Lord my God, patience is very necessary for me,† as I plainly see, for many things in this life do happen contrary to us. For whatever plans I will devise for my own peace, my life cannot be without struggle and pain.†
It is so, My son. But My will is that you seek not that peace which is void of temptation, or which feels nothing contrary. But rather think that you have then found peace, only if it survives when you are exercised with sundry tribulations,† and tried in many crosses.
Do you think that the men of this world suffer nothing, or but a little? Not so will you find it even if you ask of those who enjoy the greatest delights. But you will say, they have many delights and follow their own wills, and therefore they do not weigh their afflictions. Be it so, that they do have whatever they will; but how long do you think it will last? Behold, even “as smoke is driven away... so let the wicked perish at the presence of God”,† and there will be no memory of their past joys! Yes, even while they are yet alive, they do not rest in them without bitterness, and weariness, and fear. For from the selfsame thing, in which they imagine their delight to be, often they receive the penalty of sorrow. Justly are they
