No man hath so lively a feeling of the passion of Christ, as he who hath happened to suffer such like things.
The cross therefore is always ready, and every where waits for thee.
Thou canst not escape it, whithersoever thou runnest: for whithersoever thou goest, thou carriest thyself with thee, and shall always find thyself.
Turn thyself upwards, or turn thyself downwards: turn thyself without, or turn thyself within thee: and every where thou shalt find the cross.
And every where thou must of necessity have patience if thou desirest inward peace, and wouldst merit an eternal crown.
5. If thou carry the cross willingly, it will carry thee, and bring thee to thy desired end; to wit, to that place where there will be an end of suffering, tho' here there will be none.
If thou carry it unwillingly, thou makest it a burden to thee, and loadest thyself the more: and nevertheless thou must bear it.
If thou fling away one cross, without doubt thou wilt find another, and perhaps a heavier.
6. Dost thou think to escape that which no mortal could ever avoid? What saint was there ever in the world without his cross and affliction?