If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. Matt. xvi: 24. DEAR reader, o'er this sacred emblem pause, And view the Christian bearing up his cross; Nor steep scent, nor roughness of the way, Eer makes him halt, or turns his feet astray: Should he in weakness think to lay it down, His strength increases when he sees the crown, His soul enkindles at the glorious sight, Behold here the Christian bearing up manfully under his cross. It is a glorious sight. You see him going with his cross up the difficult mountain passes, as well as along the smooth and flowery plain. View the erown! It is seen in the distance. Sometimes the clouds gather around it; in general, however, to the cross His yoke's more easy, and his cross more light. bearer the sky is clear; he can discover the crown glittering in its beauty. The young Christian will know what this means spiritually. It is not of the Savior's cross, but of the Christian's own proper cross that we now speak. What is it to bear the cross? To bear the cross always, is to do right always. It is no less than to fulfill the crown inspires him with fresh the high commands of the Savior, vigor, he glows, and bounds along under all circumstances. It is to de- the heavenly road. By the cross, ny, control, and conquer self. It is i. e., by his conduct, the Christian is to watch, pray, and by divine medi- distinguished from the lover of the tation have constant hold upon Christ. world. While he bears the cross, the It is to glorify God before men by a cross will bear him. It will guide holy walk and conversation; forgiv-him through labyrinths of darkness. ing enemies, loving all men, aiming As a shield, it will protect him in to do them good bodily and spiritu- dangerous conflicts. ally-in a word, it is to follow Christ Among the Romans, criminals about as far as the disciple can follow his to be crucified, were compelled to bear Lord, in piety toward God, in benev- their own cross to the place of exeolence toward man. When Peter ex-cution; but the Christian bears his to claimed, "I know not the man," he the place of triumph. If it should laid down his cross. When Paul de-prove at any time so heavy as to crush clared, “I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus," he expressed his willingness to take up his cross, and his delight therein. The Christian's proper work is to bear the cross. This is his calling, his trade, or profession. It is the business of a watchmaker to make watches; it is the business of the Christian to bear the cross as above, at home, abroad, in the shop, in the store, in the market-place, or in the field. By reason of corruption within, of opposition without, of the malice of the wicked one, the burden is sometimes a heavy one, but strength will increase by practice. He has many discouragements, many solicitations to lay it aside. It sometimes presses heavily upon him, but the sight of him down to death, as did Stephen's, like him he beholds the heavens opened, the King in his beauty, and the crown of celestial glory. He comes off more than conqueror. “O, may I triumph so, when all my conflict's past, And dying, find my latest foe under my feet at last. Who suffer with our Master here, And by his side sit down; The cross shall wear the crown And at thy footstool fall; The ... the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. And grasp the phantom that before them flies; Lo! here are honors, floating in the breeze, Du others' carcass, see! they strive to rise, This emblem is a representation of the vain pursuits of mankind. Honors, titles, and fame are borne upon the wings of the wind, which is ever changing, as are the sources from whence worldly honors are derived. Not so the honors that from God descend, Numbers are seen pressing after them with all their mind and strength, and in their haste to possess them, they sacrifice all that is good and holy, all that is benevolent and divine. One, with his tongue, assails the character of the pious and the wise; another, with his pen dipped in gall, attacks the reputation of a suspected rival; others, as seen in the emblem, hew down with the sword those who stand in their path, and, trampling on the bleeding body of the victim, strive to obtain the object of their desires; while the shrieks of the wounded, the groans of the dying, the tears of the widow, and the sobs of orphans seem only to add wings to the speed of ambition. It often costs them much to enable them to accomplish their ends. They expend peace of conscience, case, and often life itself. Nay, the soul's salvation-the favor of God, eternal life, immortality in heaven, are exchanged for this empty nothing. The peace and happiness of others, of millions, with their lives, fortunes, and destinies, are thrown away for the same worthless object. Perhaps the reader will say, "Surely, a thing that costs so much must be valuable?" True wisdom condemns such things as valueless, and true wisdom is justified of all her children. The little boy who left his satchel and his school to run after the rainbow, expecting to catch it, was a philosopher compared to the idiots in the picture. Alexander, called the "Great," bought the title of "Son of Jupiter" for the consideration of many lives of his followers, and enduring much fatigue while passing through burning and distant climes. After conquering mighty kings and warriors, he attained the pinnacle of honor and fame, and adding to his own dominions the rest of the earth, he became master of the world, and then-he wept because there were no more worlds to conquer; and, at the age of thirtytwo, died in a drunken fit, and was laid in a drunkard's grave. He left his extensive empire a legacy of desolation to mankind. How different the honors which come from above! The Almighty Savior, Jesus, hath ascended up on high; he hath received gifts for menhonors, titles, and fame-in abundance. The saints, who are the excellent of the earth, God delighteth to honor. Angels are their bodyguard, the Savior is their friend. He confers on them the title of "Sons of God," of "Kings and Priests," who shall possess a kingdom that shall endure forever. Their fame is immortal: the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. The honors of earth come from inconstant mortals; the honors which are spiritual flow from the unchangeable Jehovah. The honors of earth are sought by trampling on the rights of others; the honors of God are sought by the increase of human happiness. Earthly honors are unsatisfactory when obtained; the honors of God fill the soul with bliss. Earthly honors are transitory, like the source from whence they spring; the honors of heaven are abiding, like their Divine Author. |