Chap. XIX Of Supporting Injuries; and Who Is Proved to Be Truly Patient
1. What is it thou sayest, my Son? Cease to complain, considering my passion, and that of other saints:
Thou hast not yet resisted unto blood:
What thou sufferedst is but little, in comparison of them who have suffered so much; who have been so strongly tempted, so grievously afflicted, so many ways tried and exercised.
Thou must then call to mind the heavy sufferings of others, that thou mayest the easier bear the little things thou sufferest.
And if to thee they seemed not little, take heed lest this also proceed from thy impatience.
But whether they be little or great, strive to bear them all with patience.
2. The better thou disposest thyself to sufferings, the more wisely dost thou act, and the more dost thou merit; and thou wilt bear it more easily, thy mind being well prepared for it, and accustomed to it.
Do not say, I cannot take these things from such a man, and things of this kind are not to be suffered by me, for he has done me a great injury, and he upbraids me with things I never thought on; but I will suffer willingly from another, and as far as I shall judge fitting for me to suffer.
Such a thought is foolish, which considers not the virtue of patience, nor by whom it shall be crowned; but rather weighs the persons, and the offences committed.
3. He is not a true patient man, who will suffer no more than he thinks good, and from whom he pleaseth.
The true patient man minds not by whom it is he is exercised, whether by his superior, or by one of his equals, or by an inferior; whether by a good and holy man, or one that is perverse and unworthy.
But how much soever, and how often soever any adversity happens to him from any thing created, he takes it all with equality of mind as from the hand of God, with thanksgiving, and esteems it a great gain.
For nothing, how little soever, that is suffered for God’s sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God.
4. Be thou therefore ready prepared to fight, if thou desirest to gain the victory.
Without fighting thou cannot obtain the crown of patience.
If thou wilt not suffer, thou refusest to be crowned; but if thou desirest to be crowned, fight manfully and endure patiently.
Without labour there is no coming to rest, nor without fighting can the victory be obtained.
May thy grace, O Lord, make that possible to me, which seems impossible to me by nature.
Thou knowest that I can bear but little, and that I am quickly cast down by a small adversity.
Let all exercises of tribulation become amiable and agreeable to me for thy name’s sake; for to suffer and to be afflicted for thee is very healthful for my soul.