Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-02
CrOss-Bearing.

Cross-bearing is an indispensable feature |
of the believers life, until at the Jordan we
lay down the cross and receive the crown.
Why, where in all the Bible can we find
promise to him who floats heavenward con
Aowery beds of ease," who clings 10 hope
of salvation through pure religious selfish
ness, loving to sing Nothing either great
or small remains for me to do ?" To whom
is the promise of everlasting life For him
who has left father and mother and houses
and lands" Who is to reign with him If
we suffer with him, we shall also reign with
him" Who is to receive the crown of life ?
He that overcometh and is faithful unto
death. But cross-bearing is not only the
distinct command Of the Saviour to each
disciple; not tonly is the heavenly crown con-
ditioned upon it; but the believers happi-
ness in this life is in proportion to his ex-
perience of the cross. Sacrifice and Joy,
tears and joy, even agony and joy are not
contradictory terms, but may be synonyms
even. The deepest joy springs up in the
path of the highest aim and from the soil
of the mightiest passion which strives to at
tain that aim and sacrifices only plow up
the SOIL making the joy purer and grander'
To illustrate. Here is young girl, merry,
beautiful, surrounded by all which can
word. Now, place in one scale all the JOY
which is gathered into those rainbow years,
and when you have estimated its weight put
into the other scale the joy of that same
girl now mother. Her whole being is alb
sorbed in the infant life entrusted to her
care She lives, yet not she, but that babe
lives in and through her. Day by day,
night by night, she watches over that cher
ished one. She sacrifices time and strength
and all social pleasures-yes, life, if need
be-to this one mighty passion, the perfect
development of her child up to its highest
possibilities. Her feet grow weary, anxiety
and watchings steal the bloom from hel
cheek, the world, it may be, pities her
Well, put this mothers joy in the other scale
! with all its burdens and tears and agonizinf
prayers, and which is the heavier? Why
/, you know that the joy of the mother has I
depth and fullness which the young CIR
never dreamed of, not only because Of it
! unselfshness and the grandeur of the life
aim, but because it has been made perfec
through suffering. Now, there is jo,
!. deeper, richer than mothers. 1t is the jo
4 of the Christian, who has counted all thing
0 as loss for the sake of Christ; whose glor
{ mis- MIND ana heart, so JhaJ ne can exclaiH
81 live, yet not l, but Christ liveth in me-.
Oh there is no joy in all Gods univers
like this. The heavier the cross the richie
|. the Joy. When DR.. Mason, one of our mis
i. sionaries in India, asked his converted boa
:. man whether he was willing to go to tn
:, Bghais, neighboring tribe, to tell them @
IL a Saviours love, he reminded him tina
IS instead of twelve rupees month, he woul
n receive but four rupees. "Can you go
;f the Bghais for four rupees 2" asked the mi
sionary. The heathen convert went by hin
's self and thought and prayed, and came bac
to DR.. Mason. "Well, Chapon, what is 20,
D. decision ?" "My father, cannot go to tt
a Bghais for four rupees month; but l ca
- 90 for Jesus" And for Jesus he wen
. Think you that in all Philippi there wei
a. two happier men than Paul and Silas, shou
ly ing praises, their feet fast in the stocks an
"a their backs streaming with blood The
were suffering for Jesus and his joy wi
theirs. Take up your cross, Christian. L
not pass by it. Do not drag it behind 20
Do not wish yours was as light as yo'
neighbor's seems to be. Take it up and +
s. oice that you can carry it for Jesus.
70 will walk by your side, putting his should
~ under it and his arm about you, and u
= heavier the cross the sweeter will be h
" "peace be unto you," and thus your j
S' shall be full.
r. 1.-THE consecrated cross IN bear
l. TIL death shall set me free
IL And then so home my crown 10 wear,
"A For there's q crown for me-"
. -Independent.