Expositions Upon Matthew 1-10, Treatise · Chapter 10 · Section 4 – Section 6
Means to take up the Croſs.
1 Think often of it, reſolve with thy ſelf thou muſt not live always in peace, but there will a change come when thou muſt part with thy deareſt comforts. 1 Pet. 4.12. Think not ſtrange concerning the fiery trial: be thinking what the truths of God may coſt thee before thou dye. Contrary, when men either think in their proſperity they ſhall never be moved, or put off the evil day far off, as they did, Amos 6.3. how can they take up the croſs when it comes?
2 Believe that all things ſhall work together for thy good, Rom. 8.28. and that they come from the hand of a father, Joh. 18.11. yea even ſore ſufferings. God is wont to hide his face and withdraw his hand from Saints, and ſuffers them to mourn, to be ſold, to be caſt in priſon, to dye, no otherwiſe then if they were the enemies of God. Luth. in Gen. 37.
3 Get low thoughts to all earthly comforts, Pro. 23.5. Wilt thou cauſe thine eys to flye upon that which is not? As the Margin reads it, that is, it is not that which it ſeems to be; riches, honours, preferments are not that they ſeem to be. Think of the vanity of credit with men, of great mens favours, &c. what will theſe be in the day of death?
4 Look upon the crown. Chriſt endured the croſs, deſpiſing the ſhame, and is now ſet down on the right hand of God. What was the ground he endured the croſs? Why, it was for the joy that was ſet before him, Heb. 12.2. Acts 14.22. Rom. 8.18. 2 Tim. 2.12.
5 Look upon the ſweet comforts Saints finde under the croſs; their comforts abound moſt then, even as their ſufferings alſo abound, 2 Cor. 1.5. Hence the Martys found Priſons more comfortable then Palaces. As Princes uſe to recompenſe them who have ſuffered loſs in their ſervice, ſo doth Chriſt make up the ſufferings of his people with comfort.
6 Beware of having a ſquint eye upon the iſſues and events of things before we let conſcience give judgment, but let us have a full eye upon the rule, and upon the command; ſo Abraham in ſacrificing his ſon, Gideon in cutting down the Idol, Paul, Gal. 1.15. conſulted not with fleſh and bloud, when God called him to preach.
7 Look to Chriſt who hath taken up the Croſs before us, Heb. 12.2.
8 We are not eſteemed by Chriſt as his Diſciples till we have the diſpoſition to take up the Croſs, whatſoever our profeſſion of Faith may be, Luke 9.23. Luke 14.26.
9 Beware of indwelling corruption, which ſtill counſels us rather to balk duty than to expoſe our ſelves to the croſs. How oft doth the fleſh put perſons upon lying, upon deceitfull diſtinctions to eſcape the croſs? That which lies in the bottom is, they are loth to loſe ſuch gain, to diſpleaſe a good friend, to procure the enmity of ſuch a man as may hurt us, to part with ſuch an Office or Employment. To remedy this hold no mans friendſhip but in ſubordination to duty, and look upon all gain as curſed which is got with the wounding of the ſoul, Matth. 16.26.
10 Conſider that herein we expreſs our friendſhip to Chriſt, when we will not let any croſs part him and us. Gal. 6.14. God forbid that I ſhould rejoyce in any thing ſave in the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. For one friend upon choice to ſuffer for another argues entire friendſhip, ſo for us to ſuffer for Chriſt upon choice, and not upon neceſſity, argues much friendſhip towards Chriſt.
11 Inure not your ſelf to pleaſures and delicacy. How hardly will the croſs be born of ſuch? Moſes when he was a Courtier he ſlighted the pleaſures of the Court, Heb. 11.25.
12 Submit to live in a low condition, for want of which frame of ſpirit many dare not take up the Croſs; they know not how to be poor: it was otherwiſe with Paul, Phil. 4.13. I have learned in every eſtate therewith to be content.
13 Rid thy heart of ſlaviſh fear, as fear of Impriſonment, Revel. 2.10. Fear none of theſe things thou ſhalt ſuffer, the Devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into Priſon. Slaviſh fear of contempt of multitudes keeps ſome from duty, contrariwiſe in Job, cap. 31.34. Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrifie me? Fear of Excommunication oft keeps men from taking up the Croſs, John 12.42. Among the chief Rulers many believed on him, but becauſe of the Phariſees they did not confeſs him, leſt they ſhould be put out of the Synagogue. Excommunication is much to be dreaded, but when we have an abſolute certainty upon the conſcience in the witneſs of any cauſe of God, we are not to dread it, for even Excommunication hath ſometimes unjuſtly afflicted Saints, Iſai 66 5. John 16.2. As it's a folly to be affraid of a painted man drawing a Sword, ſo it's a folly to be terrified with the name Church when it is blaſphemouſly uſed; for it is onelyonly a painted Church or vizard of a Church. Luth. in Gen. 21. The Cenſure of the Church ſhall not ſeparate me from the Church if truth joyn me to the Church. Luth. Tom. 1. cap. 58.
14 Bear not the Croſs, becauſe thou haſt ſecondary refuges, but meerly out of conſcience of a command of Chriſt; for example, ſome men will bear the croſs of outward loſſes for Chriſt, when they have got enough to maintain them in the world, but not before, when as the ſame thing that was a truth to them now, was a truth to them then. O but then they were poor, but now otherwiſe. But is not duty, duty? and muſt duty give way to temporal concernments, and not be obeyed till we can without inconvenience and loſs obey it? It's a uſual deceit in moſt mens hearts, they will firſt bring about the ends they deſire, and then take up the croſs, but in taking up the croſs we are not to take the delay of one day, Luke 9.23. no nor one hour, Gal. 2.5.
15 Often caſt up what Chriſtianity and a good conſcience may coſt thee. I have not a ſtronger Argument againſt the Popes Kingdom than that it reigns without the Croſs. Luth. Tom. 2.223. Luke 14.28, 29. What man goes to build and conſiders not whether he have to finiſh it? Who goes to ſea and prepares not for a ſtorm? The benefit will be this, to wit, when we meet with troubles, the ſoul will ſay, Theſe are the things that I lookt for. Men caſt up the eaſie part of Religion, but do not caſt up the hard part.
16 Be earneſt for God to give thee an invincible reſolution, that when the fleſh asks you will, you omit no duty though it coſts you never ſo much, you may anſwer, no, as Daniel, cap. 6.10. who would no omit praying, though to be known to pray was a matter capital. Micaiah would not balk the telling of Ahab a Meſſage from God, though Impriſonment and the Bread and Water of Affliction was like to befall him. Queen Heſter would ſpeak for the Church though ſhe ſhould periſh therein. John Baptiſt would not forbear to admoniſh Herod though Impriſonment and Death ſhould be his Reward. Priſons and Death would not keep off the Apoſtle from fulfilling the courſe of his Miniſtry, Acts 20.24. yea he ſaith, He rejoyced, if he were offered upon the ſacrifice and ſervice of the faith of the Philippians, Phil. 2.17. I ſay, when the fleſh ſhall ask this queſtion, let thy conſcience be able to anſwer, Whatſoever trouble falls upon me, in the ſtrength of God I will do duty.
So contrary when the fleſh ſhall ask, will you not commit any known ſin though you gain never ſo much by it, though by a Ly, or by diſſembling you might gain the favour of ſuch a great man, by denying or diſſembling the truth you may gain or keep ſuch a preferment which elſe you cannot, by ſuch an equivocation you may ſave your life, by marying a carnal perſon you may gain a great eſtate, when at preſent you are in a poor condition, by taking ſuch an Oath, or ſubſcribing to ſuch a Subſcription which is againſt your conſciences, you may keep off baniſhment and ſequeſtration of your eſtates, now when to theſe and ſuch like queſtions the conſcience ſhall declare, not a conditional reſolution, but an abſolute, that come what come will or can, in the ſtrength of God you will not, you cannot ſin, here you are fitted to take up the croſs. So Joſeph Gen. 39.10. How can I do this and ſin againſt God? That is, I cannot. 2 Cor. 13.8. We can do nothing againſt the truth.
Obj. But did not Balaam ſay, Numb. 22.18. If Balak would give me a houſe full of ſilver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do leſs or more: alſo when Balaam was come to Balak, v. 38. he ſaith, Lo I am come unto thee, have I now any power at all to ſay any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth that ſhall I ſpeak. Alſo c. 23. Balaam ſaith, How ſhall I curſe whom God hath not curſed? or how ſhall I defie whom the Lord hath not defied? v. 8. Alſo cap. 23.12. Balaam tells Balak, Muſt I not take heed to ſpeak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth? and all theſe reſolutions were when King Balaks gold came in competition with the doing of a duty.
Anſw. 1 Balaam did not ſay he would not curſe Gods people, but onelyonly he could not, for his will was to commit the ſin of curſing Gods people. This could not appears, cap. 23.20. I have received a commandement to bleſs and I cannot reverſe it. As if he ſhould ſay, I would reverſe it if I could, to obtain thy rewards of divination, but I cannot. Alſo, cap. 23.26. Balaam anſwered Balak, Told I thee not ſaying? All that the Lord ſpeaketh I muſt do. Alſo, cap. 24.11, 12. Balak ſaid to Balaam, I thought to promote thee to honour, but God hath kept thee back from honour, and Balaam ſpake to Balak, Said I not to thy Meſſengers, If Balak would give me his houſe full of ſilver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandement of the Lord to do either good or bad of my own minde; but what the Lord ſaith that will I ſpeak.
Now that Balaams will was to curſe Gods people, appears,
1 Becauſe he would enquire of God whether he might curſe his people, cap. 22.8.
2 Becauſe when God gave him his flat denial, neither to go with the Meſſengers of Balaak, nor to curſe Iſrael, v. 12. though he withſtood it at preſent, v. 13. yet upon the coming of new Meſſengers, he yielded to make a new enquiry of God whether he might go or no, v. 20, 21. when he had his flat denial of permiſſion to go, v. 12.
3 Becauſe Gods anger was kindled againſt him for his going, v. 22. ſo that he was near ſlaying by the Angel, v. 22, 23.
4 Becauſe Balaam confeſſes his ſin, v. 34. I have ſinned, that is, in having a hankering deſire to Balaks gold.
5 In that Balaam goes with Balak from place to place, and from altar to altar, and that Balaam did not curſe Gods people was merely for fear of the Angel of God.
But contrarily the reſolutions of Saints that take up the croſs are not becauſe they cannot, though they cannot, but becauſe they will not, God having ſo wrought upon their wills that they will not part with the Lord.
17 That we may take up the croſs, let us deny our ſelvs, Luke 9.23. Matth. 16.24. If any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf, and take up his croſs. See, denial of our ſelves goes before the taking up of the croſs. We muſt deny our ſelves in our eaſe, profit, pleaſure, credit, houſe, lands, relations, yea deny our ſelves in our luſts of pride, &c.
And followeth after me is not worthy of me] Chriſt thinks no man worthy of himſelf who followeth him not. To the taking up the croſs we muſt add this, to follow Chriſt. Now to follow Chriſt is to do whatſoever he commands, without exception, whether it be to do or ſuffer, at all times rather then to leave the Lord. When the conſcience hints to us to do ſuch a duty, to witneſs ſuch a truth, to forbear ſuch a gain, to reſtore for ſuch a wrong, to perform ſuch a duty.
Obj. But the law of Chriſt is the rule of our life, how then are we to follow Chriſt?
Anſw. Chriſt is the example of the rule, as in Grammar there is a rule, and then there is an example of the rule, ſo the law of Chriſt is our rule, but Chriſt is the example of the rule.
Queſt. Wherein muſt we follow Chriſt?
Anſw. In humility. Matth. 11.29. When the multitude would have made Chriſt a King, he refuſed it. He waſht his Diſciples feet, Joh. 13.14. he took on him the form of a ſervant, Phil. 2.6, 7.
2 In patience. He was led as a ſheep to the ſlaughter, Iſai 53.7. 1 Pet. 2.22, 23. Heb. 12.2, 3.
3 In taking opportunities of doing good, Acts 10.38. Chriſt went about doing good, Joh. 4.15, 16.
4 In compaſſion. Matth. 9.37. Heb. 7.25.
5 In tenderneſs. Matth. 12.20. Not to break a bruiſed reed.
6 In heavenly mindedneſs, who took occaſion from all viſible objects to draw holy meditations, as from bread, door, light, vine and branches.
7 In publike ſpiritedneſs, 1 Pet. 2.24.
8 In praying for enemies, Luke 23.34.
Grounds of following Chriſt.
1 From Gods predeſtination. Rom. 8.29. Whom God predeſtinated to glory he predeſtinated to be conformable to the image of his ſon. As Chriſt was holy by nature, ſo muſt we be holy by grace.
2 From the name of Chriſtian which we bear, Acts 11.26. as the firſt Adam begat a ſon in his own likeneſs, ſo doth the ſecond Adam.
3 From the bond of union, 1 Cor. 12.27. Ye are the body of Chriſt, and members in particular. Now the head and members live one and the ſame life.
4 From the command of Chriſt, who commands us to follow him, Joh. 13.14. yea and gave us an example that we ſhould follow him. v. 15. I have given you an example that you ſhould do as I have done unto you, 1 Pet. 2.21. leaving us an example that we ſhould follow his ſteps.
5 If we follow not Chriſt, we follow the devil and our luſts, or elſe we follow the courſe of the world, Eph. 2.2, 3. the guiſe of the times.
6 The holy example of Chriſt hath a mighty transforming power to change us. Sight works upon the imagination of bruit beaſts, as when Jacob laid the party-coloured rods before the ſheep, much more let us, beholding the glorious grace of Chriſt in the Goſpel, be changed into the Image thereof, 2 Cor. 3.18.
Uſe. 1 Be exhorted to follow Chriſt. You ſay, you do, you are baptized into his name; well, but have you put on Chriſt? Gal. 3.27. As many as are baptized into Chriſt, have put on Chriſt. Can we ſay a man hath put on his clothes that hath never a rag on him, neither doublet, ſhirt? &c. ſo when thou haſt not Chriſt in thy words, in thy ſhop, in thy converſing, in thy company, &c. how canſt thou ſay thou haſt put on Chriſt?
A Chriſtian ſhould be like that Martyr, who to all demands anſwered he was a Chriſtian; when they asked his name he anſwered Chriſtian, when they asked his calling he anſwered Chriſtian.
To rule over others, to be in a better condition then others, to be rich and to offer violence to inferiours, is not to be bleſſed, neither can any man imitate God in any of theſe things. But he that bears his neighbours burden, and being above doth good to him that is below, what he hath from God, gives it to them that are in want, he is a follower of God; thou ſo doing and living on the earth ſhalt behold God in the heavens governing the earth as a Commonwealth, then ſhalt thou begin to ſpeak the myſteries of God, then ſhalt thou both love and wonder at thoſe that are puniſhed, becauſe they will not deny the Lord, then wilt thou contemn the error of the world, when thou haſt learned to live in heaven; then ſhalt thou begin to be a contemner of that which is here counted death, and to fear death which indeed is death. I ſpeak not of ſtrange things, but being a Scholar of the Apoſtles, I am become a Teacher of the Gentiles, and what things were delivered to me I deliver to diſciples. Juſt. Mart. ad Diognetum pag. 387.
In imitation we chuſe the rareſt pattern, in writing, in building; what pattern ſo excellent as Chriſt to follow? we are apt to admire a picture drawn to life. No perſon is ſo reſembled by his picture as Chriſt is reſembled by a humble, holy walking Chriſtian that hath the ſame graces ſtampt upon his ſoul that were in Chriſt, though not in the ſame meaſure, Joh. 1.17. Phil. 2.5.
Means to follow Chriſt.
1 Get the ſpirit of Chriſt. 2 Cor. 3.18. We are tranſformed into the ſame image, from glory to glory: that is, from one glorious grace to another, but how? as by the ſpirit of the Lord, ſo that as the ſpirit put a mighty impulſe upon Eliſha to follow Eliah, ſo doth the Spirit in Saints to follow Chriſt. As in property of ſpeech it is not the eye that ſees but the man that ſees with his eyes, it is not the knife that cuts but the man that cuts with the knife, it is not the ear that hears but the man that hears with the ear, ſo in the body of Chriſt it's no more the man that ſpeaks but the truth of Chriſt that ſpeaks in the man. 1 Cor. 2.16. If we be in Chriſt, Chriſt ſpeaks in us, thinks in us, walks in us, works in us. The life of a Chriſtian is not of himſelf but of Chriſt living in him. A Chriſtian lives not, ſpeaks not, works not, ſuffers not, but Chriſt in him. Luth. Tom. 1. fol. 438.
2 Take heed of impediments, as 1 Love of credit, Joh. 5.44. How can ye believe that ſeek honour one of another?
2 Slanders, Acts 28.22. As concerning this Sect we find it every where ſpoken againſt.
3 Shame of the world, Mark 8.38. Whoſoever ſhall be aſhamed of me and my words.
4 Weights, Heb. 12.1, 2. Let us lay aſide every weight. Many a man by the weight of his calling and the weight of earthly employments and eſtate is ſo preſt down, that he cannot follow Chriſt.
5 The pull-back of alliance and acquaintance. He hath a devil and is mad, why hear ye him? Joh. 10.20. When the Officers began to be acquainted with Chriſt, ſaying, never man ſpake like this, and Nicodemus began to be taken with Chriſt, how did the Phariſees labour to take them off? Joh. 7.45. to v. 53.
6 The poverty and meanneſs of Chriſt and of his Diſciples in this world, Matth. 8.19, 20. Matth. 11.6.
7 Miſtakes in Chriſtian religion. Joh. 6.66. becauſe Chriſt had ſpoken of eating of his fleſh and drinking his blood, many of his Diſciples went back and walked no more with him.
3 Take up the croſs: what man can follow Chriſt without it? Hence Chriſt conjoyns them. Many follow Chriſt as cowardly ſoldiers do their Captain till the battle be to be fought, and then they flie. Matth. 19.27.
4 Get love to Chriſt, Song 3.1, 2, 3.