The Little Kempis or Short Sayings and Prayers

Thomas A Kempis is well known for the 2nd best selling book of all time, The Imitation of Christ. St Athanasius Press continues to work to bring more Kempis works back into print for your spiritual pleasure. The Little Kempis or Short Sayings and Prayers IN ANGULO CUM LIBELLA. I have everywhere sought after tranquillity, but have never found it, except in corners and with books. Kempis 1. It is indeed good to me to attach myself to God. O short and sweet word! By which one gains God and shuts out the world. What farther ought one to say or what farther can one desire? Is it not enough? 2. Thou must no desire to be running here and there, but thou must be solitary, the solitary mingle in no fellowship with externals. 3. Let thy conversation be only to the One and when He goes away, sit solitary and bear all patiently. 4. Temptation is a fire which proves the pure gold and burns up the dross. See thou, O man, what thou art? The heavenly refiner melts and the children of Levi purify. 5. All is not gold which glistens, nor is all chaff or counterfeit that comes under the flail, or is in the fire. God looks upon the heart and the intention. 6. The whole of this present life is, but one short night. My days are short and evil and are soon to end. They are to be as though they had not been. 7. O that the world was all withered in my heart and the master my God, the immortal bridegroom was alone lovely to me. 8. That pleasure which flows with the current of this life is indeed a deceitful bitter cup. One may drink thereof when he desires. He will nevertheless after all be compelled to pay dear. 9. Fly from me, thou deceitful fondness for the world and all foolish pleasures of the flesh. Thou distractest and deceivest many, but in the end thou quitest and drownest them. Alas, for those who trust in thee! Alas for those who are drowned in thee. But come here and approach me, O holy contempt and perfect corn of all the pomp of this world and thou salutary recollection of my pilgrimage, never depart from me. 10. Whoever is dead to the world, who is not in the world, but in God, loves Him, so likewise is he who thinks and speaks thus and who looks upon the things without as though they were not.