If thou wouldst be faithful to do that work that God hath appointed
thee to do in this world for his name, then beware thou do not stop
and stick when hard work comes before thee. The word and Spirit of
God come sometimes like chainshot to us, as if it would cut down
all--as when Abraham was to offer up Isaac, and the Levites to slay
their brethren. Oh, how willingly would our flesh and blood escape
the cross for Christ! The comfort of the gospel, the sweetness of
the promise, how pleasing is it to us! Like Ephraim, we like to
tread out the corn, and to hear those pleasant songs and music that
gospel sermons make, where only grace is preached and nothing of our
duty as to works of self-denial. But as for such, God will tread
upon their fair neck, and yoke them with Christ's yoke; for then
they have a work to do, even a work of self-denial.
"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross and follow me." Let him first sit down and count up the cost
and the charge he is like to be at, if he follow me; for following
of me is not like following of some other masters. The winds set
always on my face; and the foaming rage of the sea of this world,
and the proud and lofty waves thereof do continually beat upon the
sides of the bark that myself, my cause, and my followers are in; he
therefore that will not run hazards, and that is afraid to venture a
drowning, let him not set foot into this vessel.
Some, when they come at the cross, will either there make a stop and
go no further, or else, if they can, step over it; if not, they will
go round about. Do not thou do this, but take it up and kiss it, and
bear it after Jesus.
Where is the man that walketh with his cross upon his shoulder?
Where is the man that is zealous of moral holiness? Indeed, for
those things that have nothing of the cross of the purse, or of the
cross of the belly, or of the cross of the back, or of the cross of
the vanity of household affairs--for those things, I find we have
many, and very busy sticklers; but otherwise, the cross,
self-denial, charity, purity in life and conversation, is almost
quite out of doors among professors. But, man of God, do thou be
singular as to these.