The Principles of Christian Practice, Tract · Point of doctrine 2
[Take up his crosse.]
This is the second branch of the Precept, to take up the crosse, The second duty and note of a Disciple. Luk. 9. 23. Three things in it.and as Saint Luke saith, daily. Where, for the meaning, consider;
1. What is this crosse.
2. Why it is called the crosse.
3. What to take it up.
For the first of these. By the crosse is not meant any affliction I. What the crosse i….which belongeth to the common calamities of nature, to which all men of all sects and professions are subject; nor any thing suffered by evill doers: But properly the crosse of a Christian is that affliction and suffering, which is inflicted upon any for the profession of Christ and his truth, and for well-doing: Called the suffering of a Christian, 1 Pet. 4. 16. and Paul cals it the sufferings of Christ, 2 Cor. 1. 5. and bearing of his reproach, Heb. 13. 13. that is,
1. From him: his fanne, to fift and purge us.
2. For him: endured for his cause and glory.
3. His in his mysticall body, not naturall.
4. Not in respect of merit, but of sympathy.
But why is it called the cross?II. Why it is called the crosse. 1.
1. Because of the union between Christ & the Christian; so it is a part of Christs own cross: for, as all the members suffered with Christ on the crosse, as their head and surety; so hee suffers with them as his members, and after a sort hangs still on their crosse. The head and members of this body are inseparable.
2. That we should never think of the troubles for Christ, but cast our eyes also upon the crosse of Christ, where wee shall see him sanctifying, sweetening, and conquering all our sorrowes, and behold him a companion, partner, and yoke-fellow, bearing for us the heavie and ponderous end, and the greatest part off us.
3. That in all our sufferings for Christ wee should support 3.our faith & patience in beholding what was the end of Christs crosse, and so expect the same happy end and issue of our crosses for Christ; that as he passed from the crosse to the Crowne, so will hee in the end admit us into the fellowship of his crowne and glory, whom he hath vouchsafed as Simons and companions in the bearing of his own crosse, which is an unspeakable helpe and support to our perseverance.
Next, what is it to take up the III.crosse?
It is not to devise a voluntary What it is to take it up.affliction for a mans self: as Baals Priests lanced themselves, and Negatively.Popish Priests and Proselytes at set times afflict and torture their bodies by whipping cheare, to merit thereby.
Neither is it to run into affliction, or pull the crosse upon our shoulders, or thrust our selves into danger, no not for Christ, as Peter thrust himselfe into Caiaphas hall.
For first, Christ did not carry his crosse, till it was layd upon Reasons that we may not pull the crosse on our selves.him. Secondly, our rule is, to use all good meanes for the preservation of our bodies, health, wealth, strength, and comfort. Christ himselfe did flye persecution, 1.till the time was come; and 2.commanded his Disciples if they were persecuted in one city, to flye into another. Thirdly, every bearing of affliction must bee an 3.obedience of faith; and therefore must bee grounded upon a commandement of God. No souldier must of his owne head raise war against his owne peace, nor set fire upon his owne house; this is not the part of a good souldier, but of a mutinous and seditious fellow: So no souldier of Christ must be superfluous in suffering, but see hee be prest into the battell by the great Generall and Commander. Fourthly, we may 4.not tempt God by running afore him, but follow him going before us. If without sin, and with good conscience wee may escape danger, and do not, we run upon it, and it becomes our own crosse, and not Christs.
It is enough to suffer wrong; wee must not offer wrong to our owne persons. We are not bound to seek the crosse, nor make it, but to beare and take it up: Nor to fill the cup for our selves, but to drinke it when God reacheth it. Our afflictions must not be a cup of our own brewing, or a potion of our owne providing, but the Father must give it us: John 18. 11. Shall not I drinke of the cup, which my Father hath given?
To take up the crosse therefore Affirmatively. Description of taking up the crosse. Foure motives.is, When a crosse meets us in our way, which wee cannot without sin and breach of conscience escape, wee must now take knowledge of Gods will, Gods hand, Gods time, and Gods voice calling us to suffer: And as Christ, when his crosse was layd upon him, tooke it upon him, and bare it willingly, meekly and cheerfully; so must wee by enduring the crosse declare our obedience to God, our love to Jesus Christ, and our zeale to his truth. This is to take up the crosse. Now God laying on the crosse, wee must not pull away the shoulder, nor hide our selves from the crosse under the covert of sinfull shifts, nor avoid it by any unlawfull meanes, but take it up, and buckle to the burden.
And this (saith Luke) must be Why it must be taken up daily.done daily: that is, 1. Every Christian must be in a daily expectation of the crosse: 2. He must not prescribe unto God how long or 1.how much to exercise him; no, 2.though it were all the dayes of his life. 3. That wee should renew our strength daily to the daily 3.conflict; seeing it is the tryall of soundnesse, to abide with Christ Luk. 22. 28.in tentation, and the fruit of it shall be to abide with him in his glory.
Two points may here bee noted.
1. No Christian but hath his Doctr. 1. Every Christian hath his crosse.crosse; it being the very badge and marke of a Disciple: and, Christ and his crosse are inseparable.
For first, the word is passed, All that will live godly in Jesus Christ, Reason 1.must suffer persecution; and if every one, none certainly is excepted, 2 Tim. 3. 12. Act. 14. 22. Heb. 12. 6. Rev. 3. 19. And, what befals the whole, the parts cannot avoid: Isa. 54. 11. he saith of the whole Church, O thou that art tossed with tempests, &c.
Secondly, there must be a conformity 2. Dei filius sustinuit ignominiam crucis: & tu beatos putas, qui soelicita… …tius seculi & deliciis per…untur? Hieron.between Christ and the Christian, as between the head and the member. But it behoved Christ first to suffer, and then to enter into his glory: and our tenure is the same, the Disciple is not above his Master; if they call him Beelzebub, what shall wee be called? if they did so to the green tree, they will never spare the dry; if all his innocency and wisedome could not fence him, no more will ours fence us: if they persecuted mee, they will persecute you also.
Thirdly, if wee consider the causes of the crosse, this truth 3. Two causes of the crosse never wanting.will be better cleared. One, the rage of Sathan against Christ and his truth, who incessantly tempteth, buffetteth, and terrefieth the godly. Whom he cannot hinder of salvation, he will of comfort, so much as he can. If there can be hope, that hee will cease to bee malicious, so may there be of the ceasing of our vexations. The other, the wicked of the world, 2.carried by the spirit that rules in the world, will see the godly shall want no exercise: For no Christian, as a Christian, can please the wicked world. No communion can be expected between light and darknesse: Nay, there cannot but bee separation, fight, and persecution. Ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake, Mat. 10. 22. And, Prov. 29. 27. The just is an abomination to the wicked. Hence are they proclaimed enemies, as traitors, hereticks, and the off-scouring of the world; even as Christ on the crosse was accounted the most …lagitious fellon of all other, and farre worse than Barrabas: Yea, he was thought so unmeet to live in Jerusalem, that hee was thought unworthy to dye in Jerusalem, but must bee carried without the gate. Hence also is all that cart-load of reproaches and invectives, yea bonds and banishment, stripes and contempts, fire and sword, and all the most exquisite torments, which rage is witty to devise against the innocent lambes and sheep of Christ.
Fourthly, the crosse is necessary, both in regard of the godly, 4.and of the wicked.
1. To the godly, afflictions Sicu… cibus adhaeret vast in quo coquitur, nisi amoveatur, ac perditsaporem debitum, debitum que colorem: sic cor hominis adhaeret isti mundo, nisi amoveatur per tribulationes. De contempl. ver. pat. §. 3.are often as necessary as meat and drink. For prosperity is as a dead sea, and ease slayeth the foolish, Pro. 1. 32. Standing waters contract mud, and breed vermine. A still body fils with bad humours. Fallow and unstirred grounds are fruitfull in weeds. And therefore God in great wisdome by tryals shakes them out of security, and makes them more watchfull of themselves, more fit to do good and to comfort others. Scowring makes metals brighter, and more usefull.
2. In regard of the wicked the crosse is necessary, that it may be as a fanne and plain distinction Mat. 3. 12. Triticum percussum de palia sua exi…it …oras, &c. Chrys. ibid.between the godly & them. The working Oxe is continually bound; but those that are reserved for the slaughter have scope in fat pastures: So this difference the Lord appointed, when hee made the way narrow, and the gate strait that leads to life, and few to find it.
Another reason why the Lord hath yoked the Christian to the 5.crosse, is, because he will thence fetch a strong argument to confound Sathan, who will be ready to alledge against the Christian as against Job, that he serveth not Job. 1. 9.God for nought. But he will have it appeare, that his servants love Christ and Religion for it selfe, not for ease, wealth, or any outward respect. And, greater or more sincere love cannot be testified, than by suffering for him.
Of all this it followes, that the Use 1. The crosse no signe of Gods hatred.crosse is no signe God hates a man, but rather is a signe of his love, and a proofe of our legitimation: for, if you be without correction, whereof all (sonnes) are partakers, yee are bastards, and not sonnes, Hebr. 12. 8. Neither our selves nor others may give false witnesse of us for our sufferings: but still say as Job in the midst of his abasement, God forbid that ever I should take away mine innocency from my selfe: untill I dye, I will keep my righteousnesse, Job 27. 5. And when, we have Satan assailing us, and his instruments aggravating Gods hand against us, our owne hand had not need be on our selves too: but now we must stand to our selves, and gather conclusions for our selves; and see love in stripes, and a fatherly affection lurking even in sharpe correction.
Againe, let no man thinke hee Use 2. Think not to get into heaven without crosses.can get to heaven so easily, but hee shall well know how hee comes there. All the way is thick strawed with crosses, and there is no shunning of them. For, seeke to shift them by evill meanes, or laying downe duty, thou hast slipped out of the way to heaven, and Christ is not before thee, who himself got not the crown, but by the crosse. How vaine is it then to expect a paradise of delight, in the time of our prison or pilgrimage? &c.
3. If the crosse bee the badge Use 3. Still expect the crosse, when it will come.of every Disciple, let us bee wise to expect the crosse aforehand. The Church is compared to a campe: look not to be in a campe without warre and blowes, and the ordinary hazzards of it. To a ship, and Noahs Arke: thou canst not be in a ship, nor in the Arke without a world of waters, waves, windes, and dangers. To the Lords corne standing in the field: think not then to escape the sickle, floore, flaile, milstone, oven, and such like. To the Lords Vineyard: let never a cluster look to escape the presse. To Christs fold: and not one of the flocke but must looke for shearing and shambles. To the Lords building: and every living stone laid in this house must bee hewen and squared; the axe or hammer must fit them. Never is the Paschall Lambe eaten, but with …owre herbes; and, Christ and his crosse are never separated.
4. Is our suffering a part of Use 4. Comfort under the crosse, threefold.Christs crosse? here then is exceeding comfort to the Saints in their suffering: three waies,
1. In that we have such a partner, 1.Heb. 12. 2. Rev. 1. 9. It will bee a singular encouragement, when we conceive our selves but as Simons, helping Christ to beare his crosse. If Christ were on earth, and wee saw him fainting under a burden, hee would think himselfe happy that might lend him an hand to ease him. We are indeed like Simon, who willingly beare not, but must bee compelled to beare his crosse: For Mat. 27. 32violence must bee offered to nature, and the flesh will bee resisting the spirit. Peter, when hee was an old Disciple, must bee girded and led whither he would not, John 21. 18.
2. In that wee have Christ 2.himselfe at the other end of the crosse, helping and supporting us. He is of power to carry the heavie end, and beare off the weight from us. Hee hath promised his presence, and cannot be absent; but as our Head, condoleth and compassionateth our griefe.
3. In that wee have all the Saints our companions, even the 3.whole Church, either going before us, or with us, or comming after us in this way. How can we sinke, having so many shoulders under our burden? or how can we miscarry in a way beaten by the feet of all the Prophets, Apostles, and faithfull Pastors and Beleevers in the world? Discourage not thy selfe: say not, never any suffered such hard things as I doe; thy sufferings are no other, than such as befall the rest of the 1 Pet. 5. 9.brethren. So of the former point.
2. Christians must not onelyonly Doctr. 2. Every Christian must take up his crosse.beare the crosse, but take up the crosse: For it is not the taking, or bearing, but the taking up of the crosse that is here a note of a Disciple. The worst and wickedest have often as many miseries as others, but cannot take them up, and christianly carry them. And indeed the nature of man is unwilling, and prone to impatience, grudging, and complaints of suffering the least trouble, and cannot easily take up any: And in taking up a crosse is more difficulty, than all the strength that is in nature can conquer.
Quest. Why? what is required in taking up the crosse?
Answ. Five things.
1. A continuall expectation Five things required thereunto. 1.and a standing unfearfully in the station wherein God hath set us, with a strong resolution not to be discouraged therefore, though crosses come never so thicke. Expected evils smart lesse. Job waited for changes, and evils expected Job 14. 14. & 3. 25.came upon him; and how stoutly were they borne?
2. A contentednesse to abide under a great burden, which is 2.foreign, the word for patience: as a man stands under the burden he hath taken up. Hereto unmortified flesh is very impatient; but where faith is, there is not haste-making, Isa. 28. 16.
3. Love of GOD still, notwithstanding 3.the crosse: as an ingenuous childe loves his father, even when hee correcteth him; and this keeps him from murmuring and discontent, and frames him to stoupe under his fathers smiting hand contentedly. That is true love, which I shew to him that deales hardly with me.
4. Humility and silence; not 4.disputing the matter with God, much lesse charging him foolishly; Job 1. 22.but as David, Psal. 39. 9. I held my tongue, and said nothing because thou, O Lord, diddest it.
5. Joy and rejoycing, not in 5.the smart of the crosse, but in waiting the sweet fruit of it: Act… 5. 41. the Disciples rejoyced, that they were counted worthy to suffer …or the Name of Christ. So in Luke 6. 23. and Jam. 1. 2.
A difficult thing to corrupt nature: Yet the Scripture presseth it upon us with strong reasons: as,
1. No crosse is laid upon us, Reason 1.but by the will and appointment of God: nothing fals out, but by his speciall providence; not a Mat. 10. 29. 30.Sparrow can fall to the ground, not an haire of the head, and much lesse the head it selfe.
As our Lord Christ himselfe had not the crosse laid on him, but by the determinate counsell of God, Act. 2. 23. Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel did nothing against him, but what the hand of God and his determinate counsell appointed to Act. 4. 27.be done: So is it in the members, no crosse is laid on them but by Gods determination. And as Christ told Pilate, Thou couldest Joh. 19. 11.have no power over me, if it were not given thee of the Father; so may the members say to their persecutors. And therefore those▪ that are to suffer according to the will of God, must submit to his 1 Pet. 4. 19.will, and commit themselves in well-doing to his revealed will: for, shall not both the head and member drinke of the cup which the Father hath given?
2. We must therefore take up 2.the crosse, because this is the time and place of taking it up: John 16. 33. In the world yee shall have tribulation. God hath ordained this world to bee a dripping and watery seed time; and hee must be content to sowe in teares, Psa. 126. 51that would reape in joy: and God can wipe away no teares hereafter, but such as are shed here. The world to Christians is Gods furnace and fining pot, to purifie his gold, whereof hee will frame his golden vessels: and while wee are earthly vessels, hee will by crosses scowre us from the rust and filth of sin, that stickes so fast to our natures.
3. Wee must willingly take 3. This duty makes us conformable to Christ:them up, to shew our selves both conformable to Christ, and serviceable.
Christ willingly tooke up his crosse for us, and endured wounds, scarres and markes in his body Heb. 12. 2.for us: And so wee must for him willingly beare his markes and scarres in our body, and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh, Col. 1. 24. and this made the Apostle rejoyce in his sufferings, and glory in his persecution for Christ, Gal. 6. 17. I beare in my body the markes of the Lord Jesus. And indeed it is the glory of a —narrat … vulnera miles.Christian souldier to shew the markes and scarres of his fortitude and valour in a good cause, in his Princes quarrell, and for the honour of his Country. See Luke 24. 26. and 2 Tim. 2. 11.
Againe, to shew our service And serviceable. Phil. 2. 7. 8.and love to him. Hee became a servant, and was obedient to the death, and took up his crosse to endure a meritorious suffering, the price of our redemption. We cannot so suffer for him, but must foreign. Ignat. ad Ephes.in way of thankfulnes endure the service of suffering, and not love our lives to the death for him: Acts 20. 24. My life is not deare to me, so that I may fulfill my course with joy. And wherein can a man more clearly expresse himselfe a servant of Christ, than by suffering for righteousnes sake, and by maintaining his Lords honour and just quarrell to the death? 2 Tim. 2. 3. Suffer affliction as a good souldier of Jesus Christ.
4. We may chearfully take up 4. No fear of being overburdened by the crosse.the crosse, because wee know it shall not overburden us: for it is Christs crosse, and he puts under his shoulder, and beares the weight-from us, and supplies strength to us, to carry the light end of it: for he did suffer, to succour Heb. 2. 17. 2.them that suffer. Beside, we know that no afflictions can separate us from the love of God in Christ, Rom. 8. ult. When Christ was on the crosse, our sins separated between God and his sense, and made him cry out, My God, Mat. 27. 46.my God, why hast thou for saken me? But his promise hath tyed his aide and presence to us in sixe troubles, and in seven, in passing through fire and water, &c. Againe, 3.wee know the sting is taken out of our crosse, by Christ taking it on him: and therefore we may cheerfully take it up, as Moses tooke the Serpent by the taile, and it was turned into a rod in his hand, and threatens only a loving correction.
5. We must willingly take up the crosse, because of the present 5.blessed use, & future issue of it.
For the present: It is of use for Present use & future issue of the cross, good. 1.the tryall of our faith, much more precious than gold: 1 Pet. 1. 7. for the exercise of our patience, Jam. 1. 2. and manifestation of all graces. Perfumes smell sweetest, when beaten in a mortar. Starres shine brightest in the darkest night; so the graces of the Saints disappeare often in the noon-day & sun-shine of prosperity, & are most shining in the darke night of affliction.
For the future issue: These 2. foreign. Ignat. ad Polycar.temporary & short afflictions cause an excellent and eternall weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. This was Jobs argument, not to refuse the Lords chastening: for, Blessed is the man whom God correcteth, Job 5. 17. This was Moses his argument, to chuse the crosse and afflictions: Heb. 11. 25. for, Hee had respect to the recompence of reward. What if the way be rough & asperous, & as a fowle lane? yet it leads to heaven, and brings into a glorious mansion. Care not then so much Noli auendere quâ iturus fis, sed quò venturus. Aug. in Psal. 36.what way thou goest, as whither it leads. A fairer way were more pleasant, but perhaps not so safe. Elias is not affraid (nor hurt) to be carried in a fiery chariot to his rest and glory. And glad may we be, if by the doung-gate, or any posterne gate wee may get within the heavenly Jerusalem.
Thus seeing both the necessity, Use. Be ready to take up the crosse daily.difficulty, and utility of this precept of Christ, and seeing it may be and must bee attained of every Disciple, let us frame to the obedience of it, and get neere us such helpes as may hold us in a fitnesse and preparednesse to take up our crosse daily.
Quest. What are they?
Answ 1. Before crosses come, make account of them, and store Meanes 1.thy selfe with patience, even for the sharpest, and for one after another, not prescribing the time or measure; but account him a slight servant, that gives up his worke, and makes holy-day at his pleasure. This wisedome we may learne from the wise Pilot, who in a calme looks for a storm; so must wee in our peace for a storm of adversity: And the wise souldier will keep sentinell in time of truce and peace.
2. When they doe come and 2. Animae quior esto, & ad majorem sustinentiam accingere.—De imitat. Chr. l. 3. c. 57smart, wee must not be senslesse of▪ sorrow, nor yet overwhelmed, but labour to overcome the sense of flesh by the power of the spirit: For which end religion looketh not on the crosse, as it is in it own nature, a fruit of sin, or as a scourge in the hand of an offended father; but as it is over-ruled by Gods providence, & altered by Christ. Religion looketh not so much on the crosse, as beyond it, and on the happy fruits and issue of it: As a woman in sorrow of travell gets over it in hope of a birth: Or as a stout souldier, who fixeth his thoughts on the hope of victory and glory; and forgets, and feeles not for the present the griefe of his wounds: so should the Christian souldier.
And indeed, if the husbandman endures so much losse and misery, in hope of an harvest, whereof he may faile by many accidents; with what patience and resolution should wee endure paines and sorrowes, and digest all difficulties for Christ and his truth, and for such riches and durable substance, as are not subject to losse or end?
3. Get sound judgement, to esteem aright of the crosse. Moses 3.therefore chose to suffer with Gods people, because he esteemed Heb. 11. 26 So Ignatius. foreign Epist. ad Ephes.the rebukes of Christ greater riches, than the treasures of Egypt. The Apostles more gloried in chaines for the Gospel, than if they had beene chaines of gold. What an honourable thing to have Christ a companion in our suffering? or that the Lord should honour himselfe by us? that hee should advance his owne wisedome, power, and goodnes in the constancy of his servants? that hee should spread and seale the truth of the Gospel by their bloud? that their bloud should be the seed and watering of the Church? and that by suffering they should conquer as their Head did, and helpe to batter downe the Kingdome of the Divell? Finally, what a comfortable thing is it, to beare Christs crosse? the wisedome of God will let us see to what it is that God now calleth; namely, to such sufferings as have hope, patience, and light in them, that we may never suffer those that are hopelesse and desperate.
4. Be much & often in the use 4.of the Word and Prayer.
First, heare & reade the Scriptures Word helps us to beare the cross, how.diligently; for whatsoever is there written, is, that wee may have patience and hope, Rom. 15. 4. These are the Wels of consolation, that informe of all things, the authour, Isa. 12. 3.matter, end, and use of the crosse, and of the comfortable manner of bearing it. These are as the strong Tower of David, & minister much strength and reviving to the weak & languishing spirit of man: as David confesseth, Had it not been for thy Word, I had perished in my trouble.Psa. 119. 92
Secondly, be frequent in Prayer, both before the crosse and under And prayer.it: for it is a gift of God, that we are able to suffer as well as beleeve, Phil. 1. 29. and chap. 4. 13. I can doe all things through Christ that strengthens mee: And the way to get this strength from Christ is fervent prayer: Coloss. 1. 11. the Apostle prayes, that they might be strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulnesse.