And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:38
"For truly, Christians ought to be a kind of men born to bear slanders
and injuries, open to the malice, deceits, and mockeries of wicked men.
That is, they should have such complete spiritual composure that, having
received one offense,
they make ready for another,
promising themselves
throughout life nothing but the bearing of a perpetual cross.
Meanwhile, let them also do good to those who do them harm, and bless
those who curse them [Luke 6:28; cf. Matt. 5:44], and (this is their
only victory) strive to conquer evil with good [Rom. 12:21]. (Inst. 4:20:20)." Calvin