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Chapter 23Erquickstunden.1.23

Vom Trost im Kreuz. Woher? wohin?

The Heavenly Origin of the Cross

The author begins a dialogue with the cross, recognizing it as a divine messenger sent to lead the soul toward heaven.

So this is how I speak to my cross when I grow afraid. Where do you come from? From heaven. You are welcome; you are an angel of God.✦ Where are you leading me? To heaven. Ah, take me with you, you noble chariot of heaven.✦1 I'm amazed that people are so terrified of the cross.

Reframing Suffering

The author corrects the common misconception that suffering originates from the devil, asserting instead that it is a fatherly discipline leading to a heavenly crown.

But what does it matter? They think their cross comes out of hell, from the devil and wicked people, and that it leads down to hell as well. No, dearest soul, your cross comes from heaven. If you could see the hand that strikes you, you'd kiss it; it's God's fatherly hand.2 Your cross leads to heaven. If you could see the crown laid up in heaven for those who bear the cross, you would carry all your suffering with joy. Does no one want you, dear cross? Just come to me.

Welcoming the Cross as a Guest

The author embraces the cross with joy, recognizing the love of the Father behind it and welcoming it as a dear guest.

I know who sent you: my God, from whom no evil can come; my Creator, who cannot destroy me; my dearest Father, who can neither intend harm to his child nor inflict it.✦3 I know what you bring with you: a gracious God. If I have him, what more do I want?✦ I know you well; you don't frighten me. Your pressure is a refreshment, your burden a delight; your sting is full of sweet honey, your grief full of sweet comfort.✦4 I also know well enough where you intend to take me: into heaven—ah, into heaven, into heaven.5 Where would I rather be! Well then, go ahead; I'm waiting for you—you will be a dear guest to me.

The Path to the Crown

The chapter concludes with an invitation to finish the fight of faith, affirming that the cross is the necessary path to the stars and the promised crown.

Come quickly, Cross, so I can finish my fight; the crown is already woven.✦ This is how you reach the stars—through difficult paths: the Cross is the way to heaven.6 H. Müller, Erquickst.)7 , (3)

Read the original Latin

So red ich mein Kreuz an, wann mir bange wird. Woher kommst du? vom Himmel. Sei mir willkommen, du bist ein Engel Gottes. Wo führst du hin? zum Himmel. Ach nimm mich mit, du edler Himmelswagen. Mich wunderts, daß die Menschen vor dem Kreuz so erschrecken.

Aber was machts? Sie meinen, ihr Kreuz komme aus der Hölle, vom Teufel und bösen Menschen, und führe auch hinab zur Hölle. Nein liebste Seele, dein Kreuz kommt vom Himmel. Könntest du die Hand sehen die dich schlägt, du würdest sie küssen; sie ist Gottes Vaterhand. Dein Kreuz führt zum Himmel. Könntest du die Krone sehen, die den Kreuzträgern im Himmel beigelegt ist, mit Freuden würdest du tragen all dein Leiden. Will dich niemand haben liebes Kreuz? komm nur zu mir.

Ich weiß wer dich gesandt hat: mein Gott, von dem nichts böses kommen kann; mein Schöpfer, der mich nicht verderben kann; mein allerliebster Vater, ders mit seinem Kind nicht böse meinen oder machen kann. Ich weiß was du mitbringst: einen gnädigen Gott. Hab ich den, was will ich mehr? Ich kenne dich wol, du schreckst mich nicht. Dein drücken ist ein erquicken, dein belästigen ein erlustigen, dein Stachel ist voll süßes Honigs, dein betrüben voll süßes Trosts. Ich weiß auch wol, wo du mit mir hin gedenkst; in den Himmel, ach in den in den Himmel. Wo wollt ich lieber sein! Nun so mach fort, ich warte dein, ein lieber Gast sollst du mir sein.

Kreuz komm doch bald, daß ich meinen Kampf vollende; die Kron ist schon geflochten. Sic itur ad astra per ardua, Kreuz ist der Weg zum Himmel.

H. Müller, Erquidst.) , (3)

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Gen.16.7 — And the angel of the LORD found her by the spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.
  2. ↩2Kgs.2.11;Ps.68.17 — And it came to pass, as they were walking along and talking, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. Ps.68.17 — Why do you look with envy, you peaked mountains? This is the mountain God desired for his dwelling — indeed, the LORD will dwell there forever.
  3. ↩Jas.1.13 — Let no one say when tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God is untempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
  4. ↩Ps.73.25;Phil.4.11-Phil.4.13 — Whom have I in heaven but you? And with you I desire nothing on earth. Phil.4.11 — Not that I am speaking from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Phil.4.12 — I know what it is to be brought low, and I know what it is to have abundance. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret — both to be filled and to go hungry, both to have plenty and to be in need. Phil.4.13 — I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
  5. ↩1Cor.15.55;Judg.14.8-Judg.14.9;Ps.19.10 — Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? Judg.14.8 — After some time had passed, he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, a swarm of bees were in the body of the lion, and there was honey. Judg.14.9 — He scooped some of it into his hands and went on, eating as he went. Then he went to his father and mother and gave them some, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion. Ps.19.10 — The fear of the LORD is pure, standing forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, righteous altogether.
  6. ↩2Tim.4.7-2Tim.4.8;Jas.1.12;Rev.2.10 — I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2Tim.4.8 — From now on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Jas.1.12 — Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Rev.2.10 — Do not fear at all the things you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will have affliction for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Himmelswagen personifies the cross as a heavenly chariot that carries the soul upward; keep the image rather than flattening to 'vehicle' or 'path'.
  2. 2 ↩Vaterhand keeps the compound's fatherly force: not merely a hand of God, but the Father's hand that disciplines in love.
  3. 3 ↩Early modern 'ders' is contracted 'der es' ('who…it/that'); 'böse meinen oder machen' is rendered as intend harm / inflict harm, not mere 'think badly of'.
  4. 4 ↩Infinitives used as nouns (drücken, belästigen, erquicken, erlustigen, betrüben) name the cross's action and its paradoxical fruit; 'erquicken' deliberately echoes the work's title (Erquickstunden).
  5. 5 ↩Source has doubled 'in den in den Himmel'; rendered as emphatic repetition of 'into heaven' rather than silent deletion of the second 'in den'.
  6. 6 ↩The opening clause is the Latin motto Sic itur ad astra per ardua (classically, 'thus one goes to the stars by hard ways'), rendered here in plain English rather than left untranslated.
  7. 7 ↩Source reads "Erquidst"; most plausible intended form is "Erquickst." (abbreviation of Erquickstunden). Proper name Müller left untranslated.

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