Part 58

7. I have an higher demand upon _you_ who love, as well as fear God. He whom you fear, whom you love, has qualified _you_, for promoting his work in a more excellent way. Because you love God, you love your brother also: you love not only your friends, but your enemies; not only the friends, but even the enemies of God. You have _put on, as the elect of_ God, _lowliness, gentleness, long-suffering_. You have faith in God, and in Jesus Christ whom he hath sent: faith which overcometh the world. And hereby you conquer both evil shame, and that fear of man which _bringeth a snare_: so that you can _stand with boldness before them that despise you and make no account of your labours_. Qualified then as you are, and armed for the fight, will _you_ be _like the children of Ephraim, who being harnessed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle_? Will _you_ leave a few of your brethren to stand alone, against all the hosts of the aliens? O say not, “This is too heavy a cross: I have not strength or courage to bear it.” True; not of yourself. But you that believe, _can do all things through Christ strengthening_ you. _If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth._ No cross is too heavy for _him_ to bear, knowing that they that _suffer with him, shall reign with him_. Say not, “Nay, but I cannot bear to be _singular_.” Then you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. No one enters there but thro’ the _narrow way_. And all that walk in this, are singular. Say not, “But I cannot endure the reproach, the odious name of an _informer_.” And did any man ever save his soul, that was not _a by-word, and a proverb of reproach_? Neither canst thou ever save thine, unless thou art willing, that men should _say all manner of evil of thee_. Say not, “But if I am active in this work, I shall lose not only my reputation, but my friends, my customers, my business, my livelihood, so that I shall be brought to poverty.” Thou shalt not: thou canst not: it is absolutely impossible, unless God himself chuseth it. For his _kingdom ruleth over all_, and _the very hairs of thy head are all numbered_. But if the wise, the gracious God chuse it for thee, wilt thou murmur or complain? Wilt thou not rather say, _The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it_? If you _suffer for Christ, happy are you: the Spirit of glory and of Christ shall rest upon you_. Say not, “I would suffer all things, but my wife will not consent to it. And certainly a man ought to _leave father and mother_ and all, _and cleave to his wife_.” True, all――but God; all――but Christ. But he ought not to leave _him_ for his wife. He is not to _leave any duty undone_, for the dearest relative. Our Lord himself hath said in this very sense, _If any man loveth father, or mother, or wife, or children, more than me, he is not worthy of me!_ Say not, “Well, I would forsake all for Christ. But one duty must not hinder another. And this would frequently hinder my attending public worship.” Sometimes it probably would. _Go_ then _and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice_. And whatever is lost, by shewing this mercy, God will repay sevenfold into thy bosom. Say not, “But I shall hurt my own soul. I am a young man: and by taking up loose women, I should expose my self to temptation.” Yes, if you did this in your own strength, or for your own pleasure. But that is not the case. You trust in God: and you aim at pleasing him only. And if he should call you even into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, _though thou walkest thro’ the fire thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flames kindle upon thee_. “True; if _he called me_ into the furnace. But I do not see that I am called to this.” Perhaps thou art not willing to see it. However, if thou wast not called before, I call thee _now_, in the name of Christ: take up thy cross and follow him. Reason no more with flesh and blood, but now resolve to cast in thy lot, with the most despised, the most infamous of his followers, the filth and off-scouring of the world. I call thee in particular, who didst once strengthen their hands, but since art drawn back. Take courage! Be strong! Fulfil their joy, by returning with heart and hand. Let it appear, thou _departedst for a season, that they might receive thee again for ever_. O be _not disobedient to the heavenly calling_! And as for all of you, who know whereunto ye are called, count ye all things loss, so ye may save one soul, for which Christ died. And therein _take no thought for the morrow_, but _cast all your care on him that careth for you. Commit_ your souls, bodies, substance, all, to him, _as unto a merciful and faithful Creator_.