CHAPTER I.

_Of the imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world._

HE _that followeth me walketh not in darkness_, saith the Lord. These are the words of Christ, by which we are admonished, that we ought to imitate his life and manners, if we would be truly enlightened, and delivered from all blindness of heart.

Let therefore our chief endeavour be to meditate upon the life of Jesus Christ.

2. What will it avail thee to dispute sublimely of the Trinity, if thou be void of humility, and art thereby displeasing to the Trinity?

Truly, sublime words do not make a man holy and just; but a virtuous life maketh him dear to God.

I had rather feel compunction, than know the definition thereof.

If thou didst know the whole bible, and the sayings of all the philosophers by heart, what would all that profit thee, without the love of God?

*Vanity of vanities! All is vanity, but to love God, and to serve him only.

3. It is therefore vanity to seek after perishing riches.

It is also vanity to seek honours.

It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh, and to labour for that for which thou must afterwards suffer grievous punishment.

It is vanity to wish to live long, and to be careless to live well.

It is vanity to mind this present life, and not those things which are to come.

It is vanity to set thy love on that which speedily passeth away, and not to hasten thither, where everlasting joys remain.