me to the second thing which our blessed Saviour here requires of those who would go after him, "even to take up their cross." By the cross, we are to understand whatsoever troubles and calamities, inward or outward, we meet with in the performance of our duty to God or man, which they that would go after Christ must take up as they go along, without any more ado, neither repining at them, nor sinking under them; for we must not think that Christ invites us to an earthly paradise of idleness or outward pleasure, as if we had nothing to do or to suffer for him; for, even as men, we cannot but find many crosses in the world, but as Christians we must expect more; for Christ himself hath told us "that in the world we shall have tribulation."

John xvi. 33.

As he hath borne the cross before us, he expects that we now bear it after him; yea, we must not only bear it, but take it up too, not that we should run ourselves into danger, but that we should baulk no duty to avoid it, so as to be willing and ready to undergo the greatest sufferings rather than to commit the least sin, and to run the greatest danger, rather than neglect the smallest duty. If, whilst we are walking in the narrow path of holiness, there happens to be a cross in the way, we must not go on one side nor on the other side of it out of the path we walk in, neither must we kick and spurn it, but we must patiently take it up, and carry it along with us; if it be a little heavy at first, it

will soon grow lighter, and not at all hinder, but rather further, our progress towards heaven.

But here we must have a great care to understand our Saviour's meaning, and so our own duty aright. We must not think that every trouble we meet with in the world is the cross of Christ; for we may suffer from our fancy, or humour, or perhaps for our sin and transgression of the laws of God or men; and if so, it is our own cross, not Christ's, which we take upon us; we may thank ourselves for it; I am sure Christ hath no cause to thank us: "For this is thankworthy," saith the apostle, "if a man for conscience towards God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." 1 Pet. ii. 19, 20. And therefore the duty which our Saviour here imposeth on us, in few terms is this, that we be ready not only to do, but to suffer what we can, for the glory of God, and the furtherance of the gospel, and that we omit no duty, nor commit any sin, for fear of suffering, nor think so much of any trouble that befalls Christ's sake, but rather to rejoice at it, even as the apostles rejoiced that "they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." Acts v. 41.-BEVERIDGE.

HYMN.

us for

And do we hope to be with him
Who on the cross resign'd his breath?
Who died a victim to redeem
His people from eternal death?

Allied to him who bore the cross
And call'd the people of the Lord,
The world to us should seem but loss,
And worthless all it can afford.

y

28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these 'sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son: "hear him.

C

36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone.

And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

d

37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine ouly child.

39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whither soever thou goest.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of

the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

T

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead; but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them fare

well, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand

to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

g Mat. xviii. 1. Mark ix. 34.-h Mat x. 40; & xviii. 5. Mark ix. 37. John xii. 44; & xiii. 20.-i Mat. xxiii. 11. 12.-k Mark ix. 38. See Num. xi. 28.- See Mat. xii. 30. ch. xi. 23.-m Mark xvi. 19. Acts i. 2.-n John iv. 4, 9. -2 Kings i. 10, 12-p John iii. 17; & xii. 47.-q Mat. viii. 19. Mat. viii. 21.-s See 1 Kings xix. 20.

READER. Then there arose a rea

soning among them which of them should be greatest. See Commentary on Matthew XVIII. 1-6. in § LVIII.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, &c.-The time drew on wherein Jesus must be received up; he must take death in his way; Calvary is in his passage to mount Olivet: he must be lifted up to the cross, thence to climb into his heaven. Yet this comes not into mention, as if all the

thoughts of death were swallowed up in this victory over death. Neither, O Saviour, is it otherwise with us, though weak members of thy mystical body: we must die, we shall be glorified. What if death

stand before us? We look beyond him, at that transcendent glory. How should we be dismayed with that pain, which is attended with a blessed immortality?

The strongest receipt against death is the happy estate that follows it: next to that, is the fore expectation of it, and resolution against it: "He stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." Jerusalem, the nest of his enemies, the amphitheatre of his conflicts, the fatal place of his death. Well did he know the plots and ambushes that were there laid for him, and the bloody issue of those designs:

yet he will go, and goes resolved for the worst. It is a sure and wise way to send our thoughts before us, to grapple with those evils which we know must be encountered; the enemy is half overcome that is well prepared for. The strongest mischief may be outfaced with a seasonable fore-resolution. There can be no greater disadvantage than the suddenness of a surprisal. O God, what I have not the power to avoid, let me have the wisdom to expect!

:

The way from Galilee to Judea lay through the region of Samaria, if not the city. Christ, now towards the end of his preaching, could not but be attended with a multitude of followers it was necessary there should be purveyors and harbingers to procure lodgings and provisions for so large a troop. Some of his own retinue are addressed to this service; they seek not for palaces and delicates, but for house-room and victuals. It was he whose the earth was, and the fulness thereof; whose the heavens are, and the mansions therein; yet he, who could have commanded angels, sues to Samaritans; he, that filled and comprehended heaven, sends for shelter in a Samaritan cottage. It was thy choice, O Saviour, to take upon thee the shape, not of a prince, but of a servant. How can we either neglect means, or despise homeliness, when thou, the God of all the world, would'st stoop to the suit of so poor a provision? We know well on what terms the Samaritans stood with the Jews; so much more hostile, as they did more symbolize in matters of re

ligion: no nations were mutually so hateful to each other. A Samaritan's bread was no better than swine's flesh: their very fire and water was not more grudged than infectious: the looking towards Jerusalem was here cause enough of repulse. No enmity is so desperate as that which arises from matter of religion. Agreement in some points, when there are differences in the main, doth but advance hatred the more- -HALL.

Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from Heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did.--There is nothing so ill, as the corruption of the best. Rectified zeal is not more commendable and useful, than inordinate and misguided is hateful and dangerous. Fire is a necessary and beneficial element, but if it be once misapplied, and have caught upon the beams of our houses, or stacks of our corn, nothing can be more direful.

Thus sometimes zeal turns to murder: "They that kill you shall think they do God service; sometimes frenzy, sometimes rude indiscretion. Wholesome and blessed is that zeal that is well grounded, and well governed; grounded upon the word of truth, not upon unstable fancies; governed by wisdom and charity; wisdom to avoid rashness, and excess; charity to avoid just offence.

No motion can want a pretence : Elias did so, why not we? He was a holy prophet: the occasion, the place, differs not much : there wrong was offered to a servant, here to his master; there to a man, here to a