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CLASSICAL ESSAY |
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by Thomas á Kempis
1. Very quickly will it be over with thee here; see then how matters stand with thee. A man is here today, and tomorrow he is no longer seen. And when he is taken away from the sight, he is also quickly out of mind. Oh! the dullness and harness of the human heart, which thinks only of what is present and does not look rather forward to things to come. Thou oughtest in every action and thought so to order thyself, as if thou wert immediately to die. If thou hadst a good conscience, thou wouldst not much fear death. It were better for thee to avoid sin, than to escape death. If thou are not prepared today, how wilt thou be tomorrow? Tomorrow is an uncertain day; and how dost thou know that thou shalt be alive tomorrow? 2. What good is it to live long, when we advance so little? Ah! long life does not always make us better, but often rather adds to our guilt. Would that we had behaved ourselves well in this world, even for one day! Many reckon up the years of their conversion; but oftentimes the fruit of amendment is but small. If it be frightful to die, perhaps it will be more dangerous to live longer. Blessed is he that has always the hour of his death before his eyes, and every day prepares himself to die. If thou hast at any time seen a man die, think that thou also must traverse the same path. 3. In the morning, think that thou mayest not live till night; and when evening comes, presume not to promise thyself the next morning. Be therefore always prepared, and live in such a manner, that death may never find thee unprepared. Many die suddenly, and when they little think of it: For in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man will come. When that last hour shall come, thou wilt begin to have quite other thoughts of thy whole past life, and be exceeding sorry that thou hast been so negligent and remiss. 4. How happy and prudent is he who strives now to be such in this life, as he desires to be found at his death. A perfect contempt of the world, a fervent desire to advance in virtue, a love of discipline, labor in penitence, readiness in obedience, self-denial, and patience in affliction for the love of Christ, will give us great assurance of dying happily. Thou mayest do many good things whilst thou art well; but when thou art sick, I know not what thou wilt be able to do. Few are improved by sickness; so they also that rove about much, seldom become holy. 5. Trust not in thy friends and kinsfolk, nor put off the welfare of they soul to hereafter; for men will forget thee sooner than thou thinkest. It is better now to provide in in time, and send some good before thee, than to depend upon the help of others. If thou art not now careful for thyself, who will be careful for thee hereafter? The present time is very precious. Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. But oh, the sorrow that thou dost not spend this time more profitably, wherein thou mayest earn life for ever! The time will come, when thou wilt wish for one day or hour to amend; and I know not whether thou wilt obtain it. 6. O dearly beloved, from how great a danger mayest thou deliver thyself, from how great a fear mayest thou rescue thyself, if thou wilt but now be always fearful, and looking for death! Strive now so to live, that in the hour of thy death thou mayest be able to rejoice rather than fear. Learn now to despise all things, that thou mayest then freely go to Christ. Chasten thy body now by penitence, that thou mayest then have a sure confidence. 7. Ah, fool! why dost thou think to live long, when thou art not sure of one day? How many thinking to live long have been deceived, and snatched unexpectedly away? How often hast thou heard related, that such a one was slain by the sword; another drowned; another, from a height, broke his neck; one died eating, another playing? Some have perished by fire; some by the sword; some by pestilence; and some by robbers. And so death is the end of all; and man's life suddenly passeth away like a shadow. 8. Who will remember thee when thou art dead? and who will pray for thee? Do now, beloved, do now all thou canst, because thou knowest not when thou shalt die, nor does thou know what shall befall thee after death. Whilst thou hast time, gather up for thyself everlasting riches; think of nothing but thy salvation; care for nothing but the things of God. Make now to thyself friends, by honoring the saints of God, and imitating their actions; that when thou failest, they may receive thee into everlasting habitations. 9. Keep thyself as a pilgrim and a stranger upon earth, whom none of the affairs of this world concern. Keep thy heart free, and raised upwards to God; for here thou hast no continuing city. Send thither thy daily prayers with sighs and with tears; that after death thy spirit may be worthy happily to pass to our Lord. Amen.
Excerpted from The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis (by attribution) |
The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis Thomas a Kempis, by Carolyn Nystrom
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