IIG xnn FAiTiiruL FOLLo^VERS OF CHRIST [Luke IX. 57-62.
comparison of working out our salvation with fear and trembling. This Spirit hclpeth us to overcome the world, and grow dead to the world, that we may be alive to God ; to look for no great things here, but in the world to come. This Spirit is that which we should all labour after.
4. From the covenant of Christ. It is one thing implied in the gospel covenant, when our Lord Jesus sets down the terms : Mat. xvi. 24, he saith, ' If any man will come after me, let him deny liimself, and take up his cross and follow me ;' that is, we must so believe in Christ, and be persuaded of the truth of liis heavenly doctrine, that we are will- ing to deny our wit and will, natural interests and affections, and to lose all rather than lose our souls, or miss of the happiness he offereth us. Nay, taking up the cross is so considerable a part of our resignation to Christ and trust in him, that in Luke it is said, chap. ix. 23, let him ' take up his cross daily.' How daily ? There are fair days as well as foul, and the face of heaven doth not always look sad and lowering. What is the meaning, then, of that, ' Let him take up his cross daily'? I answer first, it must be meant of daily expectation. The first day that we begin to think of being serious Christians we must reckon of the cross, we know not how soon it may come. If God seeth fit to spare you, yet you must be prepared for it ; stand ready, as porters in the streets, to take up the burden which you must carry. Daily inure your thoughts to the cross, that the grievousness and bitterness of it may be somewhat allayed. St Paul saith, Acts xxi. 13, ' I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus ;' and Eph. vi. 15, one great piece of the spiritual armour is, ' the preparation of the gospel of peace ;' and 1 Peter iii. 15, 'Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear :' be ready in point of courage. Now this is necessary, because we are so apt to pro- mise great things to ourselves, and indulge the security of the flesh by putting off the thoughts of the cross ; but evils familiarised are the less burdensome, and by renewing our resolution daily, we are the more fortified. Secondly, to show the continuance of our conflicts, as if every day there were some new exercise for our faith and patience. We are not to prescribe to God how long he shall afflict us, nor with how much affliction he shall exercise us ; no, though it were all the days of our lives, we must be content ; it is but a moment to eternity. We must take up our ci-oss till God remove it. Some promise fixir to be contented with a naked Christ though they run all hazards, because they hope God will not take them at their words ; but as ^oon as the cross Cometh, wriggle, shift, and distinguish themselves out of their duty ; or else, if it be long and frequently return, quite tire and are faint. So that 'Take it up daily,' is as much as ' Let patience have its perfect work,' James i. 4. If day after day we must be troubled, we must be content to be troubled. If God send it daily, we must take it up daily. Well, then, in tlie new covenant we undertook this; the new covenant doth comprise this as a clear branch and part of it. Christ telleth us the worst at first ; the devil showeth us the bait but hideth the hook. The world useth to invite its followers with promises of honour and riches, but Christ telleth us of the cross, and that partly
Luke IX. 57-G2.] must expect troubles in this world. 117
to discourage hypocrites, who cheapen and taste, but will not buy, and also to prepare sound believers for the nature and temper of his kingdom, which lieth in another world. But here by the way we are to undergo several trials, and therefore we should be armed with a mind to endure them, whether they come or no. God never intended Isaac should be sacrificed, but 5'et he will have Abraham tried.
Use 1. Is information. With what thoughts we should take up the stricter profession of Christianity — namely, with expectations of the cross. Christ will try us, and the world will hate us ; therefore let us not flatter ourselves with an easy passage to heaven. Many think they may be good Christians, yet live a life of pomp, and ease, and pleasure, free from all trouble and molestation. This is all one as if a soldier going to the wars should promise himself a continual peace or truce with the enemy, or as a mariner undertaking a long voyage should only think of fair weather and a calm sea, without waves and storms ; so irrational is it for a Christian to look for nothing but rest and peace here upon earth. No ; a Christian had need think of this to a double end, that he may be a mortified and a resolute man. If he be not mortified and dead to the world, he can never undergo the variety of conditions which his religion will expose him unto, and say with the apostle, Phil. iv. 13, 14, ' I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me; notwithstanding, ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction.' And there is usually in us a pi-opensity and inclination either to honours, riches, or pleasures, and the devil wmII work upon that weakness, Heb. xii. 13. That which is lame is soon turned out of the way. If we have any weak part in our souls, there the assault will be most strong and fierce. A garrison that looketh to be besieged, will take care to fortify the weak places where there is any suspicion of an attack ; so should a Christian mortify every corrupt inclination lest it betray him, be it love of honour, pleasure, or profit. He had need be also a well resolved man, well shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, or else in hard way he will soon founder and halt. If you be Chris- tians indeed, you will soon see the necessity of it. Pure nature itself is against bearing the cross. Christ showed the innocent affections of human nature in his own person ; it recoiled a little at the thought of the dreadful cup : Heb. v. 7, ' Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplication, with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.' And to us it is much more grievous to suffer : Heb. xii. 11, ' Now no chastening for the present seemetli to be joyous but grievous ; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.' But corrupt nature will certainly draw back, unless we be armed with great resolu- tion ; for after we have launched out into the deep with Christ, we shall be ready to run ashore again upon every storm, unless we be resolved ; therefore you need to think of the cross to breed this resolution. If Christians be not mortified, they trip up their own heels ; if they be not resolved and prepared for all weathers, they take up religion rather as a walk for recreation than as a journey or serious passage to heaven. Therefore we must all of us prepare for sufferings in this world, looking