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be much harder to hear that last sentence； Depart from me； ye wicked； into
eternal fire。（2） For they who now willingly hear the word of the Cross
and follow it； shall not then fear the hearing of eternal damnation。 This
sign of the Cross shall be in heaven when the Lord cometh to Judgment。
Then all servants of the Cross； who in life have conformed themselves to
the Crucified； shall draw nigh unto Christ the Judge with great boldness。
2。 Why fearest thou then to take up the cross which leadeth to a
kingdom？ In the Cross is health； in the Cross is life； in the Cross is
protection from enemies； in the Cross is heavenly sweetness； in the Cross
strength of mind； in the Cross joy of spirit； in the Cross the height of virtue；
in the Cross perfection of holiness。 There is no health of the soul； no
hope of eternal life； save in the Cross。 Take up therefore； thy cross and
follow Jesus and thou shalt go into eternal life。 He went before thee
bearing His Cross and died for thee upon the Cross； that thou also mayest
bear thy cross and mayest love to be crucified upon it。 For if thou be
dead with Him； thou shalt also live with Him； and if thou be a partaker of
His sufferings thou shalt be also of His glory。
3。 Behold everything dependeth upon the Cross； and everything lieth
in dying； and there is none other way unto life and to true inward peace；
except the way of the Holy Cross and of daily mortification。 Go where
thou wilt； seek whatsoever thou wilt； and thou shalt find no higher way
above nor safer way below； than the way of the Holy Cross。 Dispose and
order all things according to thine own will and judgment； and thou shalt
ever find something to suffer either willingly or unwillingly； and thus thou
shalt ever find thy cross。 For thou shalt either feel pain of body； or
tribulation of spirit within thy soul。
4。 Sometimes thou wilt be forsaken of God； sometimes thou wilt be
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tried by thy neighbour； and which is more； thou wilt often by wearisome to
thyself。 And still thou canst not be delivered nor eased by any remedy or
consolation； but must bear so long as God will。 For God will have thee
learn to suffer tribulation without consolation； and to submit thyself fully
to it； and by tribulation by made more humble。 No man understandeth
the Passion of Christ in his heart so well as he who hath had somewhat of
the life suffering himself。 The Cross therefore is always ready； and every
where waiteth for thee。 Thou canst not flee from it whithersoever thou
hurriest； for withersoever thou comest； thou bearest thyself with thee； and
shalt ever find thyself。 Turn thee above； turn thee below； turn thee
without； turn thee within； and in them all thou shalt find the Cross； and
needful is it that thou everywhere possess patience if thou wilt have
internal peace and gain the everlasting crown。
5。 If thou willingly bear the Cross； it will bear thee； and will bring thee
to the end which thou seekest； even where there shall be the end of
suffering； though it shall not be here。 If thou bear it unwillingly； thou
makest a burden for thyself and greatly increaseth thy load； and yet thou
must bear it。 If thou cast away one cross； without doubt thou shalt find
another and perchance a heavier。
6。 Thinketh thou to escape what no mortal hath been able to avoid？
Which of the saints in the world hath been without the cross and
tribulation？ For not even Jesus Christ our Lord was one hour without the
anguish of His Passion； so long as He lived。 It behooved； He said； Christ
to suffer and to rise from the dead； and so to enter into his glory。（3） And
how dost thou seek another way than this royal way； which is the way of
the Holy Cross？
7。 The whole life of Christ was a cross and martyrdom； and dost thou
seek for thyself rest and joy？ Thou art wrong； thou art wrong； if thou
seekest aught but to suffer tribulations； for this whole mortal life is full of
miseries； and set round with crosses。 And the higher a man hath
advanced in spirit； the heavier crosses he will often find； because the
sorrow of his banishment increaseth with the strength of his love。
8。 But yet the man who is thus in so many wise afflicted； is not without
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refreshment of consolation； because he feeleth abundant fruit to be
growing within him out of the bearing of his cross。 For whilst he willing
submitteth himself to it； every burden of tribulation is turned into an
assurance of divine comfort； and the more the flesh is wasted by affliction；
the more is the spirit strengthened mightily by inward grace。 And
ofttimes so greatly is he comforted by the desire for tribulation and
adversity； through love of conformity to the Cross of Christ； that he would
not be without sorrow and tribulation； for he believeth that he shall be the
more acceptable to God； the more and the heavier burdens he is able to
bear for His sake。 That is not the virtue of man； but the grace of Christ
which hath such power and energy in the weak flesh； that what it naturally
hateth and fleeth from； this it draweth to and loveth through fervour of
spirit。
9。 It is not in the nature of man to bear the cross； to love the cross； to
keep under the body and to bring it into subjection； to fly from honours； to
bear reproaches meekly； to despise self and desire to be despised； to bear
all adversities and losses； and to desire no prosperity in this world。 If
thou lookest to thyself； thou wilt of thyself be able to do none of this； but
if thou trustest in the Lord； endurance shall be given thee from heaven；
and the world and the flesh shall be made subject to thy command。 Yea；
thou shalt not even fear thine adversary the devil； if thou be armed with
faith and signed with the Cross of Christ。
10。 Set thyself； therefore； like a good and faithful servant of Christ； to
the manful bearing of the Cross of thy Lord； who out of love was crucified
for thee。