fliest from the little crosses Jesus, from time to time, presenteth to thee. What resemblance canst thou ever claim to Jesus crucified, if there be nothing seen in thee but an abhorrence of suffering and mortifications? Ah! unite thyself with Jesus in embracing the cross of troubles and afflictions, of evils and tribulations, all sanctified by Jesus having embraced his cross.
The executioners, impatient to see the loving, and yet so much hated, Lord nailed to the cross, having loaded him with its weight, and bound him with ropes, they hastily drag him along to Calvary. Follow with thy heart and mind your suffering Jesus in his painful journey, and with sentiments of tender compassion bear his company. He, though fainting and weary by his agony by the loss of so much blood, by so many stripes and blows, all torn and wounded, does not refuse to follow, with his heavy load, his enemies who hurry him up the hill. Our beloved Saviour proceeds, and although every step causes him new torture, yet conquering by its charity the weakness of his flesh, he hastens on. Consider, O my heart, how the whole way through which Jesus passes is stained with blood, until he is completely exhausted. The cross he bears is painful, heavy, and unjust, and yet he cheerfully carries it, inviting thee to carry your cross after him to Paradise. No cross will ever be so weighty or painful for thee as Jesus’ was. Wilt thou, then, refuse to accept it from his hands? Wilt thou shrink from bearing it in his company? Without the cross the way to heaven is not open to thee; without the cross thou canst not be a follower of Jesus. Courage, then, and follow in his footsteps with cheerfulness. Do not fear that he will not lighten its weight; he will cheer thee and assist thee.
Jesus, tottering under the heavy weight of his cross, and no longer able, from sheer weariness and faint-
