PREFACE. THE thought has occurred to many a reader that the De Imitatione Christi is not the product of one man's brain, but that some pious compiler, for his own soul's need, sifted the Christian sands of his time and gathered up a little measurefull of the grains of gold. The book seems to have been written by a man of no great originality save in self-obliteration,—a man whose wants and capacities were like every one else's, so that what appeared wise and beautiful to him has seemed the same to many since. To-day we still read the writings of long-past ages, for our higher self's sake. But they are now for us only the sands, and each one as he reads sifts and gathers out the gold-dust. Haply one who has so done is not acting amiss in offering his labour's yield to the public, for perchance it may prove precious to many. When, with no solicitude except to be faithful to his own personal want and sense of truth, the compiler has gathered the best utterances -the best for him-concerning the Moral Life of Man, he finds he has stored up something more than a mere heap of unrelated particles even of gold, he discovers that the thought-edges of one saying match with those of another, and the emotional flush of one mounts into the warmer glow of another, as if each had been made for each. It could not be otherwise. The compiler's fidelity to himself would allow him to select 630 OCT 26 RECAP65603 nothing that had not its counterpart in his own inward pattern of the perfect, the true and the helpful. The writings, besides, of the seers of to-day, of the saints of the Church, the Apostles, the prophets, the stoics, and of the sages of Athens and the East, where akin in thought and feeling, are alike also in imagery and in simplicity and dignity of phrase. Lastly, the Moral Life reflects in its literature not only its variations, but its own identity, which marks it everywhere, and is of yesterday, to-day, and for ever. His book then, if the compiler has not failed, becomes more than a mere collection of quotations. The once separate parts lose themselves, and find their meaning in the whole. For curious readers, however, notes at the foot of each page should cite the author, the volume, chapter and page, so far as possible, of the original of each selection; where any portion of a sentence has been left out, the fact should be stated; and wherever a few words have been inserted (as here and there a little filling in of cement makes the whole evener and firmer), this too should be confessed. When, however, these precautions have been taken, no charge of theft or mutilation can be just. If also the book gives evidence of painstaking and of time spent in pondering finer meanings, then even the compiler's work will re-enforce the Prophets' word, and move the reader to conscientious service. S. C. CONTENTS. II. Many Secretly Seek Themselves in III. We See not Our Own Hearts Aright IV. We May be in Danger of Moral Death V. Fellowship in the Moral Life is the VI. We Have no Life Apart from Others VII. Good Begets Good in the World and VIII. Where the Conscience of the People is Aroused Iniquity will be Rooted IX. Nothing short of Entire Commitment X. Be Good and Thou Wilt Do Good XI. We Have Within Ourselves the Power XIII. True Repentance Freeth us from Guilt XIV. Repentance Demandeth Confession XV. Our Deeds React upon Our Own XVI. A Holy Purpose Predisposeth the Soul XVII. Keep to the Straight and Narrow Way 79 XX. Spiritual Life is a Constant Growth XXII. Take Counsel Against Self-Blindness b |