prophet, in another place, goeth farther, saying, "The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice, the floods lift up their waves: the waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly, but yet the Lord that dwelleth on high is mightier."1 In the nine-andthirtieth Psalm, he uttereth with what great grief and bitterness of mind he was urged to complain: yet remembering himself by whose providence it came, he saith, "I became dumb, and opened not my mouth, because it was thy doing.' "2 CHAPTER XIX. How that our Saviour exhorting all that would follow him to deny themselves, and take up their cross daily, doth concern us that bear the name of Christians. BEING forewarned and armed against the trials of the world before they come, it remaineth that we be ready to undergo them when they come. Christ shows us plainly what we must look for if we will be his disciples, when he giveth out in open proclamations as thus: "Whosoever will follow me, let him deny 1 Ps. xciii. 4. 2 Ps. xxxix. 9. himself."3 In the text of the Evangelist, when he had now before spoken of his own suffering, he by-and-by speaks of their suffering who would follow him: First, that they should not think that his suffering did absolutely exempt them from all crosses of the world, for "I have taken up my cross, and you must take up yours." Secondly, he showeth himself as a careful governor in the ship, who in a calm is wont to instruct the mariners against the tempest likely to follow, and this he doth as it were in familiar manner: First, showing what himself had done, and then what his disciples should do: First, what he would suffer, and then what they should suffer. What, Peter? and should I not go to Jerusalem? Yes, it is not only my case but thine, and the case of you all: "Whosoever will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." 2. Here Christ speaketh generally unto all, of what state and condition soever, high and low, rich and poor, whatsoever. When he spake of some special mysteries, then turning him to his apostles, he saith, "It is for you to know:" but speaking of the way to follow him unto his kingdom, he speaketh universally, "Whosoever:" and for this, "It is 3 Mark viii. 34. for all to know1:" Again, as he speaketh universally, so doth he speak lovingly: "Whosoever will," not as forcing any, but as lovingly inducing all: and thus as it were leaving his followers to their own willingness, saith, "Whosoever will," by which he doth more effectually draw them, than if he had used all the threatenings in the world. The staid men and grey heads in Israel said unto Rehoboam, "If thou speak kind words unto this people, this people will be thy servants2:" Christ speaks kind words unto us all, and deals most bountifully with man, according to the dignity of his person. He which having laid up rich treasures to bestow amongst his friends, if he will or command the public cryer to say, This and this treasure is ready to be bestowed by a bountiful lord, may it please you now to come and receive it; doth he not now more persuade than if he should by a sharp edict pull and draw men to receive this treasure against their wills? 3. He which hath in his household two sorts of servants, the one free-born and of his alliance, the other slaves and bondmen, when he requireth any service of the former, he speaks unto them mildly, according to their ingenuous disposition, but the other he commands absolutely as common servants. 1 Matt. xiii. 11. 1 Kings xii. 7. We are as of the chiefer sort of Christ's family, as not having free will, but will freed by grace; nay, we are of his own alliance, and therefore when he speaks to us, he speaks honourably as unto them that love him, "Whosoever will :" but speaking unto his other creatures, as the heaven, the earth, the sun, the moon, he doth not require, but command them: so in the time of Joshua he commanded the sun to stand still3, in the time of Elias he commanded the heavens to be shut1: when some rebelled against Moses he commanded the earth to open and swallow them3, and so likewise doth he proceed with other of his creatures; but with man, to win his heart, he deals most gently and calls most lovingly, "Whosoever will." The antecedent showeth the manner of calling, the consequent in this speech of our Saviour the duty of him that is called, "Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." 4. In this consequent we see that somewhat is required at our hands, if we will be Christ's followers, as also what this is to wit, the denying of ourselves, and the taking up of our cross daily; and surely most aptly doth our Saviour Christ, after speaking of his own cross and passion, speak in the next place of 3 Jos. x. 12. * 1 Kings xvii. 1. our crosses and suffering, lest presuming of his suffering we should be over-ready to flatter ourselves, and count of nothing but liberty of the flesh, and security of state, thinking that his suffering was enough: therefore, to take away this dangerous conceit, Christ speaks at one time both of his suffering and our suffering, of his passion, as also of the means how we shall come to be partakers of the benefit of his passion, that is, by following him. This following must be in the giving him the full possession of our hearts. The three children followed God', and how? By going out of their place? The text saith, they followed God in their hearts. Rebecca' was said to go and inquire of the Lord: whither went she? From the place where he was not, to the place where he was? No. No. "I the Lord fill heaven and earth3:" she went not from place to place, as it is not required to do in following Christ; but she went from life to life, from manners to manners, from good to better, from grace to grace; and this is to follow Christ the Lord of glory. We think it a piece of credit in the world, and suit is made to be followers (as they say) of men that have countenance above others; but to be one of Christ's followers in sincerity and truth, is far 1 Song of the Three Children, 18. 3 Jer. xxiii. 24. 2 Gen. xxv. 22. |