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CONTENTS

PAGE
PREFACE ix
INTRODUCTION xv

THE LIFE OF THE REVEREND MASTER GERARD THE GREAT COMMONLY CALLED GROOTE

CHAP. PAGE

Preface: The Preface to the life of the venerable Master Gerard the Great, commonly called “Groote”

3
I.

Of the origin and interpretation of Gerard’s name

5
II.

Of his rapid progress at the University of Paris

7
III.

How his conversion was revealed to a hermit in Cologne

8
IV.

How he was drawn to God by the Carthusian

9
V.

Of his change of garb and character

11
VI.

How he separated himself from fellowship with worldlings

13
VII.

Of his abstinence, and the shirt of hair which he wore

15
VIII.

How, by the advice of the Monks, he began to preach the word of God

17
IX.

Of his labours, and his patience toward his enemies

20
X.

Of his journey to the parts about Brabant

23
XI.

Of his austerity in food and clothing

25
XII.

Of his devoutness in prayer and in hearing Holy things

30
xiiXIII.

Of his great love of reading the Holy Scriptures

34
XIV.

Of the abundant fruit which he bore in the conversion of men

39
XV.

Of the devout communities and monasteries which arose through him

43
XVI.

Of his happy death and burial

46
XVII.

Of the noble eulogy passed upon Gerard by a Cantor at Paris

51
XVIII.

Of his public profession of faith, and of his delivering the true Gospel in his preaching

52

Appendix to the Life of Gerard Groote

74

THE LIFE OF THE REVERED FLORENTIUS, A DEVOUT PRIEST, AND VICAR OF THE CHURCH OF DEVENTER

Preface 81
I.

Of the humility of Christ which Florentius studied to imitate

85
II.

Of the interpretation of the name Florentius and its three glorious meanings

86
III.

Of the interpretation of his father’s name Radewin

88
IV.

Of his native land, and how he went to study at Prague

90
V.

Of his honourable character in the world

92
VI.

Of his conversion through the preaching of Master Gerard

93
VII.

How he despised the life of the world and joined himself to Master Gerard

95
VIII.

How Florentius himself, now fully converted, did convert many others

96
IX.

Of the burdens that he bore, and the wrongs that he suffered

98
X.

Of his promotion to the priesthood and the abasement of his humility

100
XI.

How seldom he went out, and of his instructive demeanour as he stood in the Choir

102
XII.

Of the simplicity of his garb

105
XIII.

Of his humble service among the Brothers

107
xiiiXIV.

How he laboured with his hands for the common good

110
XV.

Of his compassion toward the poor, the sick, and the friendless

112
XVI.

Of his feeding the poor, and washing beggars

115
XVII.

Of his abstinence and the infirmities which came upon him by reason of his austerity

118
XVIII.

How he often recovered by the aid of the prayers of the devout

12O
XIX.

How upon an Easter Even he was healed by a Vision of Angels

122
XX.

Of one who fell into a well and was drawn out unhurt

124
XXI.

Of the vision of the Rood which appeared over his house

125
XXII.

Of his patience, gentleness, and love toward all men

128
XXIII.

Of his devout exhortation to spiritual prayer

130
XXIV.

Of his effectual preaching and his knowledge of the Scriptures

133
XXV.

How he set a guard upon his tongue and avoided oaths

136
XXVI.

Of three temptations that are full of peril to the devout

138
XXVII.

Of his sending forth the Brothers to gather fruit in divers places

141
XXVIII.

Of his happy passing from this world and his burial in the Church

144
XXIX.

Of a vision which was seen after his death, and of the great glory which he attained

147

A Letter and certain Notable Sayings of Florentius

150

LIVES OF THE FOLLOWERS OF FATHER FLORENTIUS

Preface 165
LIFE OF JOHN GRONDE.
I.

Of the first Congregation of Clerks in Deventer

169
II.

Concerning John Gronde

172
xivLIFE OF JOHN BRINCKERINCK 176
LIFE OF LUBERT BERNER 181
LIFE OF HENRY BRUNE 213
THE LIFE OF GERARD OF ZUTPHEN 220
LIFE OF AMILIUS OF BUREN 226
LIFE OF JAMES OF VIANA 232
LIFE OF JOHN CACABUS 235
LIFE OF ARNOLD OF SCHOONHOVEN 256
xv
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