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determined to live by the Bibleif you are resolved to be a New
Testament Christian； then； I repeat； you will soon find you must carry
a cross。You must endure hard things； you must suffer on behalf of
your soul； as Moses did； or you cannot be saved。
The world in the nineteenth century is what it always was。 The hearts
of men are still the same。 The offence of the cross is not ceased。
God's true people are still a despised little flock。 True Evangelical
religion still brings with it reproach and scorn。 A real servant of God
will still be thought by many a weak enthusiast and a fool。
But the matter es to this。 Do you wish your soul to be saved？ Then
remember； you must choose whom you will serve。 You cannot serve God and
mammon。 You cannot be on two sides at once。 You cannot be a friend of
Christ and a friend of the world at the same time。 You must e out
from the children of this world； and be separate； you must put up with
much ridicule； trouble； and opposition； or you will be lost for ever。
You must be willing to think and do things which the world considers
foolish； and to hold opinions which are only held by a few。 It will
cost you something。 The stream is strong； and you have to stem it。 The
way is narrow and steep； and it is no use saying it is not。 But depend
on it； there can be no saving religion without sacrifices and
self…denial。
Now are you making any sacrifices？ Does your religion cost you
anything？ I put it to your conscience in all affection and
tenderness。Are you； like Moses； preferring God to the world； or not？
I beseech you not to take shelter under that dangerous word 〃we〃： 〃we
ought；〃 and 〃we hope；〃 and 〃we mean；〃 and the like。 I ask you plainly；
What are you doing yourself？ Are you willing to give up anything which
keeps you back from God？ or are you clinging to the Egypt of the world；
and saying to yourself； 〃I must have it； I must have it： I cannot tear
myself away〃？ Is there any cross in your Christianity？ Are there any
sharp corners in your religion； anything that ever jars and es in
collision with the earthly…mindedness around you？ or is all smooth and
rounded…off； and fortably fitted into custom and fashion？ Do you
know anything of the afflictions of the Gospel？ Is your faith and
practice ever a subject of scorn and reproach？ Are you thought a fool
by anyone because of your soul？ Have you left Pharaoh's daughter； and
heartily joined the people of God？ Are you venturing all on Christ？
Search and see。
These are hard inquiries and rough questions。 I cannot help it。 I
believe they are founded on Scripture truths。 I remember it is written；
〃There went great multitudes with Jesus； and He turned； and said unto
them； If any man e to Me and hate not his father； and mother； and
wife； and children； and brethren； and sisters； yea and his own life；
also； he cannot be my disciple。 And whosoever doth not bear his cross；
and e after Me； cannot be my disciple。〃 （Luke xiv。 25…27。） Many； I
fear； would like glory； who have no wish for grace。 They would fain
have the wages； but not the work； the harvest； but not the labour； the
reaping； but not the sowing； the reward； but not the battle。 But it may
not be。 As Bunyan says； 〃the bitter must go before the sweet。〃 If there
is no cross； there will be no crown。
（2） The second thing I say is thisnothing mil ever enable you to
choose God before the world； except faith。
Nothing else will do it。 Knowledge will not； feeling will not； a
regular use of outward forms will not； good panions will not。 All
these may do something； but the fruit they produce has no power of
continuance： it will not last。 A religion springing from such sources
will only endure so long as there is no 〃tribulation of persecution
because of the Word〃； but as soon as there is any； it will dry up。 It
is a clock without mainspring or weights； its face may be beautiful；
you may turn its fingers round； but it will not go。 A religion that is
to stand must have a living foundation； and there is none other but
faith。
There must be a real heartfelt belief that God's promises are sure and
to be depended on； a real belief that what God says in the Bible is all
true； and that every doctrine contrary to this is false； whatever
anyone may say。 There must be a real belief that all God's words are to
be received； however hard and disagreeable to flesh and blood； and that
His way is right and all others wrong。 This there must be； or you will
never e out from the world； take up the cross； follow Christ； and be
saved。
You must learn to believe promises better than possessions； things
unseen better than things seen； things in heaven out of sight better
than things on earth before your eyes； the praise of the invisible God
better than the praise of visible man。 Then； and then only； you will
make a choice like Moses； and prefer God to the world。
Now I ask every reader of this paper； have you got this faith？ If you
have； you will find it possible to refuse seeming good； and choose
seeming evil。You will think nothing of to…day's losses； in the hope
of to…morrow's gains。You will follow Christ in the dark； and stand by
Him to the very last。 If you have not； I warn you； you will never war a
good warfare； and 〃so run as to obtain。〃You will soon be offended and
turn back to the world。
Above all this there must be a real abiding faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ。 The life that you live in the flesh you must live by faith of
the Son of God。 There must be a settled habit of continually leaning on
Jesus； looking unto Jesus； drawing out of Jesus； and using Him as the
manna of your soul。 You must strive to be able to say； 〃To me to live
is Christ。〃 〃I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me。〃
（Philip。 i。 21； iv。 13。）
This was the faith by which the old saints obtained a good report。 This
was the weapon by which they overcame the world。 This made them what