Chap. XXXV That There Is No Being Secure From Temptation in This Life
1. Son, thou art never secure in this life; but as long as thou livest thou hast always need of spiritual arms.
Thou art in the midst of enemies, and art assaulted on all sides.
If then thou dost not make use of the buckler of patience, thou wilt not be long without wounds.
Moreover, if thou dost not fix thy heart on me, with a sincere will of suffering all things for my sake, thou canst not support the heat of this warfare, nor attain to the victory of the saints. It behoveth thee therefore to go through all manfully, and to use a strong hand against all things that oppose thee.
For to him that overcomes is given manna, (Apoc. ii.) and to the sluggard is left much misery.
2. If thou seekest rest in this life, how then wilt thou come to rest everlasting?
Set not thy self to seek for much rest, but for much patience.
Seek true peace, not upon earth, but in heaven; not in men, nor in other things created, but in God alone.
Thou must be willing, for the love of God, to suffer all things, viz. labours and sorrows, temptations and vexations, anxieties, necessities, sicknesses, injuries, detractions, reprehensions, humiliations, confusions, corrections, and contempts.
These things help to obtain virtue: these try a novice of Christ: these procure a heavenly crown.
I will give an everlasting reward for this short labour, and glory without end for transitory confusion.
3. Dost thou think to have always spiritual consolations when thou pleasest?
My saints had not so; but met with many troubles, and various temptations and great desolations.
But they bore all with patience, and confided more in God than in themselves; knowing that the sufferings of this life are not of equal proportion to the merit of the glory to come.
Wouldst thou have that immediately, which others after many tears and great labours have hardly obtained?
Expect the Lord, do manfully, and be of good heart. Do not despond, do not fall off; but constantly offer both soul and body for the glory of God.
I will reward thee most abundantly, and will be with thee in all thy tribulations.