione' to Thomas a Kempis. — Other manuscripts undated which bear testimony to Thomas. — The most remarkable the unfinished us.oi Louvain, brought from Mount St. Agnes. — Attestation respecting its authenticity. — MSS. found dated before 1441 do not invalidate the claims of Thomas. — Various other MSS. enumerated — making in all forty-five or more. — In what degree this evidence preponderates in favour of Thomas. — The earlier Editions in favour of Thomas. — Twenty-two in the fifteenth century attribute the ' De Imitatione ' to him.^How these, and some of the editors of Gerson, recognise Thomas as the author, ........ 323 CHAPTER XXV. Intrinsic arguments in favour of Thomas. — The sentiments and expressions used in the ' De Imitatione.' — The difficulty of the Gersenists in this matter. — The education and training of Thomas known. — The school and manner of life to which he was attached. — The main principles thereof taught in the 'De Imitatione.' — Thomas Carre's parallel passages. — (l.) The doctrines of the ' De Imitatione' similar to those of the masters of Thomas. — Passages from Jean Van Huesden compared with the ' De Imitatione.' — (2.) The term ' Devotees ' specially applied to those connected with Thomas. — Examples furnished from Buschius, and then from other works of Thomas a Kempis, compared with passages from the ' De Imitatione.' — (3.) The Dutch and Flemish idioms found in the ' De Imitatione.' — Instance the word exlerius : difficulty of rendering it into French or Italian. — The use of post te rendered by Italians and French in a different sense. — The peculiar sense of una a:quali facie. — The value of this kind of evidence. — A proof that the author belonged to the Flemish country, .... 34^ XX Contents . CHAPTER XXVI. PAGE A comparison of the writings of Thomas a Kempis with the ' De Imitatione. — (i.) In his treating the same subjects, and in much the same order. — Titles of certain chapters of the ' De Imitatione,' compared with titles in his other writings. — (2.) Thomas adopts a peculiar form. — Com- mences his treatises with a text of Scripture, as the books of the ' De Imitatione ' do. — Oftentimes Thomas commences his sentences with exclamations, like those found in the ' De Imitatione.' — Some of the expressions peculiar. — The form of the sentences in the writings of Thomas short, terse, complete, and admonitory, similar to those in the 'De Imitatione.' — (3.) The constant use of foreign terms of speech, unusual expressions and idioms, betoken a Flemish origin of the ' De Imitatione.' — The Gersenists insinuate that Thomas must have studied the style of the ' De Imitatione,' and so adopted its peciiliarities. — But how is it that he never makes a direct quotation from the book he so admired ? — An admission in the insinuation that Thomas was most likely the author. — The similarity of Thomas's writings confirms this, . . 362 CHAPTER XXVII. Remaining objections answered. — The Gersenists intent upon undermining the claims of Thomas. — The only testimony against the claim, which raises any doubt. — Tritheme supposes that John a Kempis had written the 'De Imitatione. '^ — An examination of what Tritheme says. — An answer to the objections raised upon Possevine's words. — Bellarmine's final de- cision in favour of Thomas. — Sirmond does not touch the question. — Opinions of writers during the controversy not to be set against facts of history. — The statement that Thomas is a ' mediocre ' writer. — And that his other works are inferior to the 'De Imitatione.' — Notable writers famous for one book. — The ' De Imitatione' Thomas's masterpiece. — The length of the controversy does not obscure or invalidate the rights of Thomas.— Perpetuated by the want of candour or perception. — Some persons sceptical enough to disbelieve well-authenticated facts of history. — A review of the controversy. — Thomas's title first disputed by Caj^- tan. — The opposition perversely pursued upon untenable grounds. — Contemporaneous witnesses solely in support of Thomas. — Manuscripts and editions tell more for him than for Gersen or Gerson.— Intrinsic proofs vastly in favour of Thomas. — His title established. — Before it can be shaken the authority of his witnesses must be invalidated. — The inability of his opponents to do this hitherto. — Thomas a Kempis re- mains the undoubted author, ...... 375 Contents. xxi Pact T% CRITICISMS CHAPTER XXVIII. PACE Passages needing some qualification. — (l.) Those relative to entire seclu- sion from the world. — Seasons of retirement desirable. — Entire seclu- sion opposed to the spirit of God's Word. — Opportunity wanted for perfecting the Christian life.— The contemplative life becomes healthier by attending to outward duties. — Conditions when it may be highly advantageous for Christians to live together.— (2.) Prayer for afflic- tions.— Seek for grace to bear them aright. — Discipline and mortifica- tions of our evil desires necessary. — Sorrow and suffering not to be sought or prayed for.— The example of Christ our guide.— Nor should we loathe things present, but enjoy God's blessings with thankful hearts. — (3.) Passages inculcating the severance of earthly ties. — The love of God not incompatible with loving those near and dear to us. — To be without natural affection is wrong.— Scriptural instmctions.— The example of Christ, and of St. Paul.— The cultivation of love and friend- ship to be encouraged, ....••• 39° CHAPTER XXIX. On some omitted passages. — (i.) Relative to the Priest wearing the Cross on the chasuble. — Its significance and value. — The Mediation of the Priest. — (2.) On the zeal of those who lived in the monasteries— Their valuable services in olden times. — The severity of their devotion in serving God.— (3.) Respecting the ' Mass ' and Transubstantiation.— The derivation of the word ' Mass.'— The reason of altering the term to ' Holy Communion.'— The teaching of the English Church opposed to that of Rome.— Christ's natural Body not in the bread.— Still Chri.st is present and spiritually received.— (4.) On Prayers and Masses for the Dead, and the offering the Propitiatory Sacrifice.— Christ is not sacri- ficed or offered again.— The Church of England at one with Scripture on this.— Prayers for the Dead in the primitive Church.— Purgatory and its evils condemned.— (5.) On the Invocation of Saints.— Worse than superstitious. — Idolatrous and unreasonable. — Honour to their memory. —Christ our only Intercessor.- The passages but few to which excep- tion can be fairly taken, . . . • • • . 4i!> kxii Contents. CHAPTER XXX. PAGE Is Justification by Faith overlooked ? — Milner, and those alluded to by Chal- mers.— The fear of inculcating Good Works. — A profession of faith without works.— The dangers and the remedy. — The ' De Imitatione ' founded upon a faith in Christ. — What the doctrine of Justification by Faith is. — The three principles which are necessary. — A knowledge of our lost condition. — Christ our only means of salvation. — Holiness of life the outcome of justifying faith. — These principles shown to be gene- rally in the ' De Imitatione. ' — Particular passages brought forward. — The charge against the book needless and uncalled for. — Two dangers from teaching a faith without works. — The method of the ' De Imita- tione ' that of the Gospels, ...... 43S CHAPTER XXXI. (l.) Does it teach an absolutely selfish religion? — The accusations of Dean Milman and Dr. Farrar. — The inconsistency of the criticisms. — The first requirements of religion are with regard to a man's self. — Religion false unless the man himself is affected by it. — The religion of the Bible personal, but not selfish. — Magnificat and the Psalms. — The lan- guage of St. Paul personal. — A man must himself feel the influence of religion, if he would influence others. — The sophistry of the criticism, making it selfish for a man to be in earnest about his own soul. — Mozley exposes and condemns a similar charge. — (2.) The ' De Imita- tione ' not designed to comprehend the whole duty of man. — Its atten- tion chiefly given to the duties of the first table. — Not to be censured for not fully taking up the duties of the second table. — The title not ' a glaring misnomer.' — The book to be viewed in the light it was written, 453 CHAPTER XXXII. (3.) Proofs from the book that others besides self are thought of. — The book itself was written for others. — Passages respecting taking and giving counsel.- — Words relative to works of Charity. — Bearing one another's burdens. — Exercising patience with others. — On Friendship. — Kindness to those in. need. — Intercession for various individuals. — Consideration for others in religious matters. — Thus glimpses of love to man from one end to the other. — Words of sadness at times, but not of utter despair. — Purest and highest joy intermingled. — Reason not to be abased, but to be in subjection to Faith. — (4.) The general effect Contents. xxiii PAGE of the book. — To impart a higher tone of religious life. — Men thus in- fluenced ready to serve others. — The Life of Thomas a Kcmpis and the Brothers of the Common Life examples. — An engraving of Thomas, representing the love of God kindled in his heart. — Dr. Chalmers' judg- ment upon the book. — Its character established, . . . 469 APPENDIX. L A List of the Manuscripts of the ' De Imitatione Christi ' found in England, ........ 491 II. Latin Editions of the ' De Imitatione Christi' to the end of the Six- teenth Century to be found in England, .... 495 III. An Account of the various Ancient Editions of the ' De Imitatione' printed in English to A.D. 1700, ..... 498 3IUu0tration!3* From a Photograph of the MS. copy of the ' De Imita- TIONE ' WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF ThOMAS A KeMPIS, A.D. 1441, ........ Frontispiece From a Photograph of the most ancient known MS. OF THE ' De Imitatione' with date, 1425, to face page 2^^ From a Photograph of certain works of Thomas a Kempis, in his own handwriting, containing Hymns SET TO Music, to face page 302 PART I. INTR OD UCTOR V. CHAPTER I. T/ie Controversy upon the Authorship. TS Thomas a Kempis the author of the ' De Imita- -*- tione Christi ' ? Many persons will find it difficult to give a definite answer to this question ; and no wonder, when we take mto consideration the length- ened and bitter controversy which has prevailed, and the several conflicting opinions which have been ad- vanced respecting the authorship. At present there is but a confused idea about the matter ; the multi- plicity of words and the heat of partisanship have but served to obscure the question, and to render it less clear than ever. First one individual and then another has been named as possessing some claim to the title ; and their cause has been defended with a pertinacity and warmth which would surprise us, did we not call to mind how anxious some of the religious orders are to bring honour to their brotherhood ; and, indeed, so much so, that when reasonable and honest thinking men would conclude, from the evidence submitted to them, that they have little ground for establishing any 2 The Authorship of the De Imitatione Chris ti. claim, they still hold to their opinion, and will not admit, or see any force in, the proofs which are dead against them. On the Continent, the question has engaged the public attention much more than in this country. More than two hundred years ago, Rosweyde and Thomas Carre most effectually disposed of the pre- tensions advanced in favour of Gersen by P. Bosignoli and Constantine Cajetan. After a time the contro- versy was more warmly renewed than ever in the days of E-ichelieu, when the matter was debated before the Lords of Request in the Court of Parhament in Paris on several occasions, and afterwards, also several trials in various years, were carried on before special assem- blies of the most learned men of France, to which we shall hereafter allude. Then Eusebius Amort, more than a hundred years ago, wrote several learned treatises relative to this matter, collecting and setting forth the evidence in favour of Thomas a Kempis in a most able manner. Later still, we have M. Gence in the Biograpliie Universelle and other writings strenu- ously espousing the cause of Gerson, the Parisian Chancellor; and then the learned M. Gregory en- deavoiu:ing to overthrow the evidence and arguments in favour of both Gerson and Thomas a Kempis, and labouring hard, and at first sight with some apparent success, to make out a good case once more for Gersen of Vercelh. He is, however, steadily and effectively met by Mgr. Malon in his Eecherches, who carefully examines the statements made in defence both of Gersen and Gerson, and shows how little weight or The Controversy upon it. 3 dependence is to placed upon them, and faithfully recounts the evidence and arguments, chiefly advanced aforetime by Eusebius Amort, in behalf of Thomas ^ Kempis. And, lastly, within a few years of the present time, we have MM. Thomassy and Vert advocating the claims of Gerson of Paris. There are besides numerous other writers, which it would be in vain to recount, on one side or the other. But the general view which the public are thus led to take of these discussions and con- tentions is, that the question is so involved m obscurity that they feel as if in a mist where they can distin- guish nothing clearly, and that it is almost impossible to come to any satisfactory conclusion. And not a few have taken up their views in favour of one or other of those who have been put forward as the author from readmg the works or writings of their several advocates, and without further examination — without hearing what their opponents have said as to the evidence advanced — have formed their judgment upon a very incomplete acquaintance with the subject. Thus, those who have studied M. Gence's works will be most likely to decide in favour of Gerson ; those, on the other hand, who have taken up M. Gregory's books, and gone no further, will be persuaded that Gersen of Vercelli is the author of the 'De Imitatione.' And those who peruse Mgr. Malon's Reclierches will feel convinced that there is Httle to substantiate the claim of either one or the other, and that Thomas k Kempis has undoubtedly composed it. We have good reason for saying this when we con- sider how the question has been taken up in England. 4 The Authorship of the De Imitatione Chris ti. And one thing that an observant mind cannot fail to perceive is this, that whilst there has been a readiness and proneness to seize upon the objections which can be alleged against the claims of Thomas a Kempis, and a preference given to other persons who are supposed to be the authors of the ' De Imitatione ' upon very- slight and insufficient grounds, the most substantial proofs and the most convincing arguments in favour of Thomas a Kempis seem almost to be lost sight of, or unknown in this country. There appears to be a strange ignorance or obhviousness respecting the grounds upon which he is so generally accredited to be the author. An impression prevails that there is nothing but popular opinion — upon which little depen- dence, it is imagined, can be placed — for the general belief that he has written the book, without consider- ing that there may be some very substantial reasons upon which this popular belief is founded. And be- cause some popular traditions have been held, which are without any sound foundation, not a few have per- suaded themselves that thus it must be in the behef that Thomas ^ Kempis is the author of the ' De Imita- tione,' and have either set themselves in opposition to his claim by preferring, and even pronouncing deci- sively in favour of one or other of the supposed authors, or have given him but such scant acknowledgment as to undermine his credit. Thus, from what was said some years ago, in an article in the Christian Remembrancer (April 1853), many Enghsh Churchmen have settled it in their minds that Thomas a Kempis did not compose the ' De The Controversy tipo7i it. 5 Imitatione/ but only copied it. And yet the writer of this article only makes a short allusion to the question, and does not profess to enter upon an examination of it. But in passing he intimates that the learned do not now acknowledge a Kempis as the author, and gives briefly six or seven arguments which he finds alleged against his title to the book. These may seem very formidable before they are looked into ; but as they can be easily met, we purpose to examine and answer them further on when we come to discuss the claims of Thomas a Kempis. The Eev. T. F. Dibdin, D.D., F.E.S., etc. etc., m his preface to the ' De Imitatione ' edited by him in 1828, says: — " It will be seen that I have not hesitated to discard Thomas ^ Kempis entirely from all pretension to the genuine authorship of this book ; and I have, although with some hesitation, assigned it to John Gersen of VerceUi, a Benedictine monk of the middle of the thirteenth century. My reasons will, it is presumed, be carefully weighed before they are attempted to be refuted," — p. xxxvi. This is a very positive declaration against the claims of Thomas \ Kempis, and equally so are the words further on, where he says : — "The weight of evidence is conclusive against Thomas k Kempis being the author of the work." — p. Ixxxiii. Even HaUam, in his celebrated work on Tlie Intro- duction to the Literature of Europe, when mentioning the * De Imitatione,' does not seem to have taken much trouble to inquire into the evidence in favour of Thomas k Kempis, if he even knew of the existence of any that 6 The AiUhorship of the De Imitatione Chris ti. was most material, but to have contented himself, as many others have done, with considering the various opinions held against the genei^al belief that Thomas was the author. Hence the reader gets little help in the matter, and the question is left almost as indefinite as ever. This learned writer remarks, in a note : — "I am not prepared to state the external evidence upon this keenly debated question with sufficient precision. In a few- words it may, I believe, be said that in favour of Thomas a Kempis has been alleged the testimony of many early editions bearing his name, including one about 1471, which appears to be the first, as well as a general tradition from his ow^n time, extending over most of Europe, which has led a great majority, including the Sorbonne itself, to determine the cause in his favour. It is also said that a manuscript of the .treatise 'De Imitatione' bears these words at the conclusion, Finitus et com- pletus per manum Thomee de Kempis, 1441 : and that in the manuscript are so many erasures and alterations as to give it the appearance of his original autograph. Against Thomas a Kempis it is urged that he was a professed calligrapher or copyist for the CoUege of Deventer; that the Chronicles of St. Agnes, a contemporary work, says of him, Scripsit Bibliam nostram totaliter, et multos ahos Hbros pro domo et pro pretio ; that the entry above mentioned is more like that of a transcriber than an author ; that the same Chronicle makes no mention of his having written the treatise 'De Imitatione,' nor does it appear in an early list of works ascribed to him." — Hallam's Introd. Lit. Europe, vol. i. p. 137. The present Bishop of Carlisle, in his introduction to a new translation of the * De Imitatione,' is inclined to accept Thomas a Kempis as the author, but he does so with great hesitation. "I have spoken," he says, "of Thomas a Kempis as the author, because in this country I believe that the more general opinion is in his favour; but if any reader believes that the The Controversy 7ipo)L it. 7 honour of the work is due rather to Gersou or to Gersen, I shall have no quarrel with him. The controversy concerning the authorship is one of the many puzzles which the history of literature records." — p. xvi. This is, to say tlie least, a very unsatisfactory way to leave the question. The authoress of a metrical translation of the * De Imitatione,' published by Burn, Gates, and Co., 1869, says : — "As it appears that the original authorship of 'The Following of Christ ' is involved in some obscurity, the authoress of this ' metrical translation ' ventures to observe that it seems John Gersen wrote ' The Following of Christ ' in the original Latin, in the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Soon after this work was written, it was literally copied by Thomas a Kempis." There are a few more recent utterances upon the question under consideration, to which we shall have to allude when we come to discuss the evidence in favour of those who are severally believed to be the authors of the ' De Imitatione.' And in some shorter allusions to the authorship, one writer says, it is " generally, but wrongly, attributed to \ Kempis ; " another, that " it is very doubtful whether he be the author ; " and a third, " It cannot be written by him." Thus it is evident that much uncertainty and doubt exist in this country on the question, and that as far as can be gathered, the decision of the literary world in England is, upon the whole, opposed to acknowledging Thomas a Kempis as the author ; but with aU this, there is an apparent unconsciousness of the solid proofs in his favour. All this shows that there is need of more light and information about the 8 The AtUhorship of the De Imitatione Christi. matter ; all this shows how desirable it is that the question should be further looked into and thoroughly examined ; that the several claims in behalf of other individuals, and especially as regards two of them, who are opposed to the interests of Thomas, should be openly and fau-ly canvassed, that we may see what claim they have to our credit, and whether, when searched into and accurately weighed, they are such as reasonable men may trust to. All this shows how necessary it is to meet and rebut the statements and arguments made directly adverse to the title of Thomas a Kempis, and to remove anything that appears to stand in the way of his being the author. As for instance, whether there was a copy of the ' De Imita- tione ' in existence before Thomas a Kempis was born or no, which would really prove fatal to his title at once, if it indeed were so. But besides this, what has been said shows how important it is, in the endeavour to settle this much disputed matter, that the several kinds of evidence which are forthcoming in favour of the claim of Thomas a Kempis should be fully made known, should, at least, receive our attentive considera- tion, should, indeed, also be as honestly and as search- ingly looked into and sifted as an opposing advocate would do, so that we may see how far they are worthy of our belief, and in what degree they faMy and surely support the claim of Thomas ^ Kempis. This method of dealing with the question will, we trust, tend to disperse the cloud of uncertainty and perplexity which now so unhappily encompasses the subject. It will enable those who care to look more The Conti'oversy tipon it. 9 deeply into it than hitherto to balance in their minds the whole of the controversy, both the evidence in favour of others, and its credibility, and what can be affirmed against or in favour of Thomas, and then finally to deteiTnine for themselves, so far as it is pos- sible to do, whether his claim to be the author can be established. No one should reply to the question we have asked, then, off-hand, without having in some measure ex- amined the matter for himself And it is not until the question has been considered in all its bearings, on one side and the other, that any one should feel himself fully qualified to give a definite and distinctive answer. It is, therefore, to enable the reader to form some conclusion for himself on this much disputed subject, to help him to answer the question in some measure satisfactorily to his own mind, that this mter- esting inquiry has been entered upon, and for which a solution has been asked, and will be asked over and over again, " Is Thomas a Kempis the author of the ' De Imitatione Christi ' ? " CHAPTER II. The Excellency of the De Imitatione. rpHERE can be no doubt of the interest, value, and -*- importance of the inquiry, for it is one of the most celebrated of all books throughout Christen- dom, next to the Bible. Many years ago it was said that the book had gone through 1800 editions, and had probably been more read than any other work after the Scriptures : -^ and to mention the various languages into which it has been translated would be but to enumerate the several languages which are most commonly used at the present day. It is to be found even in countries where it might seem little likely to 1 Hallam, Introd. Lit. Europe, i. 138. Backer, in his Essai Bibliographique sur le livre de Imit, published at Li^ge in 1864, says, "The number of editions and different translations which have come to my knowledge is about 2900, and certainly this number is much below the reality." "Pierre Piget, librarian of Paris, said to P. Desbillons in 1779, that the editions of the Imitatio which were known to him were as many as 1800." Backer counted 775 French editions that had appeared by the year 1812. The Catalogue of Cologne in 1848 had a collection of manuscripts, etc., chiefly left to it by Canon Von Bullinger, in which there were 170 Latin editions, 112 German, and 80 French. Backer, however, says that he has asked one of his friends touching these manuscrij^ts, but his reply is that the public library does not possess them. It is difficult indeed to know what books and manuscripts are con- tained in this city. The writer, when searching during the present year in the libraries of Cologne for the Bible written in Latin by the hand of Thomas k Kempis, in four volumes, found the manuscripts and old books of one of the public libraries piled up in the middle of a room. Moreover, many of the valuable manuscripts are now lost sight of, for upon inquiring of the Canon in residence at the cathedral, he said that they had been dispersed abroad. The Excellency of the Book. 1 1 be met with, for it has been pi'inted in Turkish, Chinese, and Arabic. A late French wiiter, giving an account of ZwoUe, makes mention of this interesting fact respecting the * De Imitatione,' when speakmg of Thomas k Kempis as its author, and the many translations of it : — " It is said that, early in the seventeenth century, a few reli- gious Spaniards, visiting the king of Maroc for the purpose of ransoming some Christian slaves, were astonished to find the monarch reading a copy of the * Imitation of Jesus Christ,' translated into Turkish. On expressing their surprise, the king replied, ' Of all the books I possess, this one seems to me the best in every way.' "^ It has exercised a wide-spread influence, which it would be difiicult to estimate ; it has served to bring into our religion a reality and earnestness which is at once thorough and elevating ; it has taught men that no outward gifts or talents, no outward service or enthusiasm, no external performance or worship, will avail without having a life hidden with God ; that the essence of all true religion, the spring of all rehgious action and devotion, must have its seat and origin in the heart. As a manual of devotion it is unrivalled in its grand simpHcity, in its unswerving allegiance to the Word of God, which it points out to us as the source of truth, as the rule for our guidance, as showing to us the true way of life and salvation. And so deep an experience of the human heart does it manifest, so accurate a knowledge of the ways of God and His dealings with souls in the various changes and moods of a religious life, so direct and appHcable its counsels 1 Havard, TU Dead Cities of the Zwjder-Zee, p. 332. 12 The Authors flip of the De Imitatione Chris ti. to the soul in its different phases, so intense its devo- tion, so firm its resolution in its subjugation of self to the will of God in everything, that it has been regarded well-nigh as an mspired volume, — a book wherein a man of God, who has lived with God, and made it the business of his hfe to fashion his ways and his will according to God's holy will, and who has sought the presence of God continually, so as but to think and act and speak as God would have him, — has by his words made known to us the wisdom that has been revealed to him for advancing the spiritual life, the holy rules and admonitions he employed in training himself and teaching others also to acquire the heavenly art of doing God's will on earth, as it is perfectly and gladly done by the angels above ; and who has even led us into the sacred retirement of his cell, to witness, or at least to hear and become acquainted with, the sweet and solemn communion and intercourse which tran- spired in his holiest moments between God and his own soul. And so sacred and so solemn were these hallowed seasons, and the fellowship which he held with God — so exalted the requirements and the walk of his saint-like life which he unfolds, — that his words seem to sliine forth, as did the face of Moses after holding communion with God on the mount, with such a brightness of spiritual devotedness, such an intense penetrating clearness of thought, and such a singular felicity of holy fervour, that we cannot look upon what he writes without feeling that we need to put a veil over our imperfections and shortcomings, that we indeed need a Saviour, and in fellowship with Whom The Excellency of the Book. 1 3 also we shall have a yearning desire to attain to a higher and more perfect Hfe with God. The words of the * De Imitatione ' were probably at first only designed for the more advanced in the rehgious community to which the author belonged ; and he Httle dreamt that his book, which he composed in the sohtude of his beloved cell, and in the stillness of God's pervading presence, would ever become so famous in the Christian world as it is. He had lowly views of himself, and, assuming the author to be Thomas a Kempis, though he ever did his best in all that he undertook, even in the work of copying — as his Bible and missals show, — he had a humble opinion of his labours, and felt that without the blessing of God accompanying them, they would fall to the ground and be little esteemed, and productive of but little good. His own words express the sentiments of his heart : — "If tliou thinkest that thou understandest and knowest much, yet know that there be many more things which thou knowest not. Affect not to be over wise, bnt rather acknowledge thine own ignorance. Why wilt thou prefer thyself before others, seeing there be many more learned and more skilful in the Scriptures than thou ? " If thou know or learn anything profitably, desire to be unknown and to be little esteemed. The highest and most profitable lesson is the true knowledge and the low esteem of ourselves. It is great wisdom and perfection to think nothing of ourselves, and to think always well and highly of others." — Imit. I. 2, But however much the author shunned the notice of men, and desired to remain unknown, however the outer world at a distance were ignorant of the fact of his being the author, and made bold guesses as to who 14 The Authorship of the De Imitatione Christi. wrote the ' De Imitatione,' still the matter could not be wholly unknown to those with whom he lived, and with whom he daily held sweet intercourse ; and while they seem to have respected his motives for not pub- licly proclaiming the fact more widely during his life, there was no reason, when he was beyond the reach of mortal praise or censure, and when the profound reverence and fervour of his soul could not be injured or disturbed by it, why those who had known and honoured him should not afterwards declare who was the man to whom the Church universal was so much indebted for such a rich and sacred legacy. Those who know the ' De Imitatione Christi,' and have learnt to value it, and those who have found a blessing from its precious words, will often speak of it with enthusiasm and delight, and with some warmth of feeling and special affection for it to others ; many a Christian philosopher, and even many a keen critic and man of letters and research, has sung its praises, and pointed it out as a book of singular excellence, as standing out above ten thousand others, as truly unique, — not for its learning or eloquence, or any attractive merits which are usually acceptable in the world, but for its remarkable simphcity, its force of thought, its direct penetration to the heart, its power and influence upon the life and conscience of men. Here are a few passages from various authors about the merits of the ' De Imitatione/ which are worth treasuring up : — " In one remarkable book," says Milman in his History of Latin Christianity, " was gathered and concentrated all that The Excellency of the Book. 1 5 was elevating, passionate, profoundly pious, in all the older mystics. Gerson, Rysbrock, Tauler, all v;ho addressed the heart in later times, were summed up, and brought into one circle of light and heat, in the single small volume, the ' Imitation of Christ.' That this book supplies some imperious want in the Christianity of mankind, that it supplied it with a fulness and felicity which left nothing, at this period of Christianity, to be desired, its boundless popularity is the one unanswerable testimony. No book has been so often reprinted, no book has been so often translated, or into so many languages, as the ' Imitation of Christ.' The mystery of its authorship, as in other cases, might have added to its fame and circulation ; but that mystery was not wanted with regard to the 'Imitation.' Wlio was the author — Italian, German, French, Fleming ? "With each of these races it is taken up as a question of national vanity. Was it the work of priest, canon, monk ? This, too, in former times, was debated with the eagerness of rival orders. The size of the book, the style, the arrangement, as well as its profound sympathy with all the religious feelings, wants, and passions ; its vivid and natural expressions, to monastic Chris- tianity what the Hebrew Psalms are to our common religion and to our common Christianity ; its contagious piety, — all con- spired to its universal dissemination, its universal use. This one little volume contained in its few pages the whole essence of the St. Victors, of Bonaventura without his Franciscan peculiarities, and of the later mystic school. Yet it might be easily held in the hand, carried about where no other book was borne, — in the narrow cell or chamber, on the journey, into the solitude, among the crowd and throng of men, in the prison. Its manner ; its short, quivering sentences, which went at once to the heart, and laid hold of and clmig tenaciously to the memory with the compression and completeness of proverbs ; its axioms, each of which suggested endless thought, its ima- gery, scriptural and simple, were alike original, unique. The style is ecclesiastical Latin, but the perfection of ecclesiastical Latin, — brief, pregnant, picturesque ; expressing profound thoughts in the fewest words, and those words, if compared with the scholastics, of purer Latin sound and construction. The facility with which it passed into other languages, those 1 6 The Authorship of the De Imitatione Chris ti. especially of Eoman descent, bears witness to its perspicuity, vivacity, and energy. Its arrangement has something of the consecutive progress of an ancient institution ; it has its com- mencement, its middle, its close ; discriminating yet leading up the student in constant ascent ', it is an epopee of the internal history of the human soul. " The ' Imitation of Christ ' both advanced and arrested the development of Teutonic Christianity ; it was prophetic of its approach, as showing that it was demanded of the human soul, and as endeavouring in its own way to supply that imperative necessity; yet by its deficiency, as a manual of universal religion, of eternal Christianity, it showed as clearly that the human mind, the human heart, could not rest in the Imitation, It acknowledged, it endeavoured to fill up the void of 'personal religion. The Imitation is the soul of man working out its own salvation, with hardly any aid but the confessed necessity of divine grace. It may be because it is the work of an ecclesiastic, a priest, or monk ; but, with the exception of the exhortation to frequent communion, there is nothing whatever of sacerdotal intervention ; all is the act, the obedience, the aspiration, the self-purification, the self-exaltation of the soul. It is the Con- fessional in which the soul confesses to itself ; it is the Direction by whose sole guidance the soul directs itself. The book absolutely and entirely supersedes and supplies the place of the spiritual teacher, the spiritual guide, the spiritual comforter ; it is in itself that teacher, guide, comforter. No manual of Teutonic devotion is more absolutely sufficient. According to its notion of Christian perfection. Christian perfection is attainable by its study and by the performance of its precepts ; the soul needs no other mediator, at least no earthly mediator, for its union with the Lord." — Milman's Lot. Christ, vol. ix. pp. 161-163. And yet, having given this quotation, we are in all fairness bound to state, that one of the keenest and most withering of criticisms that we have seen against some apparent defects of the book comes from this same hand. These we hope to notice before we conclude, The Excellency of the Book. 1 7 and are prepared in some degree to challenge what is said ; for though we do not hold that the book is perfect as a complete compendium of Christian duty, and is not altogether faultless according to our notions, yet take it for what it is, and the design of the author in writing it — and not after an idea of our own, as to what we want, — and there is none like it, in all the world. But we stay not now to discuss the criti- cisms upon the book, for they are of difierent kinds, and proceed from different quarters. We would now rather view its fair proportions, its innate merits, as a goodly heritage bequeathed to the saints of God. And here we cannot forbear quoting some other words of exquisite beauty respectmg this book from a living author ; which will show the high regard with which the 'Da Imitatione' is to be estimated. He says : — "Wlien its original influence survives the great secular changes which alter the dynasties, the philosophies, nay even the religions of mankind — it must then be either the expression of the loftiest individual genius, or into it, as into some sacred goblet, must have been crushed the rich clusters of the wisdom of centuries." And, " That a book purely devotional — a book which gains no hold by its eloquence, and derives no influence from illustrations — (lilce the Pilgrims Progress) — a book which has no deep mysteries to reveal, no splendid theories to pro- pound, no elaborate conclusions to demonstrate, should have won for itself a supremacy so unquestioned, a gratitude so ardent, is but a confirmation of what the Greek thinker said, that much learning teacheth not, but ' the voice of the Sibyl,' i.e. the voice of sacred enlightenment ' uttering things simple and unperfumed and unadorned, reaches through unnumbered years by the aid of God.' " Again, " Whoever was the compiler of the book did but gather into one rich casket the religious B 1 8 The Authorship of the De Imitatione Christi. yearnings, the interior consolations, the wisdom of solitary ex- perience, which had been wrung from many ages of Christian life. In this sense the bold saying of St. Francis de Sales is true, that ' the book has no other author than the Holy Spirit of God.' " And once more : " Therefore since it is the clearest expression of an eternal yearning of the soul, its profound self- questioning, its unshrinking introspection, its pathetic famili- arity with its Creator — the book cannot die. Good men may be — they often have been — utterly mistaken in their most cher- ished theology, and in their most impassioned convictions, but good men never live in vain, because their spiritual achieve- ments are more sacred than their doctrines, and their lives more valuable than their beliefs ; and systems, too, founded on erroneous prejudices may grow corrupt and injurious, And God fulfil Himself in many waj's. Lest one good custom should corrupt the world ; but if they be based upon sincerity they cannot fail to leave mankind a legacy of truth and wisdom. Hence, though many of the conceptions in which it was rooted have decayed, this book will continue to be valued so long as there are hearts that suffer, and that in suffering desire to rise heavenward on the two wings of simplicity and purity." — Vide Imit. II. 4. Dr. Farrar, Ser., 8t. James's Lcc. 1875, pp. 3, 13, U. In the preface to an English edition of the ' De Imitatione/ printed a.d. 1633, the following quaint and laudatory words respecting it occur : — " So fuU of sweet sense is this divine flower, that the most spiritual bees may daily draw from thence great plenty of celestial honey. It is a dish of so divine meat, that it never satiates the devout mind, but as the wisdom of God doth pro- mise to all such as sit at that heavenly banquet, so shall they find in this spiritual food, — the more they eat it, the more they shall hunger after it. " And the reason hereof is, for that it containeth so great depth of spirit, and so great store and variety of heavenly documents, that it seemeth ever new to the reader, and, like another manna, affordeth to every one that delightful taste The Excclle7icy of the Book. 19 which best agreeth with the palate of his soul, and none can loathe it but they whose lusts do carry them to Egyptian slavery. A true Israelite may feed upon it forty years togetlier, and ever find such pleasing taste, and increasing strength by use thereof, as will sustain him in the desert of this world, and enable him to go on without fainting till he arrives at his promised in- heritance of eternal rest. " It covereth the soul with the rich garment of grace. It adorneth it with the splendent pearls of evangelical perfection." The Rev. John Wesley also thus speaks of the ' De Imitatione ' in the preface to his edition of the work : — " Such is the strength, spirit, and weight of every sentence that it is scarce possible, without injury to the sense, to add or diminish anything. ... A serious mind will never be sated with it, though it were read a thousand times over ; for those general principles are the seeds of meditation, and the stores they contain can never be exhausted. And herein it greatly resembles the Holy Scriptures, that under the plainest words, there is divine hidden virtue, continually flowing into the soul of a pious and attentive reader, and by the blessing of God transforming it into His image." But the sweetest words that we have met with respecting the ' De Imitatione ' are those of a French divine. He says : — " There is in truth something celestial in the simplicity of this wonderful book. One would almost imagine that it was one of those pure spirits, which saw God face to face, that had come expressly to explain His word and to reveal His secrets. One is profoundly moved at the aspect of that soft light which nourishes the soul, and fortifies and animates without troubling it." — Mennais, cited in Dihdin's Introd. p. clii. Another French author says : — " The • Imitatio ' is the finest book which has proceeded from the pen of any man since the days of the Evangelists." — M. de Fontenelle. 20 The Atithorship of the De Imitatione Chris ti. And another French author, in a collection of letters, says : — " The Imitation of Jesus Christ is one of the most excellent treatises which was ever composed. Happy the person who, not content to admire its beauties, earnestly endeavours to reduce its precepts to practice ! " — M. Leibnitz. In the multiplicity of religious publications which prevail at the present day, some persons may have overlooked the ' De Imitatione,' or not valued it as it deserves to be, but such testimonies as these which have just been quoted, from various authors, may serve to awaken a fresh interest in the book, may enable them to discern and appreciate its rare merits, and to per- ceive that it is a work of no ordinary character. CHAPTER III. The Influence of the ' De hnitatione^ on the Life and Character. AND who can tell the fruit this book has yielded, the wonders it has wrought through God's bless- ing in the conversion of souls, — in the giving fixity of pui'pose and holy resolution to unsettled and wavermg minds, — in guiding inquiring and anxious hearts to God and to heaven, along the rough and narrow way of hfe 1 Not till the last day shall we learn all that has been effected through its potent spiritual influence, and how serviceable it has been to God's people in every age since it was written, — how it has helped to shape anew the life, and direct the course of many an earthly pilgrim as he wandered through the wilderness of tliis world, — how it has given counsel and imparted fresh vigour to the much-tried soul to persevere in resisting temptations ; and what a companion and solace it has been to many noble and devout Christians in hours of loneliness, trouble, and sorrow ; not teaching them to be content with its own words, but m'ging them, as a wise and loving friend, to go direct and directly to the Blessed Jesus — to hearken to the oracles of Divine 2 2 The Authorship of the De Imitatione Christi. truth — and to draw for themselves water out of the wells of salvation.^ Many testimonies of its intrinsic value have been made known, — many instances of the good it has wrought might be told, — but we shall here content ourselves by relatmg only one example out of a number of others that might be named, as an evidence of the efficacious mmistry of the ' De Imitatione.' The instance we give is that of Monsieur de Renty, a captain in the French army during the seventeenth century. In a deeply instructive narrative his bio- grapher says of him : — " It pleased God so to order it, that a stationer, to whom Monsieur de Eenty often repaired to buy such books as he stood in need of, for satisfying the curiosity and ardent desire of his knowledge in sciences suitable to his condition, did one day present to him the famous book of ' The Imitation of Christ,' and desired him to read it ; but he having as then his mind taken up with other notions, made no account of it for that time. The stationer having brought him another day some books that he had need of, presented the same again to him, and, with some earnestness, besought him to be pleased to read it; thereupon he yielded and read it, and was thereby so enlightened and touched (as before him a great multitude of persons of all sorts had been), that entertaining now no other thoughts or affections, he resolved to mind seriously his salva- tion, and give himself up to God ; so that amongst the great fruits and signal victories obtained by that book, we may well reckon for one this work of grace and change wrought upon 1 When the writer was on his way from Cologne to visit the birthplace of Thomas h. Kempis, he travelled with a clergyman who was returning to England after a month's absence, in which time he had taken a conti- nental chaplaincy, and been much by himself. The object of the journey naturally cropped up, and speaking of the ' De Imitatione, ' he exclaimed, "Ah, what a heavenly book that is ! I always travel with it. I take my Bible and my Prayer-Book and my Thomas h, Kempis with me when I leave home." And in how many other instances is a similar practice followed ! Its InJiiLence on the Life and Character. -J Monsieur de Eenty, who also from that time forward had that book in so gi'eat love and esteem, that he always carried it about him, and made use thereof on all occasions." The gracious effects which the reading of this book wi'o Light in his soul were so great that it bred and enkindled in his heart the thought and desire to quit the world, to consecrate himself entirely to the service of God. Providence, however, ordered it otherwise, for he married and had children, and was also actively engaged in military service ; but in every change and condition of life, his heart was wholly given to his Saviour, and in all things he sought to glorify Him and do God's will. Hence it was, as his biographer says of him in another place, many years after his con- version— " He had no other object before him but Jesus Christ, that he thought not but of Him, that he spake not but of Him, that he wrought not but for Him, and always after His sampler, — that he read not but the New Testament, which he carried always with him, and endeavoured by all means possible to engrave the knowledge and love of it on all hearts." And that this inward hfe with God his Saviour affected his outward life and behaviour is fully evident from Avhat is further said about him ; for his biographer continues : — " Monsieur de Eenty, all the time of his continuing in the armies, performed constantly his prayers, and other exercises of devotion ; when he came to his quarters, if there was a church there, his first care was to visit it, and to do his devoirs to our Lord ; if there were any religious house he took up there his lodgings, and (that he might not incommode) for himself alone, when the army stayed any time in a place; and while many, and much elder than he, passed away their time in gaming, drink- ing, ribaldry, swearing, and other disorders, he contained him- 24 The Authorship of the De Imitatione Christi. self within tlie bounds of his usual wisdom, avoiding all these base and vicious actions, and entertaining himself in exercises of virtue and honour. " In every place where he had any power, he wholly em- ployed it in keeping off disorders. He forbade peremptorily his men the ill-treating of their hosts that entertained them, or giving them occasion of complaint. And he never took horse but he made come before him them with whom he quartered to tell him themselves if any had done them wrong : and if he found that any of his had offended, he forthwith saw it remedied, and did right them." But enough. These memoirs are well worthy of being adapted and republished for the use of English Churchmen. This example of the change which, under God's blessing, was effected, is the more to be noticed, be- cause it shows how that intense thorough earnestness in religion, set forth and advocated in the ' De Imita- tione,' need not of necessity be confined to the walls of a monastery or convent ; and that, without leaving our family, or the calling of life wherein the providence of God has severally placed us, we may find ample scope for the exercise of the most holy and acceptable life to God, as man is able to attain to, and where we may vdth great advantage follow the godly admoni- tions, the holy aspirations, the true imitation of Christ, as inculcated in this admirable volume. This example, as many others also that may come to our recollection, should fully persuade us that a life of strict piety, of passionate devotedness to the Saviour, — a hfe hidden with Christ in God, and not of the world, though in the world, — may be pursued by those engaged in the common affairs of life, and even by those occupying Its Inflitence on the Life and Character. 25 positions which seem Uttle suited for the promotion of true godUness.^ When we see what may be done in even a soldier's life, we should be encouraged and incited to great endeavours after hohness of life ; and feel assured that nothing ought to hinder us in making repeated attempts to pursue it ; and that the difficul- ties we may have to contend with, situated as some of us may be, and exposed to derision or scorn at times, will — if we have the grace and courage to persevere — only make our light to shine more clearly amid the surrounding darkness of sin and coldness of heart ; and while some "forlorn and shipwrecked brother" may take heart, some doubting and careless fellow may be drawn to a better life, by observing our devout conversation and steadfast purpose, we shall hereby the more glorify our Father which is in heaven, and adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, than were we to hide our light by withdrawing from our calling in life, and seeking entire seclusion from the world. ^ Here we would gladly recall to the minds of our readers instances recorded in our own times, in the Memoirs of Captain Hedley Vicars, General Havelock, and Stonewall Jackson, and Commodore Goodenough — men who have made their lives sublime, and been a strength and comfort to those around them, as well as an example to all who shall hear of their pious be- haviour and noble conduct. CHAPTER IV. The De Imitatione a Precursor of the Refoimiation. rpHERE is another aspect in which this famous book -L must be regarded, another field in which it has done good service to the Church of God, and that is, as the harbinger or precursor of the E-eformation, — preparing the hearts of men for the coming change, by imbuing their minds aforehand with a true idea of vital religion, and teaching them how to seek God and His mercy independently for themselves without human intervention. At a time when the darkness of ignorance, superstition, and corruption was spreading itself and gathering deepness ; when the Word of God was kept in the background lest men should know the truth ; when the teachers of religion were frequently taken up with abstruse questions, a multiplicity of ceremonies, a formal observance of religious duties, and too often showed that they had not the grace of God within them, if they did not bring a scandal upon religion ; when men were losing sight of the Blessed Saviour, forgetful of His love and tenderness, shght- ing His death for the atonement of our sins, or making A Prectirsor of the Refoinnation. 27 it of no account without the intercession of the saints and pontifical interest ; when men trusted in a round of reho'ious rites and ceremonies as sufficient, and sought the mtervention of the priest as necessary to theii" salvation ; when men had indulgences granted for sins, and could purchase deliverance from suffer- ing in the next world with money, wherewith to fill the papal treasury ; when abuses prevailed to a frightful extent, and true godliness was often regai'ded as an offence, — the ' De Imitatione ' became a welcome guide and companion to many an earnest layman and devout servant of God yearning for better things. It pointed to the Scriptures as the Word of Divine Truth, to which men should take heed as unto a hght that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in their hearts/ The ' De Imitatione,' ^ How excellent are the words it utters on this subject : — " Hai^py is he whom Truth by itself doth teach. . . . What availeth it to cavil and dispute much about dark and hidden things, for ignorance of which we shall not be reproved at the day of judgment ? ' ' 'Wliat have we to do with genera and sjxcies ? He to whom the Eternal Word speaketh is delivered from many vain conceptions. ' ' From one Word are all things, and all things utter one Word ; and this is the Beginning, which also speaketh unto us. Xo man without that Word understandeth or judgeth rightly. . . . Let aU doctors hold their peace ; let aU creatures be silent in Thy sight ; speak Thou alone unto me." — Im'it. i. 3. " Truth, not eloquence, is to be sought for in Holy Scripture. Each part of the Scripture is to be read with the same Spirit wherewith it was written," — Imit. I. 5. This is a point much to be observed, if we would read the Bible to great profit, — to remember that to peruse it aright we need the help of the Spirit through Whom it was written. It is in the same strain that in another book of the ' De Imitatione ' the author gives us this beaiitiful prayer — " Let not Moses speak unto me, nor any of the Prophets, but do Thou rather speak, my Lord God, the Inspirer and Enlightener of all the Prophets. " For Thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me, but they with- out Thee can profit nothing. " They indeed may utter words, but they cannot give the Spirit. "Most beautifully do they speak, but if Thou be silent, they iuflamo not the heart. 28 The Authorship of the De Imitatione Christi. indeed, exhorted people to take counsel with spiritually- minded men about their souls' welfare, and to be guided by them ; ^ but more than this, and above all, the ' De Imitatione ' dhected every soul personally, for himself or herself, to seek God, to confess their sins unto Him in the secret of their chambers, to look to Him alone for mercy and grace, and to crave His forgiveness and favour ; and in tliis the author leads the way, and sets us an example to follow.^ The ' De Imitatione' taught "They teach the letter, but Thou openest the sense: they bring forth mysteries, but Thou unlockest the meaning of sealed things. "They declare Thy commandments, but Thou helpest us to fulfil them. They point out the way, but Thou givest strength to walk, in it. " They work only outwardly, but Thou instructest and enlightenest the heart. . . . Let not Moses therefore speak unto me, but Thou, O Lord my God, the everlasting Truth ; lest I die and prove unfruitful." — Imit. ill, 2. Li the following chapter (the 3d) there is a reproof given to those who do not hear the Word of God. Christ speaks : — ' ' I cease not even to this day to speak to all ; but many are hardened and deaf to My voice. ' ' I promise things most high and eternal, and yet the hearts of men remain torpid and insensible." — words that seem as much needed now at this day as then, and call for a new reformation of life in those that profess godliness. ^ " Consult with him that is wise and conscientious, and seek to be in- structed by a better than thyself, rather than to foUow thine own inventions. A good life maketh a man wise according to God, and giveth him experience in many things." — Imxt. I. 4. " Lay not thine heart open to every one, but treat of thy affairs with the wise and such as fear God. " Keep company with the humble and single-hearted, with the devout and virtuous ; and confer with them of those things that may edify. " — Iniit. I. 8. ^ Thus we find the author confessing his own sinfulness to God, and seeking grace both to resist e\al and to do that which is right. He indeed magnifies the grace of God, and repudiates the idea of any goodness in himself and in what he does without it. " What have I deserved for my sins but Hell and everlasting fire ? ' ' I wiU lay open my sins against myself, that so the sooner I may obtain mercy at Thy hands. ' ' What shall I say, being guilty and full of all confusion ? I have nothing to say but this, ' I have sinned : Lord, I have sinned ; have mercy on me ; pardon me ; suffer me a little that I may bewaU my grief, before I go into the land of darkness, a land covered with the shadow of death.' " — hmt. iii. 52. A Precursor of the Reformation. 29 men to look to Jesus alone as their Saviour, without having other intercessors ; to devote themselves to Him unreservedly, and to love Him with an intense absorb- ing affection above all things else, even with their whole souls. ^ Men are warned not to trust in any- thing, but in God ;^ and taught that they should not trust in prayers for the dead ;^ or in works of super- erogation;* and vain professors are reproved for their " Thy grace, 0 Lord, and great grace, is needful that nature may be over- come, . . . Neither can I resist the passions thereof, unless Thy most holy grace fervently infused into my heart do assist me. ' ' 0 heavenly grace indeed, ■without which our most worthy actions are nothing, and no gifts of nature are to be esteemed !" — Imlt. in. 55. ^ "Jesus will be loved above all things. . . . He that embraceth Jesus shall stand fast for ever. Love Him and keep Him for thy Friend, who will never go away, will not forsake thee, nor suffer thee to perish in the end. " Keep close to Jesus both in life and death, and commit thyself into Hia faithfulness, \^Tio, when all fail, can alone help thee. " Thy Beloved is of that nature that He wiU not admit of a rival ; but will have thy heart alone, and sit like a king on His own throne. " — Imit. II. 7. ' ' What can the world profit thee without Jesus ? To be without Jesus is a grievous hell ; and to be with Jesus is a sweet paradise. If Jesus be with thee no enemy can hurt thee. ' ' Love all for Jesus, but Jesus for Himself. Jesus Christ alone is to be singularly loved ; Who alone is found to be good and faithful above all friends." — Imit. il. 8. "^ ' ' For I have none fully to trust in, none that can seasonably help me in my necessities, but Thee alone, my God . . . for I find all to be weak and inconstant, whatever I behold out of Thee. For neither can many friends avail, nor strong helpers aid, nor wl