The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-02-24

disciple let him take up his cross and
follow me- Crosses for every one.
Wretched as they were in disappoint-
ment, what longing must have come for
ewes to see and minds to understand!
In Gods good time, all was explained.
They followed him through those awful
DAYS when earth went into mourning in
sympathy, where men tainted, He
saved others, himself he cannot save"
but they passed through it all into light
Of earth intensified with heavens glory.
What he meant for them as cross bearers
was also made clear. Soon would their
cOuntrymen turn against them in perse.
cution. Exilcd, Outla wed, turned out OF
the synagogue, ostracised, hated by their
own households, imprisoned, tortured,
verify they we're taking up the cross to
follow after him. His fate that once
seemed so awful was now being shared
in smaller measure. by themselves. The
cup was to be drained. Tradition says
that not one was spared tragic fate
James had asked for throne at Jesus
left hand; it Is related that he was
thrown from the temple by the Scribes
and Pharisees then stoned and his brains
dashed out with q fuller's club. Even
Nathaniel, so true, unsuspecting, beau
tful in his life was hated by those whom
he loved and knowing not what more
cruel to do, they crucitied him head
downwards to the earth.
Beloved, the words Of our text were
spoken not merely to the y, but to His
disciples in general. They we're not de-
signed for the Jews, but for his follow
ers wherever they were TO be found.
Conditions have changed in some re-
specCs, but
THE HUMAN HEART IS PRETTY MUCH
THE SAME.
That saying applies to the weak and
the strong-to the child, to the man, to
the woman. Jesus Christ has for his
audience the world; in his marvellous
gospels he talks TO you and to me.
wish il were not necessary for those
worda ever to be spoken. l am glad he
did utter them because they are true,
but wish 1t had never been necessary tC
utter them. They are terrible, they ex'
act all and leave nothing; but he could
not soften them in the least. The sad.
dest page of historY-is it war, is il
plague, is = aster? No; it is the good
suffering for the sinful, the Christ true
to his cross to save the hateful and after
him the disciple bearing cross laid up
on him by those whom he would helL
and bless. But it is necessary 80 long
as true Christians live among sinful men
IL cannot be changed. Perhaps come
here who do not share the aims of ouI
Master cannot now receive these words
Perhaps some must stsnd and wait for 9
time before He can speak distinctly tt
your soul. HIS message has many sides
its appeal goes to every manly mo-
tive-this may not be His word to you
now. His saying may not please you
because it Is not fully understood. Yet
give the Master His due. He came moi
to please men, they are childish, He
came TO please God, who is perfect. Fol
nothing else did He speak than this, thai
he might bear witness to the truth"
Tonight, we have his word to those
who would be his disciples. Beloved
will you come with me into the presence
of the Master as he would speak to ne:
IF any man would come after me, lei
him deny himself and take up his cross
and follow me-"
will ask you to notice two truths
that it expresses
/. THE TEsT OF DIsCIPLEsHIP
ia bearing the cross. We readily accept
that some disciples were thus to be test
ed-such were the II; the thousands per.
secuted and slain by Nero and the Ro-
man Emperors were of this order; Russ
burnt at the stake, the Huguenots OF
France exiled for conscience sake--a
few leaders bore the croas. But note
the words, IF any man would come at,
ter memo It was not for Lincoln
shot or Peter crucified merely; it ID
meant for the weak as well as the
strong, not one Is omitted.
1t may be seen that sometimes in life a
cross may he sssrnst upon US to bear the
taking away IL dear one, disaster in
business, friends that tax our patience, :