Chap. XVIII That Temporal Miseries Are to Be Borne With Patience After the Example of Jesus Christ
1. Son, I came down from heaven for thy salvation, I took upon me thy miseries, not of necessity, but moved thereto by charity, that thou mightest learn patience, and mightest bear without repining the miseries of this life:
For from the hour of my birth, till my expiring on the cross, I was never without suffering.
I underwent a great want of temporal things; I frequently heard many complaints against me; I meekly bore with confusions and reproaches.
For my benefits I received ingratitude; for my miracles, blasphemies; and for my heavenly doctrine, reproaches.
2. Lord, because thou wast patient in thy life-time, in this chiefly fulfilling the commandment of thy Father, it is fitting that I a wretched sinner should, according to thy will, take all with patience; and as long as thou pleasest, support the burden of this corruptible life, in order to my salvation.
For though this present life he burthensome, yet it is become through thy grace, meritorious; and by the help of thy example, and the footsteps of thy saints, more supportable to the weak, and more lightsome.
It is also much more comfortable, than it was formerly under the old law, when the gate of heaven remained shut; and the way to heaven seemed more obscure, when so few concerned themselves to seek the kingdom of heaven.
Neither could they who were then just, and to be saved, enter into thy heavenly kingdom, before thy passion, and the payment of our debt by thy sacred death.
3. Oh! how great thanks am I obliged to return thee, for having vouchsafed to shew me and all the faithful, a right and good way to an everlasting kingdom!
For thy life is our way; and by holy patience we walk on to thee, who art our crown.
If thou hadst not gone before and instructed us, who would have cared to have followed?
Alas! how many would have staid afar off, and a great way behind, if they had not before their eyes thy excellent example?
Behold we are still tepid, notwithstanding all thy miracles and instructions which we have heard: what then would it have been, if we had not this great light to follow thee?