Chapter 18. That temporal miseries are to be borne patiently after the exam... (Book 3. On Inward Consolation as a Gift of God) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas)

1. "My Son! I came down from heaven for your salvation; I took upon Me your miseries not of necessity, but drawn by love that you might learn patience and might bear temporal miseries without murmuring. For from the hour of My birth, until My death upon the Cross, I ceased not from bearing of sorrow; I had much lack of temporal things; I oftentimes heard many reproaches against Myself; I gently bore contradictions and hard words; I received ingratitude for benefits, blasphemies for My miracles, rebukes for My doctrine."

2. Lord, because You wast patient in Your life, herein most of all fulfilling the commandment of Your Father, it is well that I, miserable sinner, should patiently bear myself according to Your will, and as long as You will have it so, should bear about with me for my salvation, the burden of this corruptible life. For although the present life seems burdensome, it is nevertheless already made very full of merit through Your grace, and to those who are weak it becomes easier and brighter through Your example and the footsteps of Your saints; but it is also much more full of consolation than it was of old, under the old Testament, when the gate of heaven remained shut; and even the way to heaven seemed more obscure when so few cared to seek after the heavenly kingdom. But not even those who were then just and in the way of salvation were able, before Your Passion and the ransom of Your holy Death, to enter the kingdom of heaven.

3. Oh what great thanks am I bound to give You, who have condescended to show me and all faithful people the good and right way to Your eternal kingdom, for Your way is our way, and by holy patience we walk to You who are our Crown. If You had not gone before and taught us, who would care to follow? Oh, how far would they have gone backward if they had not beheld Your glorious example! Behold we are still lukewarm, though we have heard of Your many signs and discourses; what would become of us if we had not such a light to help us follow You?