Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/495

 ter, and  the  servant  greater than his  Lord? Since, then, I have suffered  in  the  flesh, arm thyself  too  with  the  same thought, and  rather  he  glad than sorry  if  thou  art  deemed worthy to  suffer  reproach  for my Name. This must  the disciples of  my  school  doubtless learn  and  understand  before all  things,  that  to  do  valiantly, and  to  suffer  evil,  is the  Christian’s  part,  and  a mark  of  my  friendship. For if suffering  were  an  evil,  I had not chosen  it,  nor  had  I presented the  chalice  of  my  Passion to  my  Mother,  nor  to any  who were  most  dear  to  me. Surely I knew  how  to  refuse the evil,  and  to  choose  the good; but, for  the  joy  set before me,  I chose  the  Cross, despising the  shame. Suffering, therefore, is  not  an  evil; but never  to  suffer  evil  is  the worst lot  of  all: to  be  with me beneath  the  Cross  is  the best.

For whom  the  Lord  loves he chastises,  and  scourges every son  whom  he  receives. But if  thou  wouldst  be  without chastisement,  of  which all are  made  partakers,  see  if thou  art  not  a bastard,  and not a true-born  son. Now all chastisement  for  the  present indeed  seems  not  to  bring with it  joy,  but  sorrow; but afterwards it  will  yield  to them  that  are  exercised  by  it the  most  peaceable  fruit  of justice.

. It  is  my  whole  wish, O Lord, to  be,  and  be  reckoned among  thy  sons; and, therefore, I refuse  not  to  be corrected  by  my  Father. And this will  be  my  consolation, if thou  spare  not  to  afflict  me with  sorrow; only  do  not correct me  in  thy  anger. I desire to  suffer  with  thee,  O Christ  Jesus! let me  now share of  thy  sufferings,  that hereafter I may  share  thy  consolations. For I know  that if we  suffer  with  thee,  we shall  also  reign  with  thee.

But in  and  above all this,  consider  especially  the love with  which  I have  desired and consummated  the  work  of your  salvation. So great  was this love,  that  the  many  waters of grief  and  affliction  could not overwhelm  it. My Father, for  your  sakes,  spared not even  his  own  and  only Son, nor  did  I spare  myself. Yes, I loved  you  to  the  end, and, as  a good  Shepherd,  laid down my  life  for  my  sheep: but greater  love  than  this  has no man,  that  he  lay  down  his life for  his  friends.

. Nay,  Lord,  thou hadst greater,  in  laying  it down  even  for  thy  enemies, For while  we  were  still  thy enemies, we  were  reconciled