The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-02-24
translate cross-bearipg Into the language
Of our time what do we meapP

GEausIsbe crOss"Ue8rlDS IQGO Tue language |
Of our time what do we mean?
~ 1T MEANS EXPERIMENTATION.
and follow our own incli- |
nations. We are to deny our
selves. Some may go on the principle |
that they will do as much for him as ia
pleasant but will do nothing disagreed
BILE; that religion must not interfere with
their pleasure. But that is not Christian
ity. He would say, II never knew you"
! Discipleship means heartsear ching. You
end l are to determine our action not by
what we like but what he likes, not what
pleases us but what pleases him. Even
if work of his is hard and exactin9 and
disagreeable, it is still to be done. Below.
ed, is not our question each day to be
Lord what is thy will for me?
MOI is discipleship merely self-denial
of this or that thing-that is why men of
the world criticise US, and why we some
times fail. We think to be Christian ia
to give up certain things. Now that is
Judaism, 1t is not enough for Christ. He
says renounce not this nor that, but thy
self. Christ changes the principle of
life from self-love to God-love. God is
wise, he is good. Why should we not
allow him to control US In everything
IL we demand the right to follow our
own desire, we are selfish and on the op-
p0site side of the world from God who 10
love. II we say, God not my will bot
thine be done, take all have, the dearest
ideal of my heart, u.e it and me as thou
wilt, we have accepted the principle of
love and are disciple of the Christ.
CD THE CROSS BEARING MEANS IDENTI-
FICATIoN WITH HIM.
What he stands for, we stand for, what
he loves, we love, what he aims to do,
we aim to do; If he would save, so we
would save. Christ and we are one. We
seek his will, his thought, his intent-it
is then our own. He cannot stand for
one thing and we for another we are all
living to establish his righteousness, to
. bring his kingdom on earth, to become
perfect through obedience IS he strug-
. gled, to save the world as he would save
ir. He and we are one. Your thought
ought to be the Christ thought your
pleasure the Christ pleasure; your aim
in life the Christ aim; your success
crowned with the Masters approval.
i All this involves confession of him.
"He that confesseth me before men him
, will confess before nay Father which is
, in heaven" Confession by example in
/ conduct so that all will know you are a
! disciple Of Jesus; confession by habits,
that reassure and strengthen; confession
: by your faith, your hope. your love
confession by good word for the Savior
wherever that word will cheer and win
) and save.
1t involves sacrifice for principles sake.
70 stand as a rock against every form of
: evil, using our Influence to lead children
and men unto purity, intelligence, love :;
away from darkness despair, SIN. death /;
sacrifice for the poor and needy wherever
= they may be found, patience with the
7 erring, meekness in opposition, perse-
: verance in difficulty, earnest In interest
: in every SCULPTOR thy kingdom Gomez
Is our prayer and toll. Now to be such
! dis ciple means we are not men. pleasers
, but God-pleasers, each one having q diff
: ferent CROSS which is his own, intent on
! his own duties, all having Common Mas
! ter whom we follow and no other, even
Christ. In SO far as our independence OF
! men and dependence on Him, our renun-
citation of self-desires and Identification
with Him in confession and obedience.
! involve pain or toll, suffering or sacri-
] fee, it is cross which we bear after
Him.
l. this q high ideals IL il no more than
the sincere disciple ASKS: ssLord we
would share with thee in sill, we would
follow thee Whishersoever thou goest !.
we are not our own, we are bought
with o price, and il we were our own to
do as we desired, we should still desire
to be with Thee, to be like Thee, even to
share with Thee, to follow Thee to the
end wherever that may be- Do we still
say it 10 hard2 Yes, but we stand az
men. as women, valiant and true. Re-
n member Peter said once: Lord this IL
bard saying, who can hear