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 these earthly  goods,  the  more he will  abound  in  the  eternal. Therefore, if  thou  too  abandon all  things,  in  affection at least,  and  follow  me,  thou shalt receive  a hundredfold, and shalt  possess  eternal  life.

But if  thou  wouldst  follow me, thou  must  also  prepare thy soul  for  temptation;  for all that  will  live  godly  in  me must  suffer  persecution. For how shall  a crown  be  given to one  who  has  not  fulfilled the conditions  of  the  contest? Look at  me,  the  pattern  of all  patience. Let but  my Passion  be  called  to  mind,  and there is  nothing  that  may  not be patiently  endured.

Think, then,  what,  and  how greatly, I have  suffered,  and whatever thou  sufferest  will become light. For, not to  speak of the  very  heavy  pains  and agonies that  I sustained  in my  body,  think  only  of  the  insults, injuries,  and  reproaches of my  revilers,  that  fell  upon me; and for  what  desert  of mine? I healed the  sick,  fed the hungry,  gave  sight  to  the blind; I went about  doing good and  healing  all;  I did amongst them  works  that  no other  man  did. And which of them  could  convict  me  of sin? Not one;  and  yet they sharpened  their  tongues against me  like  a sword. Hence I was  called  a glutton and  a wine-drinker,  a blasphemer,  the  son  of  a carpenter,  one  cast  out  by  the prince of  the  devils,  one  who had a devil,  a seducer  and  seditious person,  a Samaritan  and friend of  publicans;  nay,  I was  reputed  with  the  wicked, esteemed guilty  of  death,  and worse than  a robber;  made the reproach  of  men,  and  the outcast of  the  people. And all this  I suffered,  to  leave  you an example,  that  you  might follow my  footsteps. Why, then, O men,  do  you  weep, why do  you  sigh,  when  perchance you  have  to  bear  with injurious words? Think diligently what  opposition  I suffered from  sinners  against myself, that  you  may  not  be wearied,  and  grow  fainthearted.

Have I thus  had  opposers and contradictors,  and  would you wish  all  to  be  your friends and  benefactors? Where will  your  patience meet with  its  crown,  if  no adversity  is  to  put  it  to  the test? Surely, if  I,  when  innocent and  undefiled  in  all things, was  nevertheless  exposed to  envy  and  calumny, it was  to  teach  you  that  it  is in  vain  for  you  to  seek  to  be free  from  them  here. I was to suffer,  and  so  to  enter  into my glory.

Thou errest,  thou  errest, my son,  if  it  is  another  life that thou  lookest  for. Shall the disciple  be  above  his  mas-