He hath many desirous of comfort, but few of tribulation. He findeth many companions of his table, but few of his abstinence. All desire to rejoice with him, but few will suffer any thing for him. Many love Jesus so long as adversity happens not. Many praise and bless him, as long as they receive comforts from him. But if Jesus hide himself, and leave them but awhile, they fall either into complaint, or dejection. 2. But they that love Jesus for Jesus, and not for some comfort of their own, bless him in all tribulation and anguish of heart, as well as in the greatest comfort. And although he should never give them comfort, yet they would ever praise him and always give him thanks. 3. O how powerful is the pure love of Jesus, which is mixed with no self-interest! Do they not shew themselves to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ, that always think of their own pleasure? Where may one be found that is willing to serve God gratis? 4. It is hard to find any one so spiritual, that is stript of the love of all earthly things. *For where is any one to be found that is indeed free from all affection to creatures? If a man should give all his substance, yet it is as nothing. And if he should do great penances, yet they are but little. And if he should attain to all knowledge, he is yet far off. *And if he should be very fervent in devotion, yet there is wanting one thing, which is most necessary for him. *What is that? That having left all, he leave himself, and go wholly out of himself; And that when he hath done all which he knew ought to be done, he know that he hath done nothing. 5. Let him not think that a great thing, which others may think so; but according to truth let him affirm himself to be an unprofitable servant, as our Saviour hath said, _When ye have done all things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants_. *Yet no man richer, no man more powerful, no man more free, than he that can leave himself and all things, and set himself in the lowest place. CHAPTER XII. _Of the royal way of the holy cross._ THIS speech seemeth hard to many, _Renounce thyself, take up thy cross, and follow Jesus_. But it will be much harder to hear that last word, _Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire_. This sign of the cross shall be in heaven, when our Lord shall come to judgment. Then all the servants of the cross shall draw near unto Christ the Judge with great confidence. 2. Why therefore fearest thou to take up the cross, which leadeth to a kingdom? *In the cross is salvation, in the cross is life, in the cross is protection against our enemies, in the cross is heavenly sweetness, in the cross is strength of mind, in the cross is joy of spirit, in the cross is the height of virtue, in the cross is the perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of the soul, nor hope of everlasting life, but in the cross.