Introduction 11
THE CHAPTERS OF THE FIRST BOOK Counsels on the Spiritual Life 11
1 On the Imitation of Christ 27
2 On Personal Humility 28
3 On the Teaching of Truth 30
4 On Prudence in Action 32
5 On Reading the Holy Scriptures 33
6 On Control of the Desires 33
7 On Avoiding Vain Hope and Conceit 34
8 On Guarding against Familiarity 35
9 On Obedience and Discipline 36
10 On Avoiding Talkativeness 36
11 On Peace，and Spiritual Progress 37
12 On the Uses of Adversity 39
13 On Resisting Temptations 40
14 On Avoiding Rash Judgements 42
15 On Deeds Inspired by Love 43
16 On Bearing with the Faults of Others 44
17 On the Monastic Life 45
18 On the Examples of the Holy Fathers 46
19 On the Practices of a Good Religious 48
20 On the Love of Solitude and Silence 50
21 On Contrition of Heart 53
22 On Human Misery 55
23 A Meditation on Death 57
24 On Judgement，and the Punishment of Sinners 60
25 On the Zealous Amendment of our Life 63
THE CHAPTERS OF THE SECOND BOOK Counsels on the Inner Life 67
1 On the Inner Life 67
2 On Humble Submission to God 70
3 On the Good and Peaceful Man 70
4 On Purity of Mind and Simplicity of Purpose 72
5 On Knowing Ourselves 73
6 On the Joys of a Good Conscience 74
7 On Loving Jesus above all Things 75
8 On Close Friendship with Jesus 76
9 On the Lack of all Comfort 78
10 On Gratitude for God＇s Grace 81
11 On the Few Lovers of the Cross of Jesus 83
12 On the Royal Road of the Holy Cross 84
THE CHAPTERS OF THE THIRD BOOK On Inward Consolation 91
1 How Christ Speaks Inwardly to the Soul 91
2 How Truth Instructs us in Silence 92
3 On Humble Attention to God＇s Word 93
4 On Truth and Humility 95
5 On the Wonderful Effect of Divine Love 97
6 On the Proof of a True Lover 99
7 On Concealing Grace under Humility 101
8 On Humility in the Sight of God 103
9 How God Alone is our True End 104
10 On the Joy of God＇s Service 105
11 On Control of the Heart 107
12 On Learning Patience 108
13 On Obedience，after the Example of Christ 110
14 On the Secret Judgements of God 111
15 On the Ordering of our Desires 112
16 How True Comfort is to be Sought in God Alone 114
17 How we must put our Whole Trust in God 115
18 How Sorrows are to be Borne Patiently 116
19 On Enduring Injuries，and the Proof of Patience 117
20 On our own Weakness，and the Trials of This Life 118
21 How we must Rest in God Alone above all Things 120
22 On Being Mindful of God’s Blessings 122
23 On Four Things that Bring Peace 124
24 On the Evils of Curiosity 126
25 On Lasting Peace and True Progress 127
26 On the Excellence of a Free Mind 128
27 How Self-Love Hinders our Search for God 130
28 Against Slander 131
29 How we should Bless God in all Trouble 132
30 On Asking God＇s Help，and the Certainty of his Grace 133
31 On Forsaking Creatures to Find the Creator 135
32 On Self-Denial，and Renunciation of our Desires 137
33 On Inconstancy of Heart 138
34 On God＇s Graciousness to Those who Love Him 139
35 How There is no Security from Temptation 140
36 Against the Vain Judgements of Men 142
37 How Surrender of Self Brings Freedom of Heart 143
38 On the Right Ordering of our Affairs 144
39 How we should not be Over Anxious 145
40 How Man has no Personal Goodness of which to Boast 146
41 On Contempt for Worldly Honours 147
42 That our Peace cannot Depend on Man 148
43 A Warning against Vain and Worldly Learning 149
44 On Avoiding Distractions 150
45 How we should not Believe all we Hear 151
46 On Putting our Entire Trust in God 153
47 How Burdens must be Borne to win Eternal Life 155
48 On Eternity，and the Limitations of This Life 156
49 On the Desire for Eternal Life，and the Wonder of God＇s Promises 159
50 On Trust in God in all Trouble 162
51 How when we Lack Strength for Higher Work we should Undertake Humble Tasks 165
52 How no Man is Worthy of God＇s Comfort 165
53 How God＇s Grace is not Granted to the Worldly-Minded 167
54 On the Contrary Workings of Nature and Grace 168
55 On the Corruption of Nature，and the Power of Grace 171
56 How we must Follow Christ＇s Way of the Cross in Self-Denial 174
57 That we should never Despair 175
58 How we may not Inquire into the Unsearchable Judgements of God 177
59 The we should Hope and Trust in God Alone 180
THE CHAPTERS OF THE FOURTH BOOK On the Blessed Sacrament 183
1 On the Deep Reverence with which Christ should be Received 183
2 On the Great Goodness and Love of God in this Sacrament 187
3 On the Value of Frequent Communion 190
4 On the Many Blessings Granted to the Devout Com-municant 192
5 On the Dignity of the Sacrament，and of the Priestly Office 194
6 On Preparation for Communion 196
7 On Self-Examination，and the Purpose of Amendment 196
8 On the Offering of Christ on the Cross 198
9 How we must Offer Ourselves wholly to God，and Pray for all Men 199
10 That Holy Communion is not to be Lightly Foregone 201
11 How the Body of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are most Necessary to the Faithful Soul 204
12 On the Need for Careful Preparation to Receive Christ in Holy Communion 207
13 How the Devout Soul should Sincerely Desire Union with Christ in his Sacrament 209
14 On Ardent Desire for the Body of Christ 210
15 How Devotion is Won by Humility and Self-Denial 211
16 How we should Declare our Needs to Christ，and Ask his Grace 213
17 On Ardent Love and Eager Desire to Receive Christ 214
18 How we should Approach Christ＇s Sacrament Humbly，Submitting Reason to Holy Faith 216