CHAPTER XII.

_Of the royal way of the holy cross._

THIS speech seemeth hard to many, _Renounce thyself, take up thy cross, and follow Jesus_.

But it will be much harder to hear that last word, _Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire_.

This sign of the cross shall be in heaven, when our Lord shall come to judgment.

Then all the servants of the cross shall draw near unto Christ the Judge with great confidence.

2. Why therefore fearest thou to take up the cross, which leadeth to a kingdom?

*In the cross is salvation, in the cross is life, in the cross is protection against our enemies, in the cross is heavenly sweetness, in the cross is strength of mind, in the cross is joy of spirit, in the cross is the height of virtue, in the cross is the perfection of holiness.

There is no salvation of the soul, nor hope of everlasting life, but in the cross.

Take up therefore thy cross, and follow Jesus, and thou shalt go into life everlasting.

He is gone before bearing his cross, and is dead for thee on the cross; that thou mayst also bear thy cross, and desire to die on the cross with him.

For, if thou diest with him, thou shalt also live with him: and if thou be his companion in pain, thou shalt be partaker with him in glory.

*3. Behold in the cross all doth consist, and all lieth in our dying upon it: for there is no other way to life, and to true inward peace, but the way of the holy cross.

*Go where thou wilt, seek whatsoever thou wilt, thou shalt not find a higher way above, nor a safer way below, than the way of the holy cross.

*Dispose all things according to thy will and judgment; yet thou shalt ever find, that thou must suffer somewhat, either willingly, or against thy will, and so thou shalt ever find the cross.

For either thou shalt feel pain in thy body, or in thy soul tribulation of spirit.

4. Sometimes thou shalt be tried of God, sometimes thou shalt be exercised by thy neighbour; and often thou shalt be irksome to thyself.

Neither canst thou be delivered by any other remedy or comfort; but so long as it pleaseth God, thou must bear it.

For God will have thee learn to suffer tribulation; and to subject thyself wholly to him.

No man hath so cordial a feeling of the passion of Christ, as he who hath suffered the like himself.

The cross therefore is always ready, and every where waits for thee.

*Thou canst not escape it, whithersoever thou runnest; for wheresoever thou goest, thou carriest thyself with thee, and shalt ever find thyself.

*Both above and below, without and within, which way soever thou dost turn thee, every where thou shalt find the cross; and every where thou must have patience, if thou wilt enjoy an everlasting crown.

*5. If thou bear the cross willingly, it will bear thee.

If thou bear it unwillingly thou increasest thy load, and yet thou must bear it.

If thou cast away one cross, without doubt thou shalt find another, and that perhaps a more heavy one.

6. Thinkest thou to escape that which no man could ever avoid? Which of the saints in the world was without crosses and tribulations?

Verily Jesus Christ our Lord was never one hour without suffering so long as he lived. Christ, saith he, ought to suffer, and rise again from the dead, and so enter into his glory.

And dost thou seek any other way than this royal way, which is the way of the holy cross?

The whole life of Christ was a cross and a martyrdom; and dost thou seek rest and joy?

*7. Indeed it is not of man to bear and love the cross, to keep the body under, to fly honours, to suffer reproaches gladly, to despise himself, and to rejoice in being despised, to bear all adversities and losses, and to desire no prosperity in this world.

If thou considerest thyself, thou art able to perform nothing of this.

But if thou trustest in the Lord, strength shall be given thee from heaven, and the world and flesh shall be made subject to thy command.

Neither shalt thou fear the devil, if thou art armed with faith, and bearest the cross of Christ.

8. Set therefore thyself, like a faithful servant of Christ, to bear manfully the cross of thy Lord.

Prepare thyself to bear many adversities; for so it will be with thee, wheresoever thou be; and so surely wilt thou find it, wheresoever thou hidest thyself.

*Drink of the cup of the Lord gladly, if thou wilt be his friend.

As for comforts leave them to God; let him do therein as shall best please him.

Set thou thyself to suffer tribulations, and account them the greatest comforts; for the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory which is to come, although thou alone couldst suffer them all.

*9. When thou shalt come to this, that tribulation shall be sweet unto thee for Christ, then think it well with thee, for thou hast found a paradise upon earth.

As long as it is grievous to thee to suffer, and thou desirest to fly it, so long shalt thou be ill at ease, and the tribulation thou fliest will follow thee every where.

Although thou hadst been wrapt into the third heaven with Paul, thou wouldst not for this be secure from suffering. _I_ (saith _Jesus_) _will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name_.

It remaineth, therefore, that thou suffer, if thou wilt love Jesus, and perpetually serve him.

10. O that thou wert worthy to suffer something for the name of _Jesus_! How great glory would it be to thee! What joy to all the saints of God! How great edification also to thy neighbour!

For all commend patience, though few are willing to suffer.

With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a little for Christ, since many suffer far greater things for the world.

11. Know for certain that thou art to lead a dying life. And the more every one dieth to himself, the more he liveth to God.

No man is fit to attain unto heavenly things, unless he submit to suffer for Christ.

Nothing is more grateful unto God, nothing more wholesome to thee in this world, than to suffer willingly for Christ.

And if it were thy choice, thou shouldst rather wish to suffer adversities for Christ, than to enjoy many comforts; because hereby thou shouldst be more like Christ, and more conformable to all the saints.

For our proficiency consisteth not in many sweetnesses and comforts, but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulations.

12. If any thing had been better and more profitable to the salvation of man than suffering, Christ surely would have shewn it by word and example.

But he plainly exhorteth all that follow him, to the bearing of the cross, and saith, _If any will come after me, let him renounce himself, and take up the cross, and follow me_.

So that when we have read and searched all, let this be the last conclusion, that by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.

An Extract of the CHRISTIAN PATTERN:

Or, a treatise on the imitation of Christ. Written in Latin by _Thomas a Kempis_.

BOOK III.