these earthly goods, the more he will abound in the eternal. Therefore, if thou too abandon all things, in affection at least, and follow me, thou shalt receive a hundredfold, and shalt possess eternal life.
But if thou wouldst follow me, thou must also prepare thy soul for temptation; [1] for all that will live godly in me must suffer persecution.[2] For how shall a crown be given to one who has not fulfilled the conditions of the contest? Look at me, the pattern of all patience. Let but my Passion be called to mind, and there is nothing that may not be patiently endured.
Think, then, what, and how greatly, I have suffered, and whatever thou sufferest will become light. For, not to speak of the very heavy pains and agonies that I sustained in my body, think only of the insults, injuries, and reproaches of my revilers, that fell upon me; and for what desert of mine? I healed the sick, fed the hungry, gave sight to the blind; I went about doing good and healing all; I did amongst them works that no other man did. And which of them could convict me of sin? Not one; and yet they sharpened their tongues against me like a sword. Hence I was called a glutton and a wine-drinker, a blasphemer, the son of a carpenter, one cast out by the prince of the devils, one who had a devil, a seducer and seditious person, a Samaritan and friend of publicans; nay, I was reputed with the wicked, esteemed guilty of death, and worse than a robber; made the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people. And all this I suffered, to leave you an example, that you might follow my footsteps. Why, then, O men, do you weep, why do you sigh, when perchance you have to bear with injurious words? Think diligently what opposition I suffered from sinners against myself, that you may not be wearied, and grow fainthearted.[3]
Have I thus had opposers and contradictors, and would you wish all to be your friends and benefactors? Where will your patience meet with its crown, if no adversity is to put it to the test? Surely, if I, when innocent and undefiled in all things, was nevertheless exposed to envy and calumny, it was to teach you that it is in vain for you to seek to be free from them here. I was to suffer, and so to enter into my glory.[4]
Thou errest, thou errest, my son, if it is another life that thou lookest for. Shall the disciple be above his mas-
