3. That Christ cannot but take it ill that we are so delicate and tender of our interests, and so impatient under the cross, when he endured so willingly such great things for our sakes. We cannot lose for him so much as he hath done for us ; and if he had been unwilling to suffer for us, what had been our state and condition to all eternity ? We should have suffered eternal misery. If you would not have Christ of another mind, why will you be of another mind ? 1 Peter iv. 1, ' For- asmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind ; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.'
4. If you be not dead to the things of the world, you are not acquainted with the virtue and power of Christ's cross, and have not a true sense of Christianity, caimot glory in it as the most excellent profession in the world : Gal. vi. 14, ' God forbid that I should glory,
120 THE FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST [LuKE IX. 57-02-
save in the cross of our Lord Josns Clifist, by whom the world is cruci- fied unto me, and I unto the world.' You are in a dangerous tempta- tion to atlieism.
5. We are gainers by Christ if we part with all the world for his sake, Mark x. 29, 30 ; therefore no loss should seem too great in obey- ing his will. Certainly a man cannot be a loser by God.
6. All worldly things were confiscated by the fall, and we can have no spiritual right to them till we receive a new grant by Jesus Christ, who is the heir of all things. Dominium politicum fandatur in jjro- videntia, evangelicum in gratia : 1 Cor. iii. 23, * All things are yours, because you are Christ's, and Christ is God's ; ' and 1 Tim. iv. 3, ' God hath made them to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.' So that what we enjoy is by the mere favour of the Redeemer, and should be parted with again when he calleth for it.
Thus much for the first point.
A second doctrine or point here offered is : —
The great poverty of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Beasts and fowls have places to shelter themselves in, but Christ had no certain place of residence or dwelling wherein to rest. He doth not say kings have palaces, but I have none ; rich men have houses and lands, but I have none. But he saith, ' Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests ; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.'
The reasons of this are these following : —
1. To increase the value and merit of his satisfaction. Our sins did deserve this, his whole humiliation, and every degree of it ; and Christ was content to suffer it for the ransom of our souls. It is clear this, that all his condescension conduced to make up the remedy more full ; and it is evident by the apostle that it giveth us a right to a larger allowance of grace: 2 Cor. viii. 9, ' For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he become poor, that ye through his poverty miglit become rich.'
2. Christ came to offer the kingdom of heaven, and the good things of the other world, and to draw men's minds and hearts thither. And, therefore, that he might appear a fit teacher of the world, by his own example, he taught us contempt of outward things. If he had [)reached up heavenly-mindedness, and lived himself in pomp and fulness, the people would not have regarded his words. ' Alexander, when his army grew sluggish, because laden with the spoils of their enemies ; to free them from this incumbrance, commanded all his own carriages to be set on fire ; that when they saw the king himself devote his rich treasures to the flame, they might not murmur if their mite and pit- tance were consumed also.' So if Christ had taught us contempt of the world, and had not given us an instance of il in his person, his doctrine had been less powerful and efFectual.
3. To season and sanctify a mean estate and degree of life, when we are called to it by God's providence. Christ's own poverty teacheth us to bear a mean condition well : Mat. x. 25, ' It is enough for a disciple that he be as his master, and a servant as his lord.' Uriah would not give way to any softness, while Joab his general was in the
Luke IX. 57-G2.] no excuse against, etc. 121
field: 2 Sam. xi. 11, ' The ark and Israel are in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are in the open fields ; shall I go into my house and eat and drink ? ' &c. We must be contented to fare as Christ did ; we cannot be poorer than Christ, as poor as we are ; for the poorest have some place of shelter, but he had none whereon to lay his head.