"For whomever the Lord has adopted and deemed worthy of his fellowship ought to prepare themselves for a hard, toilsome, and unquiet life, crammed with very many and various kinds of evil. It is the Heavenly Father's will thus to exercise them so as to put his own children to a definite test. Beginning with Christ, his first-born, he follows this plan with all his children. For even though that Son was beloved above the rest, and in Him the Father's mind was well pleased, yet we see that far from being treated indulgently or softly, to speak the truth, while he dwelt on earth was now only tried by a perpetual cross...Why should we exempt ourselves, therefore, from the condition to which Christ our Head had to submit, especially since He submitted to it for our sake to show us an example of patience in Himself. Therefore, the apostle teaches that God has destined all His children to the end that they be conformed to Christ. Hence also in harsh and difficult conditions, regarded as adverse and evil, a great comfort comes to us, we share Christ's sufferings in order that as he has passed from a labyrinth of all evils into heavenly glory, we may in like manner be led through various tribulations to the same glory...How much can it do to soften the bitterness of the cross, that the more we are afflicted with adversities, the more surely our fellowship with Christ is confirmed. By communion with Him the very sufferings themselves become not only blessed to us but also help much in promoting our salvation."John Calvin