True Christianity / A Treatise on Sincere Repentence, True Faith, the Holy Walk of the True Christian, Etc.
by Johann Arndt
★3.8/5
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About This Book
Never before translated into English, this book by the sixteenth-century Lutheran mystic (1555-1621) has been the foundation for countless spiritual works both Protestant and Catholic.
Chapters (199)
- Introduction By The American Editor.
- Book I. Wherein True Christianity, Sincere Sorrow For Sin, Repentance, Faith, And The Holy Life Of The True Christian, Are Considered.
- The Author's Preface To The First Book.
- Chapter I. Showing What The Image Of God In Man Is.
- Chapter II. Of The Fall Of Adam.
- Chapter III. Showing How Man Is Renewed In Christ Unto Eternal Life.
- Chapter IV. Of True Repentance, And The True Yoke And Cross Of Christ.
- Chapter V. Wherein Does True Faith Consist?
- Chapter VI. Showing How The Vital Power Of The Word Of God Should Be Manifested In Man Through Faith.
- Chapter VII. The Law Of God, Written In The Hearts Of All Men, Convinces Them That On The Day Of Judgment They Will Be Without Excuse.
- Chapter VIII. No One Can Find Comfort In Christ And His Merits, Who Does Not Truly Repent.
- Chapter IX. The Unchristian Walk Of Many Persons In Our Day, Is A Cause Of The Rejection Of Christ And Of The True Faith.
- Chapter X. The Children Of The World Are Against Christ, And, Consequently, Their Life And Their Christianity Are Both Alike False.
- Chapter XI. Showing That He Does Not Truly Repent, Is Not A Christian, And Not A Child Of God, Who Does Not, In His Life And Conduct, Follow Christ; Also, Wherein The New Birth And The Yoke Of Christ Consist.
- Chapter XII. The True Christian Dies Unto Himself And The World, And Lives In Christ.
- Chapter XIII. The Christian Ought Willingly To Die Unto Himself And The World, For The Sake Of The Love Of Christ, And For The Sake Of That Future And Eternal Glory, For Which We Were Created And Redeemed.
- Chapter XIV. The True Christian, Who Imitates Christ, Hates His Own Life In This World, And Forsakes The World.
- Chapter XV. Showing How The “Old Man” Daily Dies, And The “New Man” Is Daily Renewed, In A True Christian; Also, Wherein Self-Denial Consists, And What Is Meant By The Christian's Cross.
- Chapter XVI. A Conflict Is Constantly Maintained In The Christian Between The Spirit And The Flesh.
- Chapter XVII. The Inheritance And Possessions Of Christians Are Not Of This World; They Should, Therefore, Regard Themselves As Strangers In It, While They Make Use Of Earthly Things.
- Chapter XVIII. Showing How Greatly God Is Offended, When Man Prefers Things That Are Temporal To Those That Are Eternal; And How Great The Evil Is, When Our Affections Cleave To The Creature And Not To The Creator.
- Chapter XIX. He Who Is Most Of All Conscious Of His Misery, Is Most Of All Acceptable To God; And His Christian Knowledge Of His Misery, Urges Him To Seek The Grace Of God.
- Chapter XX. A Truly Christian Sorrow For Sin Promotes The Daily Amendment Of The Life Of Man, Makes Him Meet For The Kingdom Of God, And Fits Him, In An Increasing Degree, For Eternal Life.
- Chapter XXI. Of The True Worship Of God.
- Chapter XXII. A True Christian Is Known Primarily By Love, And By A Daily Amendment Of Life.
- Chapter XXIII. He Who, In Christ, Desires To Grow In Grace, Is Often Compelled To Withdraw From Worldly Society.
- Chapter XXIV. Of The Love Of God And Our Neighbor.
- Chapter XXV. The Love Of Our Neighbor, More Particularly Considered.
- Chapter XXVI. Wherefore Our Neighbor Is To Be Loved.
- Chapter XXVII. Wherefore Our Enemies Are To Be Loved.
- Chapter XXVIII. Showing How The Love Of The Creator Should Be Preferred To That Of All Creatures; And How Our Neighbor Is To Be Loved In God.
- Chapter XXIX. Of That Reconciliation To Our Neighbor, Without Which God Withdraws His Grace.
- Chapter XXX. Of The Fruits Of Love.
- Chapter XXXI. Pride And Self-Love Corrupt And Destroy Even The Best And Noblest Gifts.
- Chapter XXXII. Great Gifts Do Not Demonstrate A Man To Be A Christian, But Faith That Works By Love.
- Chapter XXXIII. God Has No Respect To The Works Of Any One; But Judges Of Works According To The Heart.
- Chapter XXXIV. Showing That God Alone, Without Any Human Aid, Is The Author Of Our Salvation, And That We Are To Submit Unreservedly To His Grace; Also, That Christ's Merit Is Not Imputed To The Impenitent.
- Chapter XXXV. All Wisdom, Arts, And Sciences, Yea, Even The Knowledge Of The Whole Scripture, Are Vain, Without A Holy And Christian Life.
- Chapter XXXVI. He Who Does Not Live In Christ, But Gives His Heart To The World, Has Only The Outward Letter Of The Scriptures, But He Does Not Experience Their Power, Or Eat Of The Hidden Manna.
- Chapter XXXVII. He Who Does Not Follow Christ In Faith, Holiness, And Continued Repentance, Cannot Be Delivered From The Blindness Of His Heart, But Must Abide In Eternal Darkness; And He Cannot Have A True Knowledge Of Christ, Or Fellowship With Him.
- Chapter XXXVIII. Showing That An Unchristian Life Leads To False Doctrine, Hardness Of Heart, And Blindness; Also, Treating Of The Eternal Election Of Grace.
- Chapter XXXIX. Showing That The Purity Of The Doctrine Of The Divine Word Is Maintained Not Only By Discussions And Publications, But Also By True Repentance And Holiness Of Life.
- Chapter XL. Sundry Rules For Leading A Holy Life.
- Chapter XLI. The Whole Of Christianity Consists In The Restoration Of The Image Of God In Man, And The Destruction Of The Image Of Satan.
- Chapter XLII. In This Concluding Chapter The Reasons For Adopting The Method Observed In Book I. Are Explained; The Duty Of Guarding Against Spiritual Pride Is Described, And The Truth Is Set Forth That True Spiritual Gifts Cannot Be Obtained Without Prayer.
- Book II.
- Preface To The Second Book.
- Chapter I. Jesus Christ, The Son Of God, Is Given To Us By Our Heavenly Father As Our Help Against The Damnable And Deadly Poison Of Original Sin, And The Pernicious Fruits Thereof, As Well As A Protector Against All The Calamities And Evils Both Of The Body And The Soul.
- Chapter II. The Manner In Which The Christian Should Apply And Appropriate To Himself The Consolation Noticed In Chapter I.
- Chapter III. Our Righteousness Before God, Consists Solely In The Perfect Obedience And Merit Of Christ Jesus, And In The Remission Of Sin Apprehended By Faith.
- Chapter IV. Showing That Saving Faith In The True Christian Produces Manifold Fruits Of Righteousness, And That These Must Proceed From The Depth Of The Heart; Also, That The Character Of Our Outward Works, Depends, In The Judgment Of God, Upon The State Of The Heart.
- Chapter V. Showing That The Evidence Of True Christianity Does Not Consist In The Knowledge And The Hearing Of God's Word, But That He Is A Christian, In Whose Life God's Word Is Manifested, And Who Beseeches God In Sincerity That This Word, As A Divine Seed, May Be Quickened In Him, And Bear Fruit.
- Chapter VI. The Perfection And Salvation Of Men Depend On Union With Christ By Faith; But To This They Can Contribute Nothing, Whereas They Rather Interfere With The Grace Of God By Their Perverse Will; But Christ, And He Alone, Accomplishes The Work In Us.
- Chapter VII. Showing That In Order To Understand The True Nature Of Repentance, We Must Necessarily Know The Distinction Between The Old And The New Man; Or, How In Us Adam Must Die, And Christ Live; Or, How In Us The Old Man Must Die, And The New Man Live.
- Chapter VIII. Showing How Graciously God Invites Us To Repentance, And How Necessary It Is That It Should Not Be Delayed.
- Chapter IX. Showing What Repentance Is, And The Manner In Which The Sinner Truly Repents; Also, How The Goodness Of God Leads Us To Repentance.
- Chapter X. The Four Properties Of True Repentance.
- Chapter XI. Showing That The Fruit Of Conversion Is The New Creature; Also, That The Christian Is, By Faith, A Lord Over All, And, By Love, A Servant Of All; And, That The Life Of Christ Is A Mirror For Us.
- Chapter XII. Showing That Christ Is The Only Way And End Of True Godliness; And That Man Goes Astray, When God Does Not Guide And Direct Him.
- Chapter XIII. Showing That Jesus Christ Is The True Book Of Life, And That His Poverty Teaches Us To Despise The Glory Of The World.
- Chapter XIV. Showing How Christ, By The Shame And Contempt Which He Endured, And By His Self-Denial, Teaches Us To Despise The Honor And Glory Of The World.
- Chapter XV. Showing How We Should, Through Christ, Bear And Overcome The Trials And Contempt Of The World.
- Chapter XVI. Showing How Christians Are To Seek And Obtain Favor And Glory Through Christ, In Heaven.
- Chapter XVII. Showing How We May Through Christ, And After The Example Of All The Saints, Overcome The Calumnies Of Men.
- Chapter XVIII. Showing How The Sorrows And Pains Of Christ Should Teach Us To Subdue The Lusts Of The Flesh.
- Chapter XIX. Showing How We Should Behold In The Crucified Christ, As In The Book Of Life, Both Our Sins, And Also The Displeasure, The Love, Justice, And Wisdom Of God.
- Chapter XX. Of The Power And Necessity Of Prayer, In These Holy Contemplations.
- Chapter XXI. Of The Power Of The Noble Virtue Of Humility.
- Chapter XXII. All The Works Of A True Christian Must Be Done In Humility, Or They Will, Otherwise, Become An Abomination And Idolatry.
- Chapter XXIII. A Man Who Does Not Perceive His Own Emptiness, And Does Not Give All The Honor To God, Commits The Greatest Of Sins, And Falls Like Satan.
- Chapter XXIV. Of The Noble Virtue Of Love, And Of Its Power, Soundness, And Purity.
- Chapter XXV. Sundry Signs By Which We May Ascertain Whether We Truly Love Christ.
- Chapter XXVI. Five Kinds Of Works Of Love, In Which The Grace And Goodness Of God Are Especially Revealed.
- Chapter XXVII. Showing How The Lord Jesus Manifests Himself To The Loving Soul As The Highest Love And The Highest Good.
- Chapter XXVIII. Showing How The Highest Good Is Perceived And Tasted In The Soul.
- Chapter XXIX. Showing How The Loving Soul Considers God In His Benefits As The Most Liberal Bountifulness.
- Chapter XXX. Showing How God Manifests Himself To The Loving Soul, As The Supreme Beauty.
- Chapter XXXI. Showing How God Manifests Himself To The Loving Soul As The Infinite Omnipotence.
- Chapter XXXII. Showing How The Loving Soul Knows God As The Highest Righteousness And Holiness.
- Chapter XXXIII. Showing How The Loving Soul Considers God As The Eternal Wisdom.
- Chapter XXXIV. Showing How A Man Should Seek The Wisdom Of God By Prayer; Containing Also A Useful Treatise On Prayer, Wherein The Reader Is Taught How The Heart Is To Be Moved Unto Prayer, And Brought Into A Quiet Sabbath, So That Prayer May Be Wrought In Us By The Lord; The Whole Being Set Forth In Twelve Sections.
- Section I. All That We Have Lost In Adam We Recover Fully And Completely In Christ.
- Section II. The Evils That Follow The Neglect Of Prayer.
- Section III. The Benefits Of Continual Prayer.
- Section IV. The True Christian Chooses The Narrow Way In Christ, Rather Than The Broad Way In Adam.
- Section V. Considerations Which Should Move The Heart To Commune With God In Prayer.
- Section VI. The Omniscient God Knows What We Stand In Need Of, Before We Ask Him.
- Section VII. That God Invites And Engages All Men To The Exercise Of Prayer, And Promises To Hear Their Petitions.
- Section VIII. God Is No Respecter Of Persons, But Has An Impartial Love For All His Creatures.
- Section IX. Showing That It Is Equally Sinful To Pray To God Upon The Presumption Of Our Own Merit, And To Forbear On Account Of Our Unworthiness.
- Section X. The True Worshipper Ought Not To Seek After God In Any Particular Place; For He Finds Him Everywhere In Spirit And In Truth.
- Section XI. The Worshipper Is Not Restricted To Certain Times Of Prayer, But May At Any Hour Address God In Prayer, Provided That He Does Not Hinder Himself.
- Section XII. The Considerations Stated Above, Not Only Dispose The Heart To True Prayer, But Also Furnish Various Useful Lessons.
- Chapter XXXV. Prayer Is The Sign Of A True Christian, That Is, Of One Who Is Anointed Of The Lord.
- Chapter XXXVI. On The Benefits And Power Of Prayer, And On Its True Ground Or Foundation.
- Chapter XXXVII. Reasons Why God Certainly Hears Our Prayers.
- Chapter XXXVIII. Seven Helps Or Aids For Our Infirmities In Prayer.
- Chapter XXXIX. The Conversation Of A Believing Soul With God.
- Chapter XL. A Conversation Between Faith And The Mercy Of God.
- Chapter XLI. The Great Benefits, And The Great Efficacy Of Praise Offered To God.
- Chapter XLII. The Reasons For Which We Ought Daily To Offer Praises To God.
- Chapter XLIII. To Praise God Is The Highest And Most Honorable Employment Of Men.
- Chapter XLIV. Of Patience, Which Triumphantly Endures The Cross, And Waits For The Promised Glory.
- Chapter XLV. Divine Consolation Produces Patience Under Afflictions.
- Chapter XLVI. Motives To Patience; And, The Benefits Of The Cross.
- Chapter XLVII. Sentences, And Examples Of Patience And Consolation.
- I. Some Sentences And Testimonies Of Scripture.
- II. Examples Of Patience.
- III. Consolations.
- Chapter XLVIII. There Is No Affliction For Which God Has Not Provided Appropriate Consolation. The Consolation Which He Affords Is Always Greater Than Our Misery; This Consideration Should Sustain And Confirm Our Patience.
- Chapter XLIX. The Truth Of God And The Certainty Of His Promises, Ought To Dispose Us To Patience.
- Chapter L. Showing How Hope Is Tested In Seasons Of Adversity; It Maketh Not Ashamed.
- Chapter LI. Comfort For Those That Are Weak In Faith.
- Chapter LII. Comforting Instructions For Those That Are Laboring Under Great Temptations In Spirit.
- Chapter LIII. Consolations For Those Who Labor Under Great Spiritual Temptations.
- Chapter LIV. Comforts Under Secret And Spiritual Temptations Of The Devil.
- Chapter LV. The Reasons For Which God Sometimes Delays His Comfort And Assistance.
- Chapter LVI. Showing That In Seasons Of Trial The Consideration Of The Exalted Patience Of Christ, And Of The Future And Eternal Glory, Will Alleviate The Burden Of The Cross.
- Chapter LVII. Consolations Against The Fears Of Death.
- Conclusion Of The Second Book.
- Book III.
- Preface To The Third Book.
- Chapter I. Of The Great Internal Treasure Of An Enlightened Believer.
- Chapter II. True Faith, And Converse With The Soul, The Only Means Of Attaining To This Inward Treasure.
- Chapter III. The Whole Treasure Of The Inner Man Depends On Faith, Namely, God, Christ, The Holy Spirit, And The Kingdom Of God.
- Chapter IV. The Believing Soul Seeks God Internally, In Itself; Its Beauty And Blessedness When It Is United With God.
- Chapter V. Showing How A Man May Be Drawn To God; Also, Wherein Spiritual Poverty Consists; And, What The Degrees Of Humility Are.
- Chapter VI. The Seat Of God In The Soul.
- Chapter VII. Of The Dignity Of The Soul; Of True Repentance; And, Of Divine Mercy.
- Chapter VIII. The Calling Of God Is Earnest And Sincere, And Directs Us To Come To Him.
- Chapter IX. The Purifying Influence Of True Faith.
- Chapter X. Showing How The Natural Light In Us Must Disappear, And The Light Of Grace Shine Forth.
- Chapter XI. God, The Light Of The Soul, Directing Us Not To Judge Our Neighbors.
- Chapter XII. The Christian Ought Daily, Once At Least, Wholly To Abstract Himself From All External Objects, And Retire Into His Own Soul; The Advantages Of This Course.
- Chapter XIII. Showing How The Love Of God Enters Into The Soul, When It Is Empty Of The Love Of The Creatures.
- Chapter XIV. Of The Exercise Of Patience And Love.
- Chapter XV. Showing How Christ, The Eternal Word Of The Father, Perfects His Work In The Hearts Of The Faithful, By Love And Humility.
- Chapter XVI. Showing How The Holy Spirit Operates In Our Souls.
- Chapter XVII. Signs Of The Presence Of The Holy Spirit In Us.
- Chapter XVIII. Showing How Worldly Pleasures Drive Away The Holy Spirit.
- Chapter XIX. Of Inward Prayer, And Of The True Use Of The Lord's Prayer.
- Chapter XX. Showing That Humility Must First Be Laid As A Foundation In The Heart, And All Our Works Must Rest On It; Its Blessed Influences.
- Chapter XXI. Showing That A Man Ought To Rest In God Alone, And Not In His Gifts; And That He Must Deny Himself.
- Chapter XXII. Showing How Our Works May Be Rendered Acceptable To God.
- Chapter XXIII. Of The Mystery Of The Cross, By Which We Are Drawn To God.
- Book IV.
- Preface To The Fourth Book. All Creatures Are Messengers Of God, Intended To Lead Us To God.
- Part I. Treating Of The Works Of The Six Days Of Creation, In General.
- Chapter I. Of Light, The Work Of The First Day.
- Chapter II. Of Heaven, The Work Of The Second Day.
- Chapter III. Of The Separation Of The Waters From The Dry Land, The Work Of The Third Day.
- Chapter IV. Of The Sun, Moon, And Stars, The Work Of The Fourth Day.
- Chapter V. Of The Waters, And Their Productions, The Work Of The Fifth Day.
- Chapter VI.
- Of The Living Creatures, The Work Of The Sixth Day.
- Part II. Treating Specially Of Man.
- Chapter I. God, An Infinite And Eternal Being.
- Chapter II. God, The Supreme Good.
- Chapter III. Man, The Most Noble Of All Creatures, And Made For The Service Of God.
- Chapter IV. God Made Man In His Own Image, In Order That He Might Delight In Him.
- Chapter V. That God By His Love Bestows Himself Upon Us.
- Chapter VI. Showing How Much Man Is Indebted To God For His Everlasting Love.
- Chapter VII. Of The Things That Instruct And Comfort The Soul.
- Chapter VIII. Of The Obligations Under Which Men Lie To God.
- Chapter IX. Man Even More Indebted To God For Inward, Than For Outward Blessings.
- Chapter X. Of The Wisdom Which God Has Shown In The Formation Of Man.
- Chapter XI. Of The Obligations Man Lies Under Towards God.
- Chapter XII. Of Answering The Obligations Which Man Lies Under To God.
- Chapter XIII. Showing That God's Love Appears In All His Works, Even In His Chastisements.
- Chapter XIV. Showing How, And On What Account, Man Is Obliged To Love God.
- Chapter XV. Showing That All The Creatures Continually Remind Us Of The Love Which We Owe To God.
- Chapter XVI. A General Rule, Teaching Us How To Answer Our Obligations To God.
- Chapter XVII. Showing That The Christian Who Loves Not God Is Without Excuse.
- Chapter XVIII. Showing That Our Duty To God Tends To Promote Our Own Happiness.
- Chapter XIX. The Service Which The Creatures Render To Man, Compared With That Which Man Renders To God.
- Chapter XX. All Things Are Preserved By The Hand Of God.
- Chapter XXI. Showing That From The Service Of Man And The Creatures, A Union Takes Place Between The Visible World, Man, And God.
- Chapter XXII. From The Love Which We Owe To God, Proceeds That Which We Owe To Our Neighbor.
- Chapter XXIII. Man Is Made In The Image Of God.
- Chapter XXIV. That Man Is Obliged To Love His Neighbor As Himself.
- Chapter XXV. All Mankind Are To Be Considered As One Man, Or As Being Many Members Of One Great Body.
- Chapter XXVI. Charity, The Foundation Of The Greatest Strength.
- Chapter XXVII. Of The Nature, Properties, And Fruits Of Love.
- Chapter XXVIII. Love Unites Him Who Loves With The Person Loved, And Transforms Into The Same Nature.
- Chapter XXIX. Nothing Is Worthy Of Our Love, But That Which Can Make Us More Noble And Pure.
- Chapter XXX. Our Chief Love Is Due To God, As The First And Last, The Beginning And The End Of All Things.
- Chapter XXXI. He Who Principally Loves Himself, Actually Sets Up Himself In God's Stead.
- Chapter XXXII. Love To God, The Source Of All That Is Good; Self-Love, The Source Of All Evil.
- Chapter XXXIII. Of The Love Of God, And The Love Of Self.
- Chapter XXXIV. Love To God, The Only Source Of Peace And Unity.
- Chapter XXXV. Showing How We Ought To Love God.
- Chapter XXXVI. Divine Joy, The Fruit Of Divine Love.
- Chapter XXXVII. Of The Evil Fruits Of Self-Love.
- Chapter XXXVIII. Everlasting Sorrow And Death, The End Of Self-Love And Carnal Joy.
- Chapter XXXIX. All That We Have Must Be Offered And Consecrated To God.
- Chapter XL. He Can Never Praise And Glorify God, Who Seeks His Own Glory.
- Conclusion.
- Index.
- Footnotes
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