[2.] Not to draw sufferings upon ourselves by our own rashness and folly : James i. 2, ' My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.' He saith, when ye ' fall into them/ not when ye draw them upon yourself. It was Tertullian's error to say that afflic- tions are to be sought and desired. Man is never satisfied with his present condition ; sometimes we question God's love when we have no afflictions, and anon when we have nothing but afflictions. In all these things we must refer ourselves to God's pleasure, not desire troubles, but bear them and improve them when he layeth them on us. Christ hath taught us to pray, ' Lead us not into temptation ; ' it is but a fond presumption to cast ourselves upon it. Philastrius and Theodoret speak of some that would compel men to kill them out of an affectation of martyrdom ; this was a mad ambition, not a true zeal. And no less fond are they that seek out crosses and troubles rather than wait for them, or by their own violence and miscarriage draw a just hatred upon themselves. Christ would not that for his sake we should run head-
4 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeK. VIII.
long into dangers, and without necessity ; there is a mediaui between faintness and rashness. Christ himself did not take up the cross till it was laid upon him. If a man set fire to his own house, he is liable to the law ; if it be fired by accident he is pitied and relieved. There- fore we are not to seek the cross, or make it, but bear it, and take it up ; not to fill the cup ourselves, but to drink it off when God puts it into our hands to take it up ; when we cannot avoid it without sin, or a breach upon our consciences, we are not to shift then, or avoid it by unlawful means.
2. Positively. To bear it patiently and willingly when we cannot avoid it without sin. When we are brought into a necessity of either suffering or sinning, in such cases there must be a cheerful, free, voluntary submission of ourselves to suffer the whole will of God. To take up the cross implieth — (1.) Faithfulness and integrity without shifting ; (2.) Patience and submission without murmuring ; (3.) Joy and cheerfulness without fainting.
[1.] Faithfulness and integrity without shifting. Many distinguish themselves out of their duty, and when God calleth them to suffering put a fallacy upon their souls : Gal. vi. 12, 'As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.' They cannot live without honour, and ease, and plenty, and therefore turn and wind themselves to shift the cross. Our Lord Jesus offered himself: Ps. xl. 7, 8, ' Then said I, Lo, I come ; in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, 0 my God, yea, thy law is within my heart.' So should we resign ourselves when the will of God is so, and give up the comforts of our lives when we can hold them no longer, and be glad we have something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ. The apostle speaks of some ' who are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose god is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things,' Phil. iii. 18, 19. Multurri interest inter iheologum glorice et iheologum crucis. Men that have no love to God, but only serve their fleshly appetites, and look no higher than riches, and honours, and pleasures, and applause, will never be faithful to Christ. There are a sort of men that study to save themselves, not from sin, but from danger, and accordingly accommodate themselves to every interest. As the men of- Keilah dealt with David, they entertained him for a while, but when Saul pursued him, they resolved to betray him, they would come into no danger and trouble for him ; so they deal with religion.
[2.] Patience and submission without murmuring. We show our obedience to God in suffering his will, as well as doing his will. He is sovereign in his acts of providence as well as in his laws. And this we must do without murmuring or repining against God, as if he did us wrong, or did deal hardly with us : Isa. xxx. 15, 'In quietness and confidence shall be your strength ; ' that is, in faith and patience, humbly submitting to God's will, and depending on his favour and gracious protection. There must be a submissive attendance upon God : Ps. Ixii. 1, ' Truly my soul waiteth upon God ; from him cometh my . salvation ; ' Ps. xxxix. 9, ' I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it;' not uttering impatient words; God's will silenceth all.
VeR. 21.] SERMONS UPOX MARK X. 17-27. 5
[3.] Cheerful behaviour under the cross : Kom. v. 3, ' And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also ; ' James i 2, ' My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.' Afflictions to God's people do not only minister occasion of patience, but great joy : 2 Cor. vii. 4, 'I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation,' VTrepTrept aaeuofiac TTj %apa ; I overflow with joy. A dejected spirit doth not behave itself answerably to its principles, privileges, and. hope.«. Are you at peace with God, and have you communion with him at every turn ? And have you hopes of glory, and are you so troubled when you are a little cut short in your temporal comforts ? A christian should be at an indifferency, to rejoice as if he rejoiced not, and mourn as if lie mourned not. Dejection of spirit argueth too great addictedness to worldly comforts, and love of ease and flesh-pleasing, and. ingratitude for all the spiritual good we have received. Shall God lay in such great comforts, and after such great receivings do you take it ill to be put to a little expense ? Job xv. 11, ' Are the consolations of God small with thee ? ' If you had a due sense of the world to come, you would be glad to keep your conscience, though you lose your coat : Heb. X. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your- selves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance,' Eom. viii. 18, ' For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.' Do you look for a glory to be revealed in you ? Then look upon all the sufferings of this life as a feather put into the scales against a talent. We are to have a sense of our condition, yet in regard of the honour done to us to bear a part of Christ's cross, and in regard of the com- fort and happiness provided for us we should be cheerful, that it may not be known to be an unwilling patience, and. extorted by force. There is one expression more : Luke ix. 23, ' Let him take up his cross daily.' How daily ? There are fair days as well as foul days, and the face of heaven doth not always look sad and lowering. How then are we to take up the cross daily ? I answer —