(2.) Suffering for Christ. What is it that maketh men so tender of suffering but love of the world ? If men were crucified to the world, it would be more easy ; for we can readily part with things that we do much value and esteem. These are but small matters in com- parison of what Christ hath promised you and purchased for you. If you must endure disgrace for Christ, eXa^ta-ov, it is a small thing with you, 1 Cor. iv. 3 ; if bonds, and afflictions, and hard trials, these things will not much move you. Acts xx. 23, 24 ; Bom. viii. 13, ' If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die : but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.' But alas ! every one hath not this constancy of mind, and deep sense of the world to come, this weanedness from the present world, and therefore maintain their resolution for God and heaven with great difficulty ; the heavenly life is obstructed and weakened by worldly affections.
(3.) Reason will plainly evidence it to you — (1.) From the intent of the cross ; (2.) From the nature of the religion that is founded oa
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tlie cross of Christ, and the graces wherein the life of that religion consisteth.
First, From the end and intent of the cross. Why the Lord did appoint this way to save the world.
1. It was to be an all-sufficient expiatory sacrifice for sin : Eph. v. 2, ' He hath given himself for us, to be an offering and a sacrifice to God of a sweet-smelling savour.' By it satisfaction is made to God for the sin which the world enticed man to commit. Our first sin was a turning from God to the world. Man would be at his own finding, and left the happiness which he had in God for somewhat in the creature. Now by ' his stripes we are healed,' Isa. liii. 5. Therefore they cross this end, and so are enemies, who would tear open Christ's wounds, and make them bleed afresh. These refuse God's remedy.
2. By this cross Christ purchased for us that Spirit of power, and all those ordinances and helps of grace, by which we may overcome the world: Gal. i. 4, 'He gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.' Both the internal operation of his Holy Spirit, and the out- ward ordinances of God, or means of grace, were given us to this end, that our estimation and love which is set upon the creature might be recovered to God, that we might be called off from the creature, and brought back again to God. Now those who mind earthly things are direct enemies to the cross of Christ, because they go about to defeat the end of it, and this Spirit, which would take them off from the world.
3. By his cross he hath purchased to us that glorious kingdom which is propounded as our happiness ; and being formerly shut to all man- kind by sin, it is opened by the death of Christ, that believers may enter into it : 1 Thes. v. 9, 10, ' God hath not appointed us to wrath ; but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, that whether we sleep or wake, we should live together with him.' This was his end ; and how do they contradict this end who only aim at a worldly happiness, and live as if they desired no better satisfactions than those of the belly and bodily life. Surely these hate the cross, and lightly esteem the glory purchased thereby.
4. That it might be a pattern and example to us of three things — (1.) Of suffering ; (2.) Contentment and patience under suffering ; (3.) A glorious issue. Now those that are of a worldly spirit can have no liking to the cross of Christ, but hate, and are enemies to it.
[1] Of suffering. He endured the cross for our Bakes, that we might endure the cross for his sake; take up our cross and follow him, Mat. xvi. 24. We must have our cross, Col. i. 24, vaTep^/xara Xpiarov. We have the remnant of those sufferings which Christ began on the cross, that thereby he may convince us of the vanity and emptiness of the world, which is more than doctrine and hearsay. When we are de- spised and contemned, and become as the filth and off-scouring of the world, it turneth us more against the world than a lecture or specula- tive contemplation of these things do, and being sanctified by Christ, doth produce in us a low esteem of the world, and a desire of a better portion.
[2.] Of contentment and patience under sufferings: 'For Christ died, Leaving us an- example that we should follow his steps/ 1 Peter
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ii. 21. And truly to eye our pattern, Christ, hanging and dying on the cross, will pierce the world to the very heart. He was contented to be the most despicable object upon earth in the eyes of men. If christians be not ashamed of their head and glorious chief, this spectacle should kill all our worldly affections, and make us despise all the honour, and riches, and pomp, and pleasure of the world, the favour or frowns, the love or wrath, the praise or dispraise of men, so far as it is opposite to the kingdom of Christ. When it is crucified to us, we should be crucified to it : Gal. vi. 14, ' God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' The applause of the world should be contemptible unto, and actually abhorred by, a sincere believer ; yea, the power, beauty, allurements, as they would interpose to weaken our esteem of Christ, or pursuit of that happiness which he hath offered to us, it should all be trampled upon and rejected by us for Christ's sake.