The Fourth of March.IF ANY MAN WILL COME --- Luke 9:23."If any man will come after me, let him deny himself." --- Luke 9:23. Doing this, all the rest is easy. If we know that we are nothing, are unworthy of everything, and have nothing of our own, we can lose nothing. We have no property since we are but stewards of the Lord. We have no honour or shame of our own, after the manner of the world; this being ou only honour, if God be glorified; this is our only shame, if he be dishonoured by us. The glory of God we must have at heart, and in his cause be like lions, but in our own cause like lambs. Therefore, when we are crossed in things which do not concern the glory of God, and the real good of our neighbour, but our own interests, and are unwilling to suffer anything, we shall miscarry, and be involved in greater troubles: but denying ourselves, we shall lose only a good deal of vexation; and instead of this, receive Christ with all his spiritual and temporal blessings, as far as we want them; which alone can make us cheerful and happy. But whoever desires to please the world, seeking himself and his own glory, cannot be a follower of Christ. And how will it be with him in the hour of death and judgment? By this everyone, learned and unlearned, may try themselves: whom do they please? God or the world? Oh! hide this self from me, that I |