BEARING THE CROSS by R. F. Cottrell

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 26, 1880

BEARING THE CROSS.

By R. F. Cottrell

THERE are widely different views about bearing the cross. Some seem really to delight in bearing it in their own chosen way. They would have a substantial cross of ivory or gold, or of some costly material and exquisite workmanship, and bear it in front, upon the breast, near the heart, suspended by a chain of gold about the neck. And it is presumed that they take much credit to themselves for their dauntless bravery in thus bearing the symbol of the Christian profession before an unbelieving and scoffing world. Thus delicately does many a devotee of fashion and folly bear the cross.

Apostles and martyrs have borne the cross in quite a different way. While laboring for the spread of the truth and the salvation of men, they were cruelly beaten, imprisoned, stoned, and were in all sorts of peril by sea and land; they suffered, laboring "in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger, and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness;" they endured "cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover bonds and imprisonment; they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented." They counted not their life dear to themselves. They witnessed for the truth, and sealed their testimony with their blood.

In these days many bear the cross chiefly in talk. To hear their testimony in meeting, one would think that they would be faithful at any and every sacrifice and peril, even to the laying down of their lives; that truth and duty to them were above every consideration of danger or suffering, that nothing could cause them to falter in duty, or think of giving up their faith and hope. Such persons I have seen within a short time past. Friends in Maryland and Pennsylvania could count a large number of them; and these brethren cannot find words to express their astonishment, that those persons, so zealous, brave, and cross-bearing in speech, while they confess that we are "right on the Sabbath," should think that custom and the laws of the State furnish a sufficient excuse for them to remain in disobedience. They cannot keep the Lord's Sabbath, because human laws favor Sunday.

It is in vain to refer them to Daniel and his three companions, when the law of the king compelled them to violate their duty to God, or go into the den of lions or the fiery furnace. They admire the zeal and fortitude of those ancient worthies, and perhaps imagine that had they been in their places, they would have done as they did; but when asked to apply the same principle in their own cases, though they can make no reply, yet they imagine that some way God, in the great Judgment, will excuse them, because of the inconvenience and opposition they must meet, if they should obey him to the neglect of the laws of men, which make void the law of the Most High.

Oh that they could be persuaded to bear the cross! not in word and in tongue only, but in deed and in truth. The time is at hand when the true servants of God will know what it is to bear the cross. God, in great mercy, is warning us, by a special message, to be prepared for that time. Let all heed the warning, bear the cross, and receive the crown. R. F. COTTRELL.