34

NO CROSS, NO CROWN. Chap. IIT.

till he first bind the strong man. Which, as it
fhews the contrariety that was between Beel-
zebub and the power by which he difpoffeffed
him, fo it teaches us to know, that the fouls of
the wicked are the devil's house, and that his
goods, his evil works, can never be destroyed,
till first he that wrought them, and keeps the
house, be bound. All which makes it easy to
know, where the crofs must be taken up, by
which alone the ftrong man must be bound, his
goods fpoiled, and his temptations refifted, that
is, within, in the heart of man.

S. V. But in the next place, how, and in
what manner is the crofs to be daily borne?

The way, like the crofs, is fpiritual: that is, an inward fubmiffion of the foul to the will of God, as it is manifefted by the light of Chrift in the confciences of men; though it be contrary to their own inclinations. For example: when evil prefents, that which shews the evil, does alfo tell them they should not yield to it; and if they clofe with its counsel, it gives them power to escape it. But they that look and gaze upon the temptation, at last fall in with it, and are overcome by it; Confequence of which, is guilt and judgment. Therefore, as the crofs of Chrift is that fpirit and power in men, though not of men, but of God, which croffeth and reproveth their fleshly lufts and affections; fo the way of taking up the cross, is an entire refignation of foul to the discoveries and requirings of it: not to confult their worldly pleasure, or carnal cafe,

Matthew xii. 29.

the

or intereft, for fuch are captivated in a moment, but continually to watch against the very appearances of evil, and by the obedience of faith, that is, of true love to, and confidence in God, cheerfully to offer up to the death of the crofs, that evil part, that Judas in themselves, which, not enduring the heat of the fiege, and being impatient in the hour of temptation, would, by its near relation to the tempter, more eafily betray their fouls into his hands.

f. VI. O this fhews to every one's experience, how hard it is to be a true difciple of Jefus! the way is narrow indeed, and the gate very ftrait, where not a word, no not a thought muft flip the watch, or escape judgment: fuch circumfpection, fuch caution, fuch patience, fuch conftancy, fuch holy fear and trembling. This gives an eafy interpretation to that hard faying, Flefh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; thofe that are captivated with fleshly lufts and affections: for they cannot bear the cross; and they that cannot endure the cross, must never have the crown. To reign, it is neceffary first to fuffer.'

с

f

* Mat. xxiv. 42. ch. xxv. 13. ch. xxvi. 38. 42. Phil.ii. 12. 1 Cor. xv. 50.

CHAP. IV.

. 1. What is the great work of the Cross? The anfwer to this is of great moment. §. 2. The work of the Crofs is felf-denial. §. 3. §. 3. What was the Cup and Cross of Chrift? §. 4. Whe

is our cup and cross? §. 5. Our duty is to follow Chrift as our captain. §. 6. Of the dif tinction upon felf, a lawful and unlawful felf. §. 7. What the lawful felf is. §. 8. That it is to be denied in fome cafes by Chrift's doctrine and example. §. 9. By the apoftle's pattern. §. 10. The danger of preferring lawful felf above our duty to God. §. 11. The reward of felf-denial, an excitement to it. §. 12. This doctrine as old as Abraham. §. 13. His obedience of faith memorable. §. 14. Job a great inftance of felf-denial, his contentment. §. 15. Mofes alfo a mighty example, his neglect of Pharaoh's court. §. 16. His choice. §. 17. The reafon of it, viz. the recompence of reward. J. 18. Ifaiah no inconfiderable inftance, who of a courtier became an holy prophet. §. 19. These inftances concluded with that of holy Daniel, his patience and integrity, and the fuccefs they had upon the king. §. 20. There might be many mentioned to confirm this blessed doctrine. §. 21. All must be left for Chrift, as men would be faved. §. 22. The way of God is a way of faith and felf-denial. §. 23. An earnest supplication and exhortation to all, to attend upon thefe things.

BUT fourthly, What is the great work and bufinefs of the cross refpecting man?

Anfw. §. I. This indeed is of that mighty moment to be truly, plainly, and thoroughly answered, that all that went before, feems only to ferve for preface to it; and miscarrying in it, to be no less than a misguidance of the foul

about its way to bleffedness. I fhall therefore pursue the question, with God's help, and the best knowledge he hath given me, in the experience of feveral years difcipleship.

§. II. The great work and business of the crofs of Chrift, in man, is felf-denial; a word, as of much depth in itself, fo of fore contradiction to the world; little understood, but lefs embraced by it: yet it must be borne for all that. The Son of God is gone before us, and by the bitter cup he drank, and baptifm he fuffered, has left us an example, that we should follow his steps. Which made him put that hard question to the wife of Zebedee, and her two fons, upon her foliciting that one might fit at his right, and the other at his left hand, in his kingdom; Are ye able to drink of the cup that I fhall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptifm I am baptized with? It seems their faith was strong; they answered, We are able. Upon which he replied, Ye fhall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptifm I am baptized with: but their reward he left to his Father.

§. III. What was his cup he drank, and baptifm he suffered? I anfwer, they were the denial and offering up of himself by the eternal fpirit to the will of God, undergoing the tribulations of his life, and agonies of his death upon the cross, for man's falvation."

§. IV. What is our cup and cross that we fhould drink and fuffer? They are the denial and offering up of ourselves, by the same spirit,

Mat. xx. 21, 22, 23.

to do or fuffer the will of God for his fervice and glory which is the true life and obedience of the cross of Jefus : narrow ftill, but before an unbeaten way. For when there was none to help, not one to open the feals, to give knowledge, to direct the course of poor man's recovery, he came in the greatnefs of his love and ftrength; and though clothed with the infirmities of a mortal man, being within fortified by the almightiness of an immortal God, he travelled through all the ftraits and difficulties of humanity; and firft, of all others, trod the untrodden path to bleffedness.

§. V. O come! let us follow him, the most unwearied, the most victorious captain of our falvation to whom all the great Alexanders and mighty Cæfars of the world, are less than the poorest foldier of their camps could be to them. True, they were all great princes of their kind, and conquerors too, but on very differing principles. For Chrift made himself of no reputation to fave mankind; but these plentifully ruined people, to augment theirs. They vanquished others, not themselves; Chrift conquered felf, that ever vanquished them: of merit therefore the most excellent Prince and. Conqueror. Besides, they advanced their empire by rapine and blood; but he by suffering and perfuafion: he, never by compulsion, they always by force, prevailed. Mifery and flavery followed all their victories; his brought greater freedom and felicity to thofe he overcame. In all they did, they fought to please themselves; in all he did, he aimed to please his Father,