Sermon VI
And come, take up the cross, and follow me. - MARK 10:21. (Third Clause.)
YOU have heard what all that have a mind for heaven must throw away, namely, the world; what they shall get at the end to take up in its stead, the treasure in heaven. But in the mean time they must take up the cross. By this is meant all the troubles and afflictions with which the Lord is pleased to exercise his people in the world, so called in reference to the cross on which Christ suffered.
Doctrine.—All that have a mind for heaven, as they must lay down the world, so they must take up the cross.—Here I shall,
I. Shew why the Christian's troubles are called the cross.
II. What it is to take up the cross. Let us then,
I. Shew why the Christian's troubles are called the cross. The wicked's troubles are not a cross, but a curse; those of the godly are not curses, but crosses. This is a name of honour, a sweet cake in which the bitter pill should be pleasantly received. As the man himself, so his troubles get a new name, when he comes to Christ.
1. Because by them the Christian's state in the world, is made like Christ's while he was in it. "If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." He met with the cross, and so must they, that they may be like him. If the head wore a cross, it were unbecoming the members to go without one. He was a man of sorrows, they must not be men of joys. Can the world that was a stepdame to him, be a natural mother to his?
2. Because the Christian's troubles go to the quick, as the cross did with Christ, in respect of which his former miseries were blunt. When God has a mind to let blood of the heart vein of a Christian by the lance of affliction, to cure him, he will make a deep wound. The troubles of the wicked often, but lightly, touch their sores, but when God rips his own people, he will go to the quick. God's killing arrows go deep enough into the heart of the wicked, but wounds for their cure, never. They want not their troubles. But says the Psalmist, "they are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men."
3. Because of the relation which they have to the cross of Christ. They are the cross set up again to Christ. In all their afflictions he was afflicted. They come very near him. He that toucheth you, saith he, toucheth the apple of his eye. The enemies set up the cross again for him in his members, after they had buried it with him, Acts 9:4. His members are on it now; "and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ; in their flesh for his body's sake, which is the church." This agrees to all their afflictions. O! is not the cross lovely, while he is on it with us.
Their troubles are Christ's cross to them as he has left it. Christ in person took up the cross, and when he took it up there was a curse in it. He took away the curse out of it, and then left it, and bids them take it up without it, for he hath extracted the venom out of it. Now the tree is left, but the curse on it is gone. The nails are left to his people, but the venom in which they were dipped is gone. Though bulls should compass you about, they now want the horns, wherewithal they pierced him. Though poverty, shame, and crosses of all sorts are laid before you, if you be Christ's, you have but the carcase of these things wanting the soul and life, which the threatening of the law breathed into them.
Again, Their afflictions grow out of the cross of Christ. That tree was watered with the blood of the Son of God, no wonder then that it be fruitful. All the fruits laid up for Christ's beloved, for time and eternity grow upon it. But perhaps you will not expect the Christian's bitter troubles among them, but mistake not. They must either be curses or blessings. If curses they are not crosses, Gal. 3:13. If blessings, where else will you find them. "For we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." They are the privileges of adoption, Heb. 12:7, 8. Benefits of the covenant, Psalm 89:31, 32.
The comforts of Christ's sheep, Psalm 23:4. Blessings which they thankfully acknowledge, Psalm 119:71. "therefore purchased by the blood of Christ, and promised to him in the covenant he made with the Father," Psalm 89:30. compare ver. 19–29. O how might we kiss our cross, looking thus on it. Farther to clear this, that we may learn not to be angry at our blessings. Consider, that grace grows on the cross of Christ as the root doubtless, but our cross is the branch on which it grows. "It is good for me, saith David, that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." See also Psalm 94:12, 13. Isa. 27:9. See what a cluster hangs on the cross, Rom. 5:3–5. Not a stone thrown at a child of God, but it is to him a precious stone. Every wind, however adverse it blows, speeds him to his harbour. Our cross also is the branch on which glory grows. "If we suffer we shall also reign with Christ. Our light afflictions which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
4. Because the Christian's cross is a cross indeed. But to whom? Not to his graces. Indeed troubles may be a cross to the hypocrite's seeming graces, on which they may breathe out their last, Matth. 13:6. His heap of chaff may bulk well till the wind rise, and his house on the sand may stand till the storms blow. Job's friends preached sound doctrine, though they erred in the application, chap. 4:4–6. Many a one's faith, patience, love, &c. are like Job's friends. In trouble they deal deceitfully as a brook. They are nothing, chap. 6:15–21.
But not one of the real graces ever yet died upon a cross. Nay, it is as cold water cast on the face of a fainting person, it is a comfort that revives them, not a cross to kill them. "Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word." The candle burns brightest in the dark, and the fire hottest in a frost. Many a wound ease and
prosperity have given to real grace, for the cure of which the cross hath been sent to them. But,
It is a cross to their corrupt will, that never goes right as long as it gets head. "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts." The flesh would soon wax wanton if it were not nailed to the cross. The bullock unaccustomed to the yoke of resignation must be tamed by the cross. And many a cross that unreasonable beast will take ere it be broken. The more that things go according to our will, it is the more fed, and the readier to kick against the Lord; but God in his providence crossing it, it is weakened, and made more pliable to the will of God. The soul becomes as a weaned child. It yields and returns to the Lord.
The cross is also a cross to the Christian's particular lusts, Hosea 2:6, 7. It will cross our hopes, and so check our pride, or draw away some earth from us that was drawing us away from God. When a lust is drawing away a Christian from God, he will send the cross as he did Abigail to meet David; the storm to meet Jonah when fleeing from the presence of the Lord. If we were not too much one with our lusts, our crosses would sit lighter upon us, seeing they cross nothing but our corruptions. We now proceed,
II. To shew what it is to take up the cross. It imports,
1. That we are to wait for our cross till God lay it down before us. We are not to make up, but take up our cross that is made to our hand. Hence it is called the cross of Christ, and in respect of the bearer his cross, Matth. 16:24, not that which he made to himself, but that which God made his. A man makes his cross when he goes out of his way to seek a cross. It should be brought to us, and laid down at our door. We are not called to go to it. If a man be diligent in his business, and yet poverty come on him, let him cheerfully take up
what God hath laid down to him; but if he be negligent, and thereby become poor, his cross is his sin, he can have little comfort in it, it is of his own making. Some say, we will not leave our kirks, stipends, and warm firesides, I pray we may be helped to take up that cross when God lays it down before us, and when it comes, to be able to answer that question satisfyingly, "Who hath required these things at your hand?" A cross of men's own making, may well feed their pride, it is not a fit mean for nourishing their graces, Colos. 2:18–21.
Again, A man makes his cross, when the cross has no existence but in his own foolish imagination. How often are people's minds made the devil's shop for making crosses to themselves, racking themselves with groundless suspicions and imaginations, and making mountains of mole-hills. Satan thus makes a forge of their mischievous tempers.
2. God will lay down the cross before every one that has a mind for heaven. In the world ye shall have tribulation, so that they shall have nothing to do but take it up.—He will lay it down before every one, to some of one sort, to others of another, Matth. 16:24. God had one Son without sin, but never a son without the cross. For what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not.
Question, But when does the Lord lay down the cross before us? Answer, When there is no lawful way to escape it, that is, when we must either suffer or sin, Heb. 10:35. When the devil desired our Saviour to cast himself down from a pinnacle of the temple, this was a cross of the devil's own making, because the stairs were at hand, and he had no lawful call to work a miracle. When God hath left no way to escape, the cross is bound on by the holy hand of providence.
3. We must notice the cross which the Lord lays down, otherwise we cannot take it up. It is a dreadful sign of a very desperate case when
men say, "They have stricken me, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again." This is gross stupidity. Many are like a blind man, that receives blows, but never sees the hand from whence they come. God is braying them with want, poverty, losses, and crosses of many sorts, yet they never have power to look to the Lord's hand in these things, or once to smite on their thigh, and say, What have I done; shew why thou contendest with me, Jer. 5:3. They have many plagues of darkness upon earth, but never once inquire into the cause.
4. We must not tread on the cross, and step over it, but take it up; we are ready to have courage against God, though but little for him. That sullen manliness, and Roman courage with which some bear their crosses, is rather a despite against God, than a taking up of the cross. When heaven is our party, it is time to stoop, and not make our faces like flint, lest God be provoked to dash us in pieces.
5. We must not fall a fainting at the sight of it. The exhortation is, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him." In this state we cannot take up the cross. O how ready are we to faint at the sight of the cross, and to say, my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. To be sinking under discouragement by the cross is not the way to bear it; nay, it is next step to going out of God's way to avoid the cross, Heb. 12:12, 13.
6. We must not go about the cross when it lies from side to side in our way. Some people will shift the cross by going off that part of the way where it lies, in hopes to come into it again when they are past that place. But take heed, it is easy going off, but it is not so easy coming on the way of duty again. There are pits on every hand, quagmires of sin and sorrows also, in which you may stick so fast as never to get out again, 1 Tim. 6:9.
7. We must not stand still till it be rolled out of the way. To follow Christ in the summer of prosperity, and in the winter of adversity to forsake his company, till the weather clear again is a sign self-love is stronger than our love to Christ. Such persons are time-servers, and not servants to Christ. "The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." Though a Red sea be before us, we must go forward, Exod. 14:15, 16.
8. We should take up no more than what God hath laid down, not what the devil and our own corruptions add to it. God laid down barrenness to Rachel, and she laid death on her cross, Gen. 30:1. How often do we hang weights of our own on the cross, and then complain we cannot lift it. We are for the most part in the dark about crosses, and then mole-hills appear mountains. But when the Lord clears the soul to let it see the naked cross, it appears much less. Paul's troubles were none of the least, but he sees them to be light and momentary. Lightness itself is swift as a hart, 2 Cor. 4:17.
4. We are to make no choice but take up even the hardest trials which God lays before us; as the cross was a most painful death. We must be ready not only to run with footmen, but contend with horses. "I am ready, said Paul, not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Neither a choice of commands, nor crosses becomes a Christian. The shoulder must not refuse the hardest piece of service. We are apt to think that we could bear any trial but the one that God hath laid upon us, but this only discovers our own ignorance, and imperfect resignation.
10. We must take up the cross willingly. God can lay it on whether we will or not; but he will have us to take it up willingly, though not wilfully. "My brethren, says the apostle James, count it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations." When you fall by the providence of
God, not when you cast yourselves into them. We must not be like the refractory bullock, that will not receive the yoke; but as the camel that falls down on his knees, till his master lay on his burden. So Eli, 1 Samuel 3:18. Acts 9:6. Lament. 3:30.
Lastly, We bear it cheerfully. We are not to take it up, to fall down with it, and sink under it. Believers took joyfully the spoiling of their goods. There are riches in the cross, and the believer will discern them. They will have respect unto the recompense of reward.— Goodness is in it, and he will see it, Isa. 39:8. It is no strange thing to the Christian, 1 Pet. 4:12, 13. There is strange satisfaction and sweetness in the cross to them that find them out. There is a sweetness in a man's seeing himself on his trials for heaven, standing candidate for glory; in passing these mountains where they see the marks of Christ's footsteps before them; in seeing how a good God crosses their corrupt inclinations, and prevents their folly; in seeing the thieves on the cross, and God starving their lusts so as they may not be ungovernable; and to see that paradise that is within this hedge of thorns.
In this way it must be borne till the Lord take it down. It is his work to take off the cross, ours to take it up. Let patience have her perfect work. It is sad to see persons when brought into afflictions, to be driven out of themselves, to be running away in a rage, with God's arrows sticking fast in them. In your patience possess your souls.
Inference 1. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial. Nothing more unreasonable, and yet more common than to be surprised with a cross. We often look at the meeting with it, as if we had forgotten that article of our indentures. If public trials come upon the land or church, be not surprised, or when private crosses do befal you. It has been, must, and will be the lot of all that have a mind for heaven.
There is a cup of bitterness designed for Christ mystical, of which every one of his must drink their share.
2. They that cast out with the cross, do in effect cast out with heaven. Though it be a rough way, it is the highway to it. It is the fire with which God tries what metal is fit to be made a vessel of honour, and it is a most dreadful token to be cast here as dross, Jer. 6:29, 30. Think on that you that are not made better, but rather worse under your afflictions. If you could think in every cross, now God hath me on my trials for eternity, you would take heed that you forced not out a sentence against yourselves, Phil. 3:18, 19.
3. Lay your account with it, and be looking for it. A man forewarned is half armed. Job stood like an adamant wall against the bitter blasts. Why? "For, said he, the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. Why should we think to sleep to heaven in a bed of roses, when others have gone before us through thorns and briars? If you have given yourself to Christ, you must shew your faith by your works. If there be life in a tree, it will abide a winter blast.
Lastly, Take kindly with the cross of Christ. It is a kindly name to the Christian, and all his afflictions public or private bear it. Let your back bow to it, and your heart not rise against it. Be not angry if you be marked among his sheep, with the fire-mark of a fiery trial. It may well consume dross, it will not consume gold. Do not murmur against the Lord, he knows well enough how to guide the world, and what is best for every one. Say not, "There is no sorrow like my sorrow. Every heart knows its own bitterness." But ordinarily the slaughter ox hath been best fed; and they for whom the Lord had the greatest kindness have drunk deepest of the bitter cup. You may observe that those have been laid lowest, who have been most
eminent for piety, for gifts, for manifestations of the Lord's kindness, and great benefits; witness Job, Heman, Paul, Jacob, David.
I come now to the last duty, Follow me, taking up the cross, as the words run in the Greek, or having taken up the cross.
Doctrine.—All that have a mind for heaven, must follow Christ, with that cross which he lays before them. They must be like Simon the Cyrenian, who did bear the cross after Jesus. I will shew,
I. In what respects they must follow Christ. In these two.
1. They must follow him in profession. So he would have this man to follow him, to profess himself one of his disciples, and go with him as the rest of his disciples did. A profession is indispensably necessary. —Jesus will not allow any of his to say, What, take ye me for a saint? Those that are his, "have his Father's name written in their foreheads, and these are they, even the hundred forty and four thousand, which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. They confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, as well as believe with the heart, that God hath raised him from the dead. For with the heart, man believed unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation." If there be fire on the hearth, smoke will come out at the chimney. He is the high priest of our profession; and that profession is to be made with the mouth, even when the cross is on the back. This profession we must hold fast. This Jesus Christ himself did when before Pontius Pilate, he witnessed a good confession.
Now there are two things which fall under the Christian profession.
1. Holiness of life. It is a holy profession, and a profession of holiness. Hence Christians are called, holy brethren, partakers of the
heavenly calling. The light of their good works must not only burn but shine. "They must be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation; among whom they are to shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life."—They are to hold it forth as towers on the coast side on which lights are erected to direct sailors in the night. No lover of holiness but will profess himself such.
2. The truths of Christ. Errors and heresies fall under the black mark, and are arranged by the apostle along with the other works of the flesh, Gal. 5:19–21. It is an awful judgment, when God sends men, strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. God is the God of truth. Lies of all sorts are from the devil. We must adhere to the known truths of God, and his ordinances in their purity on all hazards. "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom and instruction, and understanding." We must testify against all corruptions of word and ordinances; and when error, superstition, or idolatry threaten us, we must be ready to take up our cross and follow Christ. Some complain the ordinances are already corrupted among us, not knowing whereof they affirm. That there are corruptions in our management of all God's ordinances, we acknowledge, and so must they for themselves; and if we both acknowledge not this, neither will they nor we see heaven. If they would follow their principle the length it would lead them, they should have no communion amongst themselves; nay, nor one of them with himself, unless they think that they are in greater hazard from the corruptions of others, than from their own. Where our additions to Christ's institutions, or what are those institutions of this church with which she hath mixed his institutions. Take heed this absurd mistake be not cured by ordinances corrupted indeed. Our contempt of Christ's ordinances is the highway to it, Deut. 28:64. Isa. 8:6, 7. But come what will, "let us earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. For
whosoever, saith Jesus, shall be ashamed of me and my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
We must follow Christ in practice. "He that saith, he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk, even as he walked." Christ hath presented to us the copy of a holy life, we must write after it, if ever we would see heaven. I have given you, says he, an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. No less example of imitation doth the Christian propose to himself. "For every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure." His conversation is the compass by which we must steer our course, if ever we reach the shore of Immanuel's land. I will not launch forth into this extensive field, but content myself with directing your attention to four parts of it.
I. We must follow him in his humility. In this he was most exemplary. From the highest pitch of glory, he descended as low as he could, Phil. 2:7, 8. He washed the disciples' feet. He was the very pattern of self-denial, meekness and lowliness. Good reason had he to say, "learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart." Alas! how few followers. By this you must correct your pride. Pride makes men like the devil, and most unlike Christ. He emptied himself of his glory, and can you be his followers, that fill and swell yourselves with an opinion of yourselves? How low did he stoop, and yet alas! how unwilling are many of us to yield?
Your passion. O fiery professors are you the followers of the meek and humble Jesus? You cannot abide to be controled, "but he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself." The Samaritans would not receive him, the disciples "would have had
him to cause fire come down from heaven to consume them," but he shewed it was not his Spirit that moved them to it.
Correct also your selfishness. Self-seeking professors look very unlike self-denying Jesus. I seek not, said he, mine own glory. It was prophesied of him, "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the streets." This was fully accomplished in him, John 7:3, 4. But alas, the religion of many is nothing but a Babel tower to exalt themselves upon, that they may be seen of men. How do they haunt for applause, and when that empty wind fills the sail, how quickly will they make way.
2. In his contempt of the world. The profits of it were of no account with him. He had not where to lay his head. The pleasures of it, he despised. He often wept, sighed, never was seen to laugh, very seldom to rejoice, and that not from the smiles of the world, which he never regarded nor sought.
By this learn to correct the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. These are the gods which many worship. Their eyes are windows at which sinful objects enter into the soul, and at which the heart goes out after the world. The flesh often consumes all the vigour of the spirits, and men walk as if they were nothing but flesh. The vain pride of life, in honour, ambition, and pomp, carry away men as a stream.
3. In his patience under the cross. His cross was infinitely heavy, but he endured all with untainted patience, not the least murmuring was ever heard from him. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." He would not revenge the injuries done to him, so much as by words. "When he was reviled, he reviled not again, when he
suffered he threatened not." His soul was wrapt up in an absolute resignation to the will of God. Not my will, said he, but thine be done.
By this learn to correct your murmurings and uneasy bearing of the cross. Did he as a sheep not open his mouth, and shall we "with the wicked, roar like a wild bull in a net." Look to Jesus and be ashamed, that the cross feels so hard upon your shoulders, Heb. 12:1, 2.
Lastly, Let us follow him in heavenliness of conversation. His whole life was an uninterrupted course of walking with God. Often he sent away his disciples from him, spending whole nights in secret. His discourse was already heavenly. Whatever occurred he was ready to spiritualize it. So that on earth he lived in heaven. By this learn to correct your carnality.—We are ready too much, and too frequently to mind earthly things. How unlike Christ while heavenly things are so little minded; meditation and converse about them are very rare. But we must follow him, if ever we see heaven. He will be imitated as a pattern by all those who experience the efficacy of his blood. And surely many of us must turn over a new leaf if we fall on this way.
But I will shut up this with some improvement. You have now heard much of the way you must take, if ever you see heaven. What are you resolved upon? Are you resolved for heaven or not? I think I may take you all up in five classes.
1. I fear there are some of you, that have never yet thought seriously upon the matter, now how can they be resolved? you that are young, have you thought upon the question yet? Have you ever been made to stand still and seriously inquire what was necessary for your eternal welfare? You that are older, when was the time that you gave this question a serious consideration? When was it that it kept you longer out of your bed than usual; that it disturbed your rest or
raised you sooner to pursue the subject? Alas for many of our regular hearers that kept nothing of what they hear in their hearts, Ezek. 32:31–33. The day is coming "they will lift up their eyes in hell being in torments."
2. Some have thought on it, but they are not yet come to a conclusion. When there is much halting between two opinions in the vitals of religion, no wonder it be so in less matters. Heaven is very desirable, but sin is sweet. Treasure in heaven is good, but treasure on earth is good also. You wot not what to do. Conscience says, go forward; corruption says, nay, stand still a while yet. "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." I believe there are some now in hell that were once as far forward as you. I think you should not take so long to advise on whether you will enter or not; for when the door is once shut, in vain will you plead for admission, Prov. 1:24–33.
Perhaps there are some that in effect have resolved against it; saying, there is no hope, no: for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. These are sullen desperate sinners, who are black hot in the fire of despair without noise. They have had their convictions, they have attempted reformation, but it would not do. Corruption has broken out on them, as the breaking forth of waters; hence they have given over hope, and dropped their endeavours, and stand to be carried whatever way the stream of their lusts leads them. O wretched generation, there is but one step between you and everlasting destruction. Brimstone is scattered upon your habitation, there wants but fire to make it consume you, Job 18:15.
4. Some that are resolved for heaven if they can obtain it at their own offer. Like this man in the text, heaven would be crowded if sinners could get liberty to blot out and interline words in the covenant here
and there. If people could but retain a right eye, a right hand, a Delilah, Zoar a little one. But it will not do. All or nothing.
5. I hope there are some resolved upon it, cost what it will. They are peremptory. Well you must sell all, take up your cross, and follow Christ. I would have you then to resolve to follow Christ with the cross on your back.
1. Resolve to take up and follow Christ with your ordinary cross. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Every day has the evil thereof, whatever may be left of former days. Evil to increase the heap, and men may bring forward of the following day.—Asaph was plagued all the day long, and chastened every morning. You must not expect one day fair to an end while here. Whether God lay down this cross by his immediate hand, or otherwise, you must take it up. What a vain thing is it to expect dry cheeks in the valley of tears; or that in such a place the clouds will not return after the rain. Daily sinning brings daily crosses. The thieves will never be brought off the cross till their life be extinguished.
2. Your holyday cross. The roll that was spread before Jeremiah, "was written within and without, and there was written therein, lamentations, and mourning, and woe." It is the same word that is used to signify the solemnities in which the Jews were gathered about the temple by the appointment of God. It signifies a stated time of meeting. Here is a solemnity of another nature, a solemn rendezvous of enemies against the church of God, for which God hath set his times, it is not every day. On this you must resolve also. The church of God amongst us, hath had a day of feasting of considerable length; it is like we may see a solemn day of terror on the back of it. Many a bitter storm hath blown out against the church,
and it cannot be thought but the clouds will return after the rain, Rev. 8:9.
1. Consider, we have had the Lord's talents among our hands these twenty years, and it is reasonable to think God will put it to the trial what we have made of them. Can it be but there will come a time in which we will be put to trial, what we have made of all the sermons and communions that we have enjoyed. Now the cross is God's trying piece, Matth. 7:24–27.
2. There are many who have followed Christ on plain ground very closely, that have shined in holiness of life in the time of outward peace in the church. They have given as it were but half evidence of their love to Christ, and that also the easiest half; they must even give fuller evidence of it, by cleaving to him in a time of tribulation. It will bring more glory to God.
3. There are many that have the root of the matter in them, that need to have it awaked with a storm.—Many sleeping Jonahs in our ship. Much filth and blood gathered by ease to be taken away by the Spirit of judgment, James 4:4. When the trees of God's vineyard begin to sit up, he will open them at the root, and let in the winter storm.
4. There are many professors among us, that have more sail than ballast; their heads are too light for their hearts. If there be any thing in them at all, and God have a kindness for them, he will lay some weight upon them to bring them to a consistency, that will make weight more, and bulk less in their own eyes.
5. There are many that have taken up a profession that have nothing of Christ but the name. They are among God's wheat, but are none of it; others are the worse of them, they must be cut up with God's axe
as cumberers of the ground; and when there are fewer professors, they will likely be better.
6. The appetite for the word with many is lost, and it is unfruitful. The edge is off our spirits. The preaching of the gospel is not much regarded. Many make silent sabbaths to themselves: and so little comfort have people in their ministers, and ministers in their people, that it looks very like a parting.
Lastly, Enemies have a cup to fill up, they have filled it well already; but it is like they have more yet to do, to prepare them for an overthrow. Turn your face then heavenwards, and be resolved to cleave to Christ, and all will be well. The cross will never ruin the church. The more they were oppressed the more they grew. God makes the devil's lackeys run his errands, and what they mean for evil turns to good. She shall not lose one living member. Dross may be consumed, but gold cannot; but it is refined in the fire. Let the sieve be as large as it will, not one good grain shall be lost.
But as for those that will not take up the cross and follow Christ, God will lay his curse as another sort of weight upon them. Following him under the cross, is the right way of bearing it.