That we ought to deny ourselves, and to imitate Christ by means of the
Cross
My Son, so far as thou art able to go out of thyself so far shalt thou
be able to enter into Me. As to desire no outward thing worketh
internal peace, so the forsaking of self inwardly joineth unto God. I
will that thou learn perfect self-denial, living in My will without
contradiction or complaint. Follow Me: I am the way, the truth, and the
life.(1) Without the way thou canst not go, without the truth thou
canst not know, without the life thou canst not live. I am the Way
which thou oughtest to follow; the Truth which thou oughtest to
believe; the Life which thou oughtest to hope for. I am the Way
unchangeable; the Truth infallible; the Life everlasting. I am the Way
altogether straight, the Truth supreme, the true Life, the blessed
Life, the uncreated Life. If thou remain in My way thou shalt know the
Truth, and the truth shall make thee free,(2) and thou shalt lay hold
on eternal life.
2. “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.(3) If thou
wilt know the truth, believe in Me. If thou wilt be perfect, sell all
that thou hast. If thou wilt be My disciple, deny thyself. If thou
wouldst possess the blessed life, despise the life which now is. If
thou wilt be exalted in heaven, humble thyself in the world. If thou
wilt reign with Me, bear the cross with Me; for only the servants of
the cross find the way of blessedness and of true light.”
3. O Lord Jesu, forasmuch as Thy life was straitened and despised by
the world, grant unto me to imitate Thee in despising the world, for
the servant is not greater than his lord, nor the disciple above his
master.(4) Let Thy servant be exercised in Thy life, because there is
my salvation and true holiness. Whatsoever I read or hear besides it,
it refresheth me not, nor giveth me delight.
4. “My son, because thou knowest these things and hast read them all,
blessed shalt thou be if thou doest them. He who hath My commandments
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me, and I will love him, and
will manifest Myself to him,(5) and I will make him to sit down with Me
in My Father’s Kingdom.”
5. O Lord Jesu, as Thou hast said and promised, even so let it be unto
me, and grant me to prove worthy. I have received the cross at Thy
hand; I have carried it, and will carry it even unto death, as Thou
hast laid it upon me. Truly the life of a truly devoted servant is a
cross, but it leadeth to paradise. I have begun; I may not return back
nor leave it.
6. Come, my brothers, let us together go forward. Jesus shall be with
us. For Jesus’ sake have we taken up this cross, for Jesus’ sake let us
persevere in the cross. He will be our helper, who was our Captain and
Forerunner. Behold our King entereth in before us, and He will fight
for us. Let us follow bravely, let no man fear terrors; let us be
prepared to die bravely in battle, and let us not so stain our
honour,(6) as to fly from the cross.
(1) John xiv. 6. (2) John viii. 32. (3) Matthew xix. 17, 21. (4)
Matthew x. 24. (5) John xiv. 21. (6) 1 Mac. ix. 10.