YeR. 21.] SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. 7
of the cross of Christ ; but here is true respect to the cross of Christ, to be willing for Christ's sake to bear afflictions with patience and humble submission. The apostle counted all things but dross and dung: Phil. iii. 10, ' That I may know him, and the power of his resur- rection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death.' There is a great deal of sweetness and spiritual comfort in suffering after, for, and with Christ; we should count all things dung and dross to gain this experience. This should be comfort enough to a gracious heart, that thereby he is made more like his Lord and master.
2. Because of the world's hatred: John xv. 19, 'If ye were of the world, the world would love its own ; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.' A thorough christian will be sure to meet with opposi- tion. We are told, 2 Tim. iii. 12, ' Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.' If a man will be lukewarm, not caring how things go, he may find friendship with the world ; but he that hath any zeal and conscience, and would be faithful, the world will hate him as an object reviving guilt : 1 John iii. 12, ' Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother ; and wherefore slew he him ? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.' The spiritual and carnal seed cannot agree ; Gal. iv, 29, ' For as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit, so it is now.'
3. It is needful, in order to our following Christ, that our pride and carnal affections should be broken by the cross : 1 Peter i. 6, ' Now for a season (if need be) ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.' There is a need of the cross to reclaim us from our wanderings, to cut off the provisions and fuel of our lusts, to make us mindful of heavenly things, and that we may retreat to our great privileges, and to humble us for sin, to stir us up to prayer, and to wean us from the world. Trihulatio tarn Qiobis necessaria est quam ipsa vita, immo magis necessaria, et multo utilior quam iotius mundi opes et dignitates — • Affliction is as necessary to us as life itself, yea, more necessary arid profitable than all the wealth and honours of the world ; and therefore, being so necessary and profitable for us, we should be willing to take up the cross.
Use 1. Is of information. It informeth us —
1. With what thoughts we should take up the stricter profession of Christianity, namely, with expectations of the cross. We cannot but expect great inconveniences and troubles in Christ's service, therefore let us not flatter ourselves. Many think they may be good christians, and yet live a life of ease and peace, free from troubles and afflictions ; this is all one as if a soldier, going to the wars, should promise himself peace and continual truce with the enemy, or as if a mariner, committing himself to the sea for a long voyage, should promise himself nothing but fair weather and a calm season, without waves and storms ; so irrational it is for a christian to promise himself a life of ease and rest here upon earth.
2. That a christian had need be a mortified and resolute man.
[1.] A mortified weaned man : ' That which is lame is soon turned
8 SEKMONS UPON MARK X, 17-27. [SeR. VIII.
out of the way,' Heb. xii. 13. 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 takes care to fortify the weak places, and where there is any suspicion of entrance ; so should a christian mortify every •corrupt inclination lest it betray him, be it love of honour, pleasure, or profit.
[2.] He had need be a resolved man : ' His feet shod with the pre- paration of the gospel of peace,' Eph. vi. 15 ; or else in hard ways he will soon founder and halt. That eToi/Maaia, that preparation is a resolved mind to go through thick and thin, and to follow Christ in all conditions. Well, then, it is no easy matter to be a christian indeed. Nature in the general is against bearing the cross. Christ himself, his human nature recoiled and shunned it without sin ; and to us it is more grievous to suffer : Heb. xii. 11, 'No affliction for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.' And besides, lusts ,if they be not purged out, will tempt us to stumble, and we need to be armed with great resolution, or else after we have launched out into the deep with Christ, we shall be ready to run ashore again. Now most christians are not mortified, and so they trip up their own heels. Most christians are not resolute, and do but take up religion as a walk for recreation, not as a journey, so as to be prepared for all weathers.