Things, the Power of God, though to them that perish, then, as now, Foolishness. That is, to thofe that were truly weary and heavy laden, and needed a Deliverer; to whom Sin was burdenfome and odious, the Preaching of the Crofs, by which Sin was to be mortified, was, as to them, the Power of God, or a preaching of the divine Power, by which they were made Difciples of Chrift, and Children of God: And it wrought fo powerfully upon them, that no proud or licentious Mockers could put them out of Love with it. But to thofe that walk'd in the broad Way, in the full Latitude of their Lufts, and dedicated their Time and Care to the Pleafure of their corrupt Appetites, to whom all Yoke and Bridle were and are intolerable, the preaching of the Crofs was, and is, Foolishness: To which I may add, in the Name but of too many now-a-days, and the Practice ridiculous; embrac'd by none, if they may be believed, but half-witted People, of ftingy and fingular Tempers, affected with the Hypocondry, and opprefs'd with the Power of Melancholy. For all this, and more, is bestowed upon the Life of the bleffed Crofs of Christ, by the very Profeffors and pretended 'Admirers of it, in the Perfons of thofe that truly bear it.

§. III. Well: But then where does this Crois appear, and where muft it be taken up?

I antwer, within: That is, in the Heart and Son; for where the Sin is, the Crofs muft be. Now, all Evil comes from within: This Chri taught;

1

taught; From within, faith Chrift, out of the Mark 7. Heart of Man proceed evil Thoughts, Adulteries, 21,22,23. Fornications, Murders, Thefts, Covetousness, Wickedness, Deceit, Lafciviousness, an evil Eye, Blafphemy, Pride, Foolishness: All these Evils 'come from within, and defile the Man.

The Heart of Man is the Seat of Sin, and where he is defiled, he must be fanctified; and where Sin lives, there it must die: It must be crucified. Cuftom in Evil hath made it natural to Men to do Evil; and as the Soul rules the Body, fo the corrupt Nature sways the whole Man: But ftill, 'tis all from within.

§. IV. Experience teaches every Son and Daughter of Adam an Affent to this; for the Enemy's Temptations are ever directed to the Mind, which is within: If they take not, the Soul fins not; if they are embrac'd, Luft is prefently conceived, that is, inordinate Defires; Luft conceived, brings forth Sin; and Sin James 1. finish'd, that is, acted, brings forth Death. 15. Here is both the Caufe and the Effect, the very Genealogy of Sin, its Rife and End.

In all this, the Heart of evil Man is the Devil's Mint, his Work-houfe, the Place of his Refidence, where he exercifes his Power and Art. And therefore, the Redemption of the Soul is aptly called The Deftruction of the Works 1 John 3.8. of the Devil, and bringing in of everlasting Righteousness. When the Jews would have defam'd Chrift's Miracle of Cafting out Devils, by a blafphemous Imputation of it to the Power of Beelzebub, he fays, That no Man can enter Mark 3D

into 27

into a strong Man's Houfe, and fpoil his Goods, till he first bind the ftrong Man. Which, as it fhews the Contrariety that was between Beelzebub, and the Power by which he difpoffefs'd him; fo it teaches us to know, that the Souls of the Wicked are the Devil's Houfe, and that his Goods, his evil Works, can never be deftroyed, till firft he that wrought them, and keeps the House, be bound. All which makes it easy to know, where the Cross must be taken up, by which alone the strong Man must be bound, his Goods fpoil'd, and his Temptations refifted, that is within, in the Heart of Man.

§. V. But in the next Place, How, and in what Manner is the Crofs to be daily borne?

The Way, like the Crofs, is fpiritual: That is, an inward Submiffion of the Soul to the Will of God, as it is manifefted by the Light of Chrift in the Confciences of Men; though it be contrary to their own Inclinations. For Example: When Evil prefents, that which fhews the Evil, does alfo tell them they should not yield to it; and if they clofe with its Counsel, it gives them Power to efcape it. But they that look and gaze upon the Temptation, at laft fall in with it, and are overcome by it; the Confequence of which, is Guilt and Judgment. Therefore, as the Crofs of Christ is that Spirit and Power in Men, tho' not of Men, but of God, which croffeth and reproveth their fleshly Lufts and Affections; fo the Way of taking up the Cross, is an entire Refignation of Soul

to

to the Discoveries and Requirings of it: Not to confult their worldly Pleasure, or carnal Ease, or Intereft, for fuch are captivated in a Moment, but continually to watch against the very Appearances of Evil, and by the Obedience of Faith, that is, of true Love to, and Confidence in God, chearfully to offer up to the Death of the Crofs, that evil Part, that Judas in themfelves, which, not enduring the Heat of the Siege, and being impatient in the Hour of Temptation, would, by its near Relation to the Tempter, more easily betray their Souls into his Hands.

ch.25.13.

Phil. 2.12.

§. VI. O this fhews to every one's Experience, how hard it is to be a true Difciple of Jefus! The Way is narrow indeed, and the Gate wery ftrait, where not a Word, no not a Mat. 24, Thought, muft flip the Watch, or efcape 42. Judgment: Such Circumfpection, fuch Cau- ch. 26. 33, tion, fuch Patience, fuch Conftancy, fuch 42. holy Fear and Trembling. This gives an eafy Interpretation to that hard Saying, Flesh and 1 Cor. 15. Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God: Thofe 50. that are captivated with fleshly Lufts and Affections; for they cannot bear the Crofs; and they that cannot endure the Crofs, muft never have the Crown. To reign, 'tis neceffary firft to fuffer.

CHA P. IV.

§. 1. What is the great Work of the Cross? The Anfwer to this is of great Moment. §. 2. The Work of the Crofs is Self-denial. §. 3. What was the Cup and Crofs of Chrift? §. 4. What is our Cup and Cros? §. 5. Our Duty is to follow Chrift as our Captain. §. 6. Of the Distinction upon Self, a lawful and unlawful Self. §. 7. What the lawful Self is? §. 8. That it is to be denied in fome Cafes by Chrift's Doctrine and Example. § 9. By the Apostles Pattern. §. 10. The Danger of preferring lawful Self, above our Duty to God. S. 11. The Reward of Self-denial, an Excitement to it. §. 12. This Doctrine as old as Abraham. §. 13. His Obedience of Faith memorable. §. 14. Job a great Infance of Self-denial, his Contentment. §. 15. Moles alfo a mighty Example, his Neglect of Pharaoh's Court. §. 16. His Choice. §. 17. The Reafon of it, viz. the Recompence of Reward. §. 18. Ifaiah no inconfiderable Inftance, who of a Courtier became an holy Prophet. §. 19. Thefe Inftances concluded with that of holy Daniel, his Patience and Integrity, and the Success they had upon the King. §. 20. There might be many mentioned to confirm this bleffed Doctrine. §. 21. All must be left for Chrift, as Men would be faved. §. 22. The Way of God is a Way of Faith and Self-denial.

§. 23.