Yea, thou wilt account this thine especial joy, that I afflict thee with sorrows, and do not spare thee.
"As My Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you," said I unto My beloved disciples; whom I sent not out to temporal joys, but to great conflicts; not to honour, but to contempt; not to idleness, but to labours; not to rest, but that they should with patience bring forth much fruit. Remember thou these words, O My son!
CHAPTER XXXI.
OF NEGLECT OF ALL CREATURES, IN ORDER TO FIND OUT THE CREATOR.
LORD, I stand much in need of yet greater grace, if I shall attain to that state, where neither man nor any creature shall be a hindrance unto me.
For as long as anything holds me back, I cannot freely take my flight to Thee.
He desired to fly freely who said, "Oh! that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away and be at rest!"
What is more quiet than the single eye? and who more free than he that desireth nothing upon earth?
A man ought therefore to mount above all creatures, and perfectly to renounce himself, and to see that Thou, the Creator of all things, hast nothing amongst creatures like unto Thyself.
Unless a man be set free from all creatures, he cannot entirely attend unto divine things.
