Himself saith, "When you shall have done all things that are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants."
Then may he be truly poor and naked in spirit, and say with the Prophet, "I am desolate and afflicted."
Yet none is richer than that man, no man more powerful, no man more free; for he knoweth how to leave all things, and to set himself in the lowest place.
CHAPTER XII.
OF THE ROYAL WAY OF THE HOLY CROSS.
NTO many this seemeth a hard speech, "Deny thyself, take up thy cross, and follow Jesus."
But much harder will it be to hear that last word, "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire."
For they who now willingly hear and follow the word of the cross, shall not then fear to hear the sentence of everlasting damnation.
This sign of the cross, shall be in the heaven, when the Lord shall come to judgment.
Then all the servants of the cross, who in their lifetime conformed themselves unto Christ crucified, shall draw near unto Christ the judge with great confidence.
2. Why therefore fearest thou to take up the cross which leadeth thee to a kingdom?
In the cross is salvation, in the cross is life, in the cross is protection against our enemies, in the cross