The Imitation of Christ · Chapter
Of the exercises of a religious man explained
The chapter emphasizes the need for a Christian to adorn his life with all virtues, to renew his vows daily, and to rely on God's grace for progress.
What happens
The chapter emphasizes the need for a Christian to adorn his life with all virtues, to renew his vows daily, and to rely on God's grace for progress. It advises regular self-examination, resistance against sin, and the importance of holy exercises suited to one's state and season, with a focus on being watchful and prepared for the Lord's coming.
Themes in this chapter
Interior Life and Solitude
The chapter stresses the need to be inwardly what one appears outwardly, and to examine both outer and inner life, emphasizing the interior disposition before God.
Grace and Divine Dependence
The resolution of the righteous depends more on God's grace than on their own wisdom, and man proposes but God disposes.
Characters to notice
- The Disciple
The disciple is the speaker throughout the chapter, offering guidance on spiritual exercises and self-examination.
- God the Father
Referred to as the discerner of the heart whom we must reverence and walk pure before.
- Jesus Christ
Quoted indirectly through the Evangelist Luke: 'Blessed is that servant whom when the Lord cometh He shall find watching.'
Key passages
“Help me, O God, in my good resolutions, and in Thy holy service, and grant that this day I may make a good beginning, for hitherto I have done nothing!”
Assist me, Lord, in my commitments and in serving You, and let today be a fresh start, since I have accomplished nothing so far.
A prayer for daily renewal and dependence on God's help.
“For man proposeth, but God disposeth; and 'the way of a man is not in himself.'”
Humans make plans, but God determines the outcome; a person's path is not under their own control.
Acknowledges human limitation and divine sovereignty.
“Blessed is that servant whom when the Lord cometh He shall find watching. Verily I say unto you, He will make him ruler over all that He hath.”
Happy is the servant who is alert when the Lord arrives; truly, He will put that servant in charge of all His possessions.
A call to vigilance and readiness for Christ's coming, quoting Luke 12:43-44.