p. 45 | Bearing the Cross by Uriah Smith

Publishing Committee · ROCHESTER, N. Y. · Feb 28, 1854

"Bearing the Cross."

By Uriah Smith

MUCH is said among professed Christians, about "bearing the cross;" but we fear little is understood or really practiced in this manner. Some seem to think speaking in meeting is the cross they must bear; and when they have done, that they think little more about the cross. We apprehend that is a very small item in bearing the cross. Men are all naturally in love with this present world. To this world we must become crucified. Crucifixion is a hard death; but few persons are willing to die such a death; there is, however, no other way of entering into the kingdom of God. We must be "crucified unto the world, and the world unto" us. Most professed Christians, it is to be feared, have made a covenant with the world, not to part with it; and the tempter satisfies them if they speak in meeting some times, and give something to support the gospel, they may keep their covenant with the world: but, "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John ii, 15.

How then are we to be separated from the love of the world, and be crucified unto it? 1. By a believing view of the Lord Jesus Christ, who became poor—was despised of men—a man of sorrow, acquainted with grief—endured reproach—resisted temptation, though he suffered, being tempted—when he was reviled, reviled not again—murmured not, though wounded, bruised, put to grief, and his soul made an offering for sin, scourged, spit upon, his hands and his feet pierced with nails, his soul in agony—all this he bore, and no lisp of impatience ever escaped him. Would you be crucified unto the world, go learn of him; contemplate his poverty—his life—his sufferings—his resignation—his patience—his loving and forgiving spirit, till the whole mind is humbled within you: and then realize this truth—"If so be we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together." Rom. viii, 17. Do you ask what it is to suffer with him? We answer, To suffer with the same meek, patient, forgiving, resigned spirit that he had. This leads us to say:

2. If you would bear your cross and be crucified unto the world, remember, every trial of your life—whether temporal or spiritual, personal or family, from friends or enemies, direct or indirect, great or small, of short continuance or long, or whatever be the nature or character of it—is by the appointment or permission of that God who willeth not the death of the sinner, but who is seeking by all these trials to crucify you unto the world, and fit you to be glorified with his Son Jesus Christ. How shall this design of our heavenly Father be accomplished? It cannot be, unless you "bear your cross." Do you ask again, What is it to bear my cross? We answer, It is to suffer all the trials of which we have spoken, patiently. You are not to quarrel with the instrumentality God may employ, nor indulge in fretfulness under it. If you do, you do not "bear the cross." And though you should speak like an angel, in meeting, yet if you fret and complain under any of the trials of life, by which God is seeking to crucify you unto the world, it is hypocrisy for you to talk about your "bearing the cross:" you are but deceiving your own soul. God has assured us, "all things work together for good to them that love him;" [Rom. viii, 28;] yet, you can murmur, fret and complain at those things which God has permitted or appointed!! Alas, alas! Do not dream you are ripening for the kingdom of God while this is the case. No, you are ripening for death—for perdition. Saith our Saviour, "In your patience possess ye your souls." We shall learn soon, or when it is too late, that those words are words of solemn and awful import. If you indulge in murmuring, complaining or impatience at any trials, insults, sufferings or injuries, from whatever instrumentality they may come, and that spirit is increasing upon you, you are just as surely traveling in the road to perdition, as God has said, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." We speak not now of one "overtaken in a fault," to which all are liable in the hour of temptation, but we speak of him upon whom this spirit is not abating, but increasing; and it is increasing, except we bear our cross daily; for every day will bring some cross, in some form. Happy the soul who is constantly looking to God for grace to bear every cross. We may pray to have the cross removed; but we may not pray for it only in submission to the will of God. "If it be possible let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." That is our example; and we cannot safely follow any other. "My grace is sufficient for thee," will often be the answer; and did we know now what we shall know hereafter, we should praise God for every trial and every cross we have to bear: yea, a living faith will praise God even now, that he does not leave us to our own way, lest we should be like the children of Israel, whose impatient murmurings were answered by giving them flesh, but leanness was sent into their souls. "Be patient in all things:" that is bearing thy cross; then, when Christ appears, you shall have a crown.—Bible Examiner.