the imitation of christ(效仿基督)-第16节
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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。 Prepare thyself for the bearing many adversities and manifold
troubles in this wretched life； because so it shall be with thee wheresoever
thou art； and so in very deed thou shalt find it； wherever thou hide thyself。
This it must be； and there is no means of escaping from tribulation and
sorrow； except to bear them patiently。 Drink thou lovingly thy Lord's cup
if thou desirest to be His friend and to have thy lot with Him。 Leave
consolations to God； let Him do as seemeth best to Him concerning them。
But do thou set thyself to endure tribulations； and reckon them the best
consolations； for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
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compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us；（4） nor would they
be even if thou wert to endure them all。
11。 When thou hast come to this； that tribulation is sweet and pleasant
to thee for Christ's sake； then reckon that it is well with thee； because thou
hast found paradise on earth。 So long as it is hard to thee to suffer and
thou desirest to escape； so long it will not be well with thee； and
tribulations will follow thee everywhere。
12。 If thou settest thyself to that thou oughtest； namely； to suffer and to
die； it shall soon go better with thee； and thou shalt find peace。 Though
thou shouldest be caught up with Paul unto the third heaven；（5） thou art
not on that account secure from suffering evil。 I will show him； saith
Jesus； what great things he must suffer for My Name's sake。（6） It
remaineth； therefore； to thee to suffer； if thou wilt love Jesus and serve
Him continually。
13。 Oh that thou wert worthy to suffer something for the name of Jesus；
how great glory should await thee； what rejoicing among all the saints of
God； what bright example also to thy neighbour！ For all me commend
patience； although few be willing to practise it。 Thou oughtest surely to
suffer a little for Christ when many suffer heavier things for the world。
14。 Know thou of a surety that thou oughtest to lead the life of a dying
man。 And the more a man dieth to himself； the more he beginneth to live
towards God。 None is fit for the understanding of heavenly things；
unless he hath submitted himself to bearing adversities for Christ。
Nothing more acceptable to God； nothing more healthful for thyself in this
world； than to suffer willingly for Christ。 And if it were thine to choose；
thou oughtest rather to wish to suffer adversities for Christ； than to be
refreshed with manifold consolations； for thou wouldest be more like
Christ and more conformed to all saints。 For our worthiness and growth
in grace lieth not in many delights and consolations； but rather in bearing
many troubles and adversities。
15。 If indeed there had been anything better and more profitable to the
health of men than to suffer； Christ would surely have shown it by word
and example。 For both the disciples who followed Him； and all who
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desire to follow Him； He plainly exhorteth to bear their cross； and saith； If
any man will come after Me； let him deny himself and take up his cross；
and follow Me。（7） So now that we have throughly read and studied all
things； let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter。 We must through
much tribulation enter i
