Prepare thyself to bear many adversities and divers kinds of troubles in this miserable life; for so it will be with thee, wheresoever thou art, and so surely thou shalt find it, wheresoever thou hide thyself.

So it must be; nor is there any remedy nor means to escape from tribulation and sorrow, but only to endure them.

Drink of the Lord's cup with hearty affection, if thou desire to be His friend, and to have part with Him.

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

But do thou set thyself to suffer tribulations, and account them the greatest comforts; for the sufferings of this present time, although thou alone couldst suffer them all, cannot worthily deserve the glory which is to come.

11. When thou shalt come to this estate, that tribulation shall seem sweet, and thou shalt relish it for Christ's sake; then think it to be 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 escape, so long shalt thou be ill at ease, and the desire of escaping tribulation shall follow thee everywhere.

12. If thou dost set thyself to that thou oughtest, namely, to suffering and to death, it will quickly be better with thee, and thou shalt find peace.

Although thou shouldst have been rapt even unto the third heaven with Paul, thou art not by this secured that thou shalt suffer no adversity. "I will show him" (saith JESUS) "how great things he must suffer for my name."

It remaineth therefore, that thou suffer, if it please thee to love JESUS, and to serve Him constantly.

13. O that thou wert worthy to suffer something for the Name of JESUS! How great glory would remain unto thyself; what joy would arise to all God's saints; how great edification also to thy neighbor!

For all men recommend patience; few, however, they are who are willing to suffer.

With great reason oughtest thou cheerfully to suffer some little for Christ's sake; since many suffer more grievous things for the world.

14. Know for certain that thou oughtest to lead a dying life. And the more any man dieth to himself, so much the more doth he begin to live unto God.

No man is fit to comprehend things heavenly, unless he submit himself to the bearing of adversities for Christ's sake.

Nothing is more acceptable to God, nothing more wholesome to thee in this world, than that thou suffer cheerfully for Christ.

And if thou couldst choose, thou oughtest rather to wish to suffer adversities for Christ, than to be refreshed with many consolations; because thou wouldst thus be more like unto Christ, and more conformable to all the saints.

For our worthiness and the growth of our spiritual estate consisteth not in many sweetnesses and comforts; but rather in the patient enduring of great afflictions and tribulations.

15. Indeed if there had been any better thing, and more profitable to man's salvation, than suffering, surely Christ would have showed it by word and example.

For both the disciples that followed Him, and also all who desire to follow Him, He plainly exhorteth to the bearing of the cross, and saith, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

So that when we have thoroughly read and searched all, let this be the final conclusion, "That through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God."

OF CRAVING THE DIVINE AID, AND OF CONFIDENCE OF RECOVERING GRACE.

1. My son, I am the Lord that giveth strength in the day of tribulation.

Come thou unto me, when it is not well with thee.

This is that which most of all hindereth heavenly consolation, that thou art too slow in turning thyself unto prayer.

For before thou dost earnestly supplicate me, thou seekest in the meanwhile many comforts, and lookest for refreshment in outward things.

And hence it cometh to pass that all doth little profit thee, until thou well consider that I am he who doth rescue them that trust in him; and that out of me there is neither powerful help, nor profitable counsel, nor lasting remedy.

But do thou, having now recovered breath after the tempest, gather strength again in the light of my mercies; for I am at hand (saith the Lord) to repair all, not only entirely, but also abundantly and in most plentiful measure.

2. Is there anything hard to me? or shall I be like unto one that promiseth and performeth not?

Where is thy faith? stand firmly and with perseverance; take courage and be patient; comfort will come to thee in due time.

Wait, wait, I say, for me: I will come and heal thee.

It is a temptation, this that vexeth thee, and a vain fear, this that affrighteth thee.

What else doth anxiety about the future bring to thee, but sorrow upon sorrow? "Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof."

It is a vain thing and unprofitable, to be either disturbed or pleased about future things, which perhaps will never come to

pass.

3. But it is in the nature of man to be deluded with such imaginations; and it is a sign of a mind as yet weak to be so easily drawn away by the suggestions of the enemy.

For so that he may but delude and deceive thee, he careth not whether it be by true things or by false; whether he overthrow thee with the love of present things, or the fear of future things. Let not therefore thy heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Trust in me, and put thy confidence in my mercy.

When thou thinkest thyself farthest off from me, oftentimes I am nearest unto thee.

When thou judgest that almost all is lost, then oftentimes the greatest gain of reward is close at hand.

All is not lost, when a thing falleth out against thee. Thou must not judge according to present feeling, nor so take any grief, or give thyself over to it, from whencesoever it cometh, as though all hopes of escape were quite taken away.

4. Think not thyself wholly left, although for a time I have sent thee some tribulation, or even have withdrawn thy desired comfort; for this is the way to the kingdom of heaven.

And without doubt it is more expedient for thee and for the rest of my servants, that ye be exercised with adversities, than that ye should have all things according to your desires.

I know the secret thoughts of thy heart, and that it is very expedient for thy welfare, that thou be left sometimes without spiritual enjoyment, lest perhaps thou shouldst be puffed up with thy prosperous estate, and shouldst be willing to please thyself in that which thou art not.

That which I have given, I can take away; and can restore it again when I please.

5. When I give it, it is still mine; when I withdraw it, I take not anything that is thine; for every good and every perfect gift is mine.

If I send thee affliction, or any cross whatsoever, repine not, nor let thy heart fail thee; I can quickly succor thee, and turn all thy heaviness into joy.

Nevertheless I am righteous and greatly to be praised, when I deal thus with thee.

6. If thou be wise, and consider this rightly, thou wilt never mourn so dejectedly for any adversity, but rather wilt rejoice and give thanks.

Yea, thou wilt account this thine especial joy, that I afflict thee with sorrows, and do not spare thee.

"As my Father hath loved me, so have I loved you," said I unto my beloved disciples; whom doubtless I sent not out to temporal joys, but to great conflicts; not to honor, but to contempt; not to idleness, but to labors; not to rest, but that they should bring forth much fruit with patience. Remember thou these words, O my son!

THAT A MAN SHOULD NOT BE OVER-CAREFUL IN MATTERS OF BUSINESS.

My son, always commit thy cause to me. I will dispose

well of it in due time.

Wait for my ordering of it, and thou shalt find it will be for thy good.

O Lord, I do most cheerfully commit all unto thee, for my care can little avail.

Would that I did not so much dwell on future things, but gave myself up without a struggle to thy good pleasure.

2. My son, oftentimes a man vehemently struggleth for somewhat he desireth, and when he hath arrived at it, he beginneth to be of another mind; for man's affections do not long continue fixed on one object, but rather do urge him from one thing to another.

It is therefore no small benefit for a man to forsake himself even in the smallest things.

3. The true profiting of a man consisteth in the denying

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of himself; and he that thus denieth himself, liveth in great freedom and security.

But the old enemy, who always setteth himself against all that are good, ceaseth at no time from tempting, but day and night lieth grievously in wait, to cast the unwary, if he can, headlong into the snare of deceit.

Therefore "Watch ye, and pray," saith our Lord, "that ye enter not into temptation."

THAT MAN HATH OF HIMSELF NO GOOD THING, NOR ANYTHING WHEREOF HE CAN GLORY.

"LORD, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

What hath man deserved that thou shouldest grant him thy favor?

O Lord, what cause have I to complain, if thou forsake me? or if thou do not that which I desire, what can I justly say against it?

Surely this I may truly think and say: Lord I am nothing. I can do nothing, I have nothing that is good of myself, but in all things I am wanting, and do ever tend to nothing.

And unless thou help me, and inwardly instruct me, I must become altogether lukewarm and careless.

2. But Thou, O Lord, art always the same, and endurest forever, always good, just, and holy, doing all things well, justly, holily, and disposing all things with wisdom.

But I, that am more ready to go backward than forward, do not ever continue in one estate, for "seven times are passed

Yet it is soon better with me, when it so pleaseth thee, and when thou vouchsafest to stretch forth thy helping hand; for thou canst help me alone without human aid, and canst so strengthen me, that my countenance shall be no more changed, but my heart shall be turned to thee alone, and be at

rest.

3. Wherefore, if I could once perfectly cast off all human comfort, either for the attainment of devotion, or because of mine own necessities enforcing me to seek after thee (because that no mortal man could comfort me), then might I well hope in thy grace, and rejoice for the gift of fresh consolation.