Jesus has many lovers of his heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of his Cross. He has many seekers of comfort, but few of tribulation. He finds many companions at his table, but few at his fasting. All desire to rejoice with him; few are willing to undergo anything for his sake. Many follow Jesus that they may eat of his loaves, but few that they may drink of the cup of his passion. Many are astonished at his miracles; few follow after the shame of his Cross. Many love Jesus so long as no adversities happen to them. Many praise him and bless him, so long as they receive comforts from him. But if Jesus hides himself and withdraws from them a little while, they fall either into complaining or into too great dejection of mind.

But they who love Jesus for Jesus’ sake, and not for any consolation of their own, bless him in all tribulation and anguish of heart as in the highest consolation. And if he should never give them consolation, nevertheless they would always praise him and always give him thanks.

Oh what power has the pure love of Jesus, unmixed with any gain or love of self! Should not all they be called mercenary who are always seeking consolations? Do they who are always seeking their own gain and advantage not prove themselves lovers of self more than of Christ? . . . Rarely is anyone found so spiritual as to be stripped of all selfish thoughts, for who shall find a man truly poor in spirit and free of all created things? “His value is from afar, yes from the ends of the earth.” A man may give away all his goods, yet that is nothing; and if he does many deeds of penitence, yet that is a small thing; and though he understands all knowledge, yet that is afar off; and if he has great virtue and zealous devotion, yet much is lacking unto him, yes, one thing which is the most necessary to him of all. What is it then? That having given up all things besides, he give up himself and go forth from himself utterly. . . .

Why fear then to take up a cross that leads 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 the 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 your cross and follow Jesus, and you shall go into eternal life. He went before you bearing his Cross and died for you upon the Cross, that you also may bear your cross and may love to be crucified upon it. For if you be dead with him, you shall also live with him, and if you be a partaker of his sufferings you shall be also of his glory.

Behold everything depends upon the Cross, and everything lies in dying; and there is no other way unto life and to true inward peace, except the way of the Holy Cross and of daily mortification. Go where you will, seek whatsoever you will, and you shall find no higher way above nor safer way below, than the way of the Holy Cross. Dispose and order all things according to your own will and judgment, and you shall ever find something to suffer either willingly or unwillingly, and thus you shall ever find your cross. For you shall either feel pain of body or tribulation of spirit within your soul.

Sometimes you will be forsaken of God, sometimes you will be tried by your neighbor, and what is more, you will often be wearisome to your own self. And still you cannot be delivered nor eased by any remedy or consolation, but must bear so long as God will. For God will have you learn to suffer tribulation without consolation, and to submit yourself fully to it, and by tribulation be made more humble. No man understands the Passion of Christ in his heart so well as he who has had somewhat of the like suffering himself. The Cross therefore is always ready, and everywhere waits for you. You cannot flee from it no matter where you go, for wherever you go, you bear yourself with you, and shall ever find yourself there. Turn yourself above, turn yourself below, turn yourself without, turn yourself within, and in them all you shall find the Cross; and needful is it that you everywhere possess patience if you will have internal peace and gain the everlasting crown.

If you willingly carry the Cross, it will carry you, and will bring you to the end that you seek, even where there shall be the end of suffering; though it shall not be here.