{"id":1519,"asset_id":1827,"title":"THE IMITATION OF CHRIST  By THOMAS \u00c0 KEMPIS  BOOK ONE  THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL  THE TENTH CHAPTER  AVOIDING IDLE TALK","alias":"the-imitation-of-christ-by-thomas-a-kempis-book-one-thoughts-helpful-in-the-life-of-the-soul-the-tenth-chapter-avoiding-idle-talk","introtext":"<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>THE IMITATION OF CHRIST<\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">By THOMAS \u00c0 KEMPIS<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><i>BOOK ONE<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL<\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>THE TENTH CHAPTER<\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>AVOIDING IDLE TALK<\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n","fulltext":"\r\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">SHUN the gossip of men as much as possible, for discussion of worldly affairs, even though sincere, is a great distraction inasmuch as we are quickly ensnared and captivated by vanity.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Many a time I wish that I had held my peace and had not associated with men. Why, indeed, do we converse and gossip among ourselves when we so seldom part without a troubled conscience? We do so because we seek comfort from one another's conversation and wish to ease the mind wearied by diverse thoughts. Hence, we talk and think quite fondly of things we like very much or of things we dislike intensely. But, sad to say, we often talk vainly and to no purpose; for this external pleasure effectively bars inward and divine consolation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Therefore we must watch and pray lest time pass idly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">When the right and opportune moment comes for speaking, say something that will edify.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Bad habits and indifference to spiritual progress do much to remove the guard from the tongue. Devout conversation on spiritual matters, on the contrary, is a great aid to spiritual progress, especially when persons of the same mind and spirit associate together in God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p align=\"right\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theoldtimegospel.com\/book\/imitate1_11.html\">Continue&nbsp;<img src=\"https:\/\/www.theoldtimegospel.com\/images\/button_fwd.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"10\" height=\"11\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>","state":1,"catid":"8","created":"2023-03-25 11:44:47","created_by":"873","created_by_alias":"","modified":"2023-03-25 11:44:47","modified_by":null,"checked_out":null,"checked_out_time":null,"publish_up":"2023-03-25 11:44:47","publish_down":"0000-00-00 00:00:00","images":"{\"image_intro\":\"\",\"float_intro\":\"\",\"image_intro_alt\":\"\",\"image_intro_caption\":\"\",\"image_fulltext\":\"\",\"float_fulltext\":\"\",\"image_fulltext_alt\":\"\",\"image_fulltext_caption\":\"\"}","urls":"{\"urla\":false,\"urlatext\":\"\",\"targeta\":\"\",\"urlb\":false,\"urlbtext\":\"\",\"targetb\":\"\",\"urlc\":false,\"urlctext\":\"\",\"targetc\":\"\"}","attribs":"{\"article_layout\":\"\",\"show_title\":\"\",\"link_titles\":\"\",\"show_tags\":\"\",\"show_intro\":\"\",\"info_block_position\":\"\",\"info_block_show_title\":\"\",\"show_category\":\"\",\"link_category\":\"\",\"show_parent_category\":\"\",\"link_parent_category\":\"\",\"show_associations\":\"\",\"show_author\":\"\",\"link_author\":\"\",\"show_create_date\":\"\",\"show_modify_date\":\"\",\"show_publish_date\":\"\",\"show_item_navigation\":\"\",\"show_icons\":\"\",\"show_print_icon\":\"\",\"show_email_icon\":\"\",\"show_vote\":\"\",\"show_hits\":\"\",\"show_noauth\":\"\",\"urls_position\":\"\",\"alternative_readmore\":\"\",\"article_page_title\":\"\",\"show_publishing_options\":\"\",\"show_article_options\":\"\",\"show_urls_images_backend\":\"\",\"show_urls_images_frontend\":\"\"}","version":1,"ordering":null,"metakey":"","metadesc":"","access":"1","hits":null,"metadata":"{\"robots\":\"\",\"author\":\"\",\"rights\":\"\",\"xreference\":\"\"}","featured":"1","language":"*","xreference":"","note":""}