If Thou Art Willing To

Jesus Has Many Lovers Of His Kingdom Of Heaven, But He Has Few Bearers Of His Cross. Many Desire His Consolation, But Few Desire His Tribulation. He Finds Many Comrades In Eating And Drinking, But He Finds Few Hands Who Will Be With Him In His Abstinence And Fastingbut Those Who Love Jesus Purely For Himself, And Not For Their Own Profit Or Convenience, Bless Him As Heartily In Temptation And Tribulation And In All Other Adversities As They Do In Time Of Consolation. And If He Never Sent Them Consolation, They Would Still Bless And Praise Him.

Caution Is Crediting, And Reserve In Speaking, And In Revealing One's Self To But Very Few, Are The Best Securities Both Of A Good Understanding With The World, And Of The Inward Peace Of Our Own Minds.

If You Seek Jesus In All Things You Will Surely Find Jesus. And If You Seek Yourself, You Will Surely Find Yourself, But Only To Your Ruin.

Endeavor To Be Patient In Bearing With The Defects And Infirmities Of Others, Of What Sort 'soever They Be; For That Thyself Also Has Many Failings Which Must Be Borned With By Others.

Anyone Who Is Not Totally Dead To Himself Will Soon Find That He Is Tempted And Overcome By Piddling And Frivolous Things. Whoever Is Weak In Spirit, Given To The Flesh And Inclined To Sensual Things Can, But Only With Great Difficulty, Drag Himself Away From His Earthly Desires. Therefore He Is Often Gloomy And Sad When He Is Trying To Pull Himself Away From Them, And Easily Gives Way To Anger Should Someone Attempt To Oppose Him.