ger and thirst after righteousness-forgive enemies -fubmit to perfecution for Chrift's fake-to exercise a constant watchfulness over themselves, and against the world and the devil. The hand, if it offends, must be cut off-the eye plucked

out.

They are told of the ftraight gate-the narrow way the yoke-the burden-the race-the warfare, &c. Yea, the whole man is to be brought under new influences, governed by new principles, and to live for new ends. Self-denial, felf-difcipline, and felf-conqueft, are made indifpenfable prerequifites for the kingdom of Heaven. This is the Cross, it stands in the path of life; to proceed, it must be embraced. Chrift is "the

way" to God. His atonement, example, doc

trines, commandments-there is no other way, there can be no other-a wall of adamant, wide as earth, high as heaven, meets us in our attempts to find one; on which ftands infcribed in letters of light, "He that entereth not by the door, but climbeth up fome other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

Religious duties are irksome disagreeable to the carnal mind-to the unconverted; it is their nature to be fo. By them a man may know what he is, whether he is converted or not; the Crofs is a mirror. Religious duties are impofed, not that by performing we may earn a title to heaven, but because they are neceffary for the purification of our moral nature, through the grace of Chrift, that we may become meet

to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light. To neglect the Cross is to neglect all; it is to go to the feast without the wedding garment; it is to go forth to meet the bridegroom without light, and without oil in our veffels.

We may substitute fomething else for the Crofs; fuch as morality, philofophy, or even works of painful penance. It will be all vain ; as long as we continue unwashed, unjustified, unfanctified, we are unfafe-in momentary danger of hell fire. There is no neutrality in this war. In revolutions of States and Empires, those who do not take up arms against the foe are deemed as enemies; it is fo here. "He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." This is the conclufion of the whole matter. When Chrift comes to judge the world, all who will not now take up the Cross will be regarded as enemies; instead of the Crown they will have the curfe; inftead of Heaven, everlasting fire with the Devil and his angels.

Hence it is that so many "draw back to perdition." Ignorant of the great principles of religion, of its power to fave, they wear it as a cloak to hide the deformity within; fo inadequate are their conceptions of its excellency, that they will not facrifice a fingle luft, a momentary gratification, one darling idol, to ensure the "eternal weight of glory" which it promises.

"No Crofs, no Crown!” Some of the early disciples of the great Meffiah, when the fpiritual

nature of Chriftianity was prefented to them, were "offended." Their carnal ftomachs loathed "the bread which came down from heaven." Companions of the world, they rejected the (( fellowship with the Father, and with the Son, Jefus Chrift;" the Crofs difpleafed them, and with their own hands they inscribed their names with those "who, having put their hand to the plough, looked back, and fo became unfit for the kingdom of God.”

"Take

No Crofs, no Crown;" See! that young man running toward the great Teacher; what can he want with him? He is a noble man, a ruler of the Jews. Strange fight, indeed, to fee! A ruler of the Jews running after the despised Galilean. What is his business? He inquires about the way to heaven; he seems a good deal in earneft; he runs, and kneels at the Saviour's feet; liften to him. O, fays he, "what fhall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" up the Crofs, and thou fhalt have treasure in heaven," said the Saviour, as he looked kindly upon him. The young man looks "fad," he is "fad," and 'tis a "fad" fight to fee. He wants the "treafure in heaven. But he wont take up the Crofs, and they go together; God has joined them, and what God has joined no man can put afunder. He looks at the Saviour again inquiringly, as much as to fay, "Is there no other way?" The Saviour understands him; he points him to the Cross again, saying, “Except a man deny himself, and take up his Crofs, he

cannot be my disciple.” Fearful critis, what will he do? The Saviour is looking at him— the disciples-the multitude ftanding aroundGod-the holy angels-glorified fpirits-all are looking-yea, hell is looking on this fpectacle. What is the iffue? O, dreadful infatuation; "heaven that hour let fall a tear." He who knew the commandments by heart, and who had kept them from his youth up-he turns his back on Chrift and heaven, and goes away "forrowful," to be yet more "forrowful" long as eternal ages roll.

Have the Crofs and have the Crown. Look again at that young man walking boldly up to the Crofs; he lays hold of it exclaiming, "when I am weak then am I ftrong; I can do all things through Chrift ftrengthening me. He finds it "eafy" and "light," pleafant and delightful; he bears it faithfully in palaces and in prisons-in the wilderness and in the city-on the fea and on the land-among Jew and Greek-Barbarian and Scythian-Bond and Free-every where exclaiming as he goes, "God forbid that I fhould glory, fave in the Crofs of my Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift," and having carried it the appointed time lays it at the Saviour's feet, finging triumphantly:

"I have fought a good fight;
I have finished my course;
I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up

For me-A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS."

"They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their diftreffes."-Ps. cvii. 28. "Then the waters had overwhelmed us."-Ps. cxxiv. 4.

Loud yell the winds escaped from caves beneath,
And fummon Ocean to the Feast of Death;

Ocean obeys, high lifts his hoary head,

With fearful roar, impatient to be fed ;