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

future dark and unknown, pain and dis
ease, and death for all-these may be
called crosses and such they are. But
note the parallel passage in Luke 8: %,
''let him take up his cross daily"-not
one az death, or few times in pain, nor
in dismaY-but daily, daily.
Scripture caunOt empha-ize too strenu
Ously the cor slant bearing of the cross |
by every one who follows after
him is the best Of discipleship. 1t is no
light thing to enter the ranks Of our. Lord.
The march is long 1.-The knapsack is heavy,
the way lies past swamps and over noun
rains ; the army Of Satan sends malaria,
and disease, ard traitors and spies and
assassins into the camp as we'll as employ
ing" Greek fire" and. explosive bullets. He
calls upon no one TO lin his church as
matter of fashion or custom or because
this one does or that one does not. Not
becaueea member of the family is here,
but because you thinking for yourself are
willing to throw y ur LOT with him and
follow him to the end.
Some one says there are a host of
mimetic Christians. Our churches
abound in those who test their lives by
what some one else does-this one says
so and so, this one does this or that
initiating, doing as they do. No, no,
Christ calls GU not unto that, brother
1t is she height of miserable faultfinding
for one outside to sect at the mistakes
of any Christian; but it is the height
of folIy,the end of progress, sure useless
ness, certain disaster and fall for any
one TO cut himself off from the well
springs Of his power by taking eyes
from the Savior to find guidance merely
from the examples of men. No, he calls
you not to initiate Blake, or Wesley or
Beecher, but to follow only Himself.
THERE ARE MANY FALSE TESTS OF DIsCI-
PLEsRIP:
What will people think? It is not for
them but for you and God. What can L
gain, Heaven? Nc, il you try to bar
gain, you will find Satan over the count
er, not the Christ, and the route is not
for Heaven. Ny friend has done so,
therefore will |. No; "he that will not
leave father, mother, friend for my sake,
| is not worthy Of me-" This ia partial
test; do you wish to identify yourself
with the good and the true? Therefore
find it in Jesus. Will you courageously
battle with wrong to win the right, then
come. Do you think Jesus Christ
is the ideal toward whomEyou are striving,
then come. Can you trust him to save
you from sin, perfect you, carry you
through the grave to eternal life. then
come. But if you would be his disciple
then deny yourself and take up your
cross and follow after him. That is the
test.
| What is this cross in our day? The
times have changed. None can become
a criminal for his religious faith. The
| Christian dies at no stake to-day. Re-
ligious freedom is glorious privilege of
our time. lie is an era OF reform, a great
wave of progress moves onward over all
Institutions. Yet will you say that be-
cause our country is Eich, it Ia no longer
selfish; that because we progress, there
is no more sin? Ii is because of selfish
ness, ignorance, immaturity and sin, that
we must bear the cross of Christ. Men
are.sufferirg & weakness in luxury. Culture,
comforts easily gained, tempts to Idle
ness and ease. The old Puritan's loyalty
TO principle and rights gives way to easy
going men. If ever backbone, love for
truth, loyalty to principle, temperance in
| life, self control in conduct, ambition,
and strong Christian purpose was needed,
it is in dear old New England to-day, It's
strong stock perishing, its Puritanism
decayipg. The church is not club for
entertainment, the kingdom OF God is
not pleasure ground, discipleship Is
not seeking for ease and enjoyment.
Alas no! life is real and earnest, we
must think and do and be, we must live
and stand for right though we stand
alene. Alb no you and are NOT disci-
Piles OF that Christ who toiled and suffer
ed to save men and bled and died for the
world, unless like him We rise constant
TO deny ourselves and. take up our crosses
and follow after him.
2. But there lis no crucifixion 40 the
cross 10 now figure Of speech. When we