the little

Garden of Roses

and

Valley of Lilies

translated from the original latin of

Thomas à Kempis

Ego flos campi, et lilium convallium.

Fulcite me floribus—quia amore langueo.

Ex Cant. Cant. 2

London:

T. Jones, Paternoster Row.

m.dccc.xl.

Preface

It is a matter for wonder, that so few of the works of the B. Thomas à Kempis are known to the English reader; and this the more, that they all breathe the same meek and warm spirit of piety and devotion we meet with in that golden book attributed so popularly to his name, and this moreover to such an extent, that it is difficult to believe that there should ever have been any hardy enough to deny, that the author of these, and of “The Imitation of Christ,” were identical.

Into this controversy, which, like too many others, has given rise to much unseemly bitterness, we have no desire to enter, as such a theme would be unfitting and disproportionate both to the spirit and size of this little volume; but, waiving all discussion, we subjoin the following catalogue of his works, that the English reader may from their number judge and share in our surprise that there are so many unknown to him, when the great majority are willing to take the household name of a Kempis, for all that is sublime in piety and beautiful in devotion.

*1. Sermones ad Novitios, 3 partes.

*2. Sermones novem, ad Fratres.

*3. Conciones et meditationes triginta sex utilissimæ.

*4. Soliloquium Animæ.

5. Hortulus Rosarum.

*6. Vallis Liliorum.

*7. De tribus Tabernaculis.

8. De Disciplinà Claustralium.

9. De fideli Dispensatore.

10. Hospitale Pauperum.

11. Dialogus Novitiorum.

12. Exercitia Spiritualia.

13. Doctrinale Juvenum.

*14. De verâ Compunctione.

15. De Solitudine.

16. De Silentio.

17. De Recognitione Propriæ fragilitatis.

18. Enchiridion Monachorum.

19. Manuale Parvulorum.

20. De Elevatione Mentis in Deum.

21. Alphabetum parvum Monachi in Sehola Christi.

22. Consolatio Pauperum.

*23. Orationes Piæ.

24. De mortificatione sui ipsius.

25. De humilitate.

26. De Vitâ bonâ et Pacificâ.

27. Vita boni Monachi (in rhyme).

28. Cantica Spiritualia.

29. Vita Gerardi magni.

30. Vita Florentii.

31. Vita Luberti Berneri.

32. Vita Henrici Brune.

33. Vita Amilii Burensis.

34. Vita Jacobi de Viana.

35. Vita Johannis Cacabi, (Ketel).

36. Vita Arnoldi Schoonehoven.

37. Vita B. Lidwini, Virginis.

38. Epistolæ Sex.

39. Orationes Piæ.

40. Cantica Spiritualia.

Of these the greater number (some from their very title, such as that De Disciplina Claustralium) would appear at first sight to be more exclusively addressed to such as had embraced a religious state; yet there is so much practical piety, such a warmth of devotion, and knowledge of the interior life, suited to all, both lay and cleric, that any or all are well worthy of an English dress, and such as might ripen the good seed into goodly fruit in the heart of the reader. Moreover, we should remember, that however unpalateable to the world the strictness of a ...