SERM. I. the Understanding, and fo are speculative Believers, but through the prevailing Power of Human Respects, fuffer it not to take Root in our Hearts, that it may become a Divine Faith, bringing forth Fruits unto Holiness, and filling us with all Joy and Peace in Believing. How can ye believe (to the faving of the Soul) who receive How nour one of another, and feek not the Ho nour that cometh from God only?

But if fome come fhort of the Crown thro' the Fear or Shame of the Crofs, others add to the Weight of their Crofs by refufing to bear it now; they cannot endure the Thought of lofing all Interest in Christ, and therefore refolve to follow him, but firft defire Leave to do this or that; they want perhaps : to get a little more of this World's Goods, or wait for fome more favourable Seafon to declare for Chrift, when there may be less of Danger, or Scandal in the Cross; but ei ther fuch Limitations and Referves will not be allowed us, or, if the Lord bear with our Weakness in this Thing for a Time, he is fure to reckon with us for it afterwards. When Peter, through Fear and Shame, denied his Mafter, he little thought what Anguish and Bitternefs of Soul that

Unfaithfulness would cost him; for Peter SERM. I. must be deeply forry for that Fear, and ashamed of that Shame, and also suffer for his Mafter at last. It is probable, that Nicodemus, the Ruler, and the rich Joseph of Arimathea, thought it fufficient for them to be Difciples of Jefus in fecret; but this would not serve their turn, and they who were ashamed to own him publickly in his Life-time, (for Fear of the Jews) must be brought to own him, in his Death, under the additional reputed Disgrace of a crucified Malefactor. Thus every Chriftian, after the Example of Jonah, pays dear for his Unfaithfulness, and after all his Reluctance muft do the Work which his Lord has appointed for him; but then he lofes the Satisfaction and Praise that would attend a willing and chearful Obedience, and suffers more from being dragged to the Cross than he would from a patient enduring of its Weight.

It is eafy to forefee, that this and every other Representation of Christianity in the View of a fuffering and felf-denying Religion, will be ill received by many; but those Words of our Lord, If any Man will come after me, let him deny Himfelf, and take up

SERM. I. bis Cross and follow me, contain the indifpenfable Condition of our Discipleship in every Age of the Church, nues in a militant State.

whilft it contiSit down then,

Profeffors, and count the Coft of being a Chriftian; for you muft not think of facrificing to the Lord your God, of that which cofts you nothing, and perhaps this will coft you more than you are willing to pay: As first it will coft you the Love of the World, for, If any Man love the World, the Love of the Father is not in him ; secondly, it will coft you the World's Love for you, If ye were of the World the World would love its own, but because ye are not of the World, but I have chofen you out of the World, therefore the World hateth you. The Chriftian cannot take Pleasure in the Company of vicious, and diforderly, nor yet of vain Perfons; however he may have had his Converfation with fuch in Times paft, he has now neither Time nor Inclination for Vanity, and therefore to all thefe he faith, "What have I to do with you, get ye behind me; my Delight is henceforth in them that excel in Virtue, Men fearing God and working Righteoufnefs." And, thirdly, This will coft him much of Character with those

whose

whose Ways are not as his Ways. They SERM. I. will fay of him, this Fellow is a Judge, to condemn us and our Doings; or, perhaps, that he is befide himself; and thus he must bear the Reproach of Christ. And, lastly, it will cost you the Love of Self, For even Chrift pleafed not bimfelf, and therefore all Self-will, Self- feeking, and Self-pleafing must be offered up in Sacrifice to God, that his Will may be done in us, and by us, without any Refiftance on our Part. this total furrender of Self the Chriftian walks at Liberty, and finds Peace and Rest to his Soul; for it may be affirmed of a Truth, that his moft flavish Fears, and tormenting Bondage, are occafioned by fome Idol not yet caft out, fome Opposition in his own Will to that of God, and therefore our Lord faith, Unless a Man forfake all that be bath, he cannot be my Difciple.

In

Thus we find that it will coft much to be a Christian, and that if we mean to purchase this goodly Pearl of Gospel Salvation, we must keep back no Part of the Price, but fell all that we have, to give in Exchange for it. But how hard is this Doctrine! how few can bear it! what Pleadings of Nature, what Torturing of the Scrip

SERM. I. tures, what ingenious Pretences, what learn

ed Evafions in Favour of the Sin that most

eafily befets us, and to reconcile Duty with Inclination! How great is thy Patience, O loving Lord! towards Sinners, whilst we refuse to hear and accept thy loud Calls, and gracious Invitations to come unto thee, that we may have Life. Behold, I ftand at the Door, fays Christ, and knock, if any Man hear my Voice and open the Door, I will come in to him, and will fup with him, and be with me. But alas! my Brethren, how do we lock and bar the Door against him, and will neither go to him, nor fuffer him to come to us, but ferve him as the Men of Bethlehem did of old? Infomuch that it is to be feared, as to many, that if the Language of their Hearts were put into plain Speech, it would be on this wife: My carnal Acquaintance, and worldly Friends, thofe Partakers with me in the Lufts and Pleasures which my Soul loveth, are come to lodge and abide with me; and the Company of a poor defpifed Jefus would difgrace me in their Sight, blast my Character, give a Check to good Fellowship, and moreover ruin my Hopes and Intereft in the World; depart therefore, for there is no Room