September 14 — On the Exaltation of the Cross

Consider, first, that, or this day, upon occasion of the recovery of the cross of Christ out of the hands of infidels, and the triumphant setting it up again in its place in the church of Mount Calva ry the church of Godcelebrates the exaltation of him that died for os upon the cross, and his glorious triumph over sin and death, and over all the powers of hell; and in consequence thereof the establishment of his kingdom, by which he reigns, by grace at present, in the souls of all his servants throughout the world, and shall reign in them for all eternity hereafter in glory; ooin cording to that of St. John, (xii. 31, 32,) spoken with relation to his victory on the cross: — JVow is the judgment (that is, the condemnation) of the world, now shall the prince of this world (the devil) he cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself Rejoice, O my soul, in the triumphs of thy crucified King; and beg that he would establish his reign in thee, and draw up thy heart from this wretched earth, and unite it for ever to himself.

Consider, secondly, that the dispositions of a Christian, in order to celebrate, in a proper manner, the feast of the exaltativm of the cross, ought to be suitable to the maxims of the cross, and to the dispositions of Christ crucified; — dispositions, of standing ofi from the pride, ambition, avarice and vanity of the world, condemned by the poverty and humility of the cross; as also from the love of sensual and worldly pleasures, condemned by the mortification of the crass; — dispositions of taking up our crosses, and following our crucified King even to the death of the cross dispositions, of waging a perpetual war against that triple concupiscence, which separates worldlings from the cross of Christ, viz. the hist of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; till, dying to the world and to ourselves, we he lifted up with Christ from the earth, crucified to the world, and the world to us, and thus be entitled to a share in his exaltation and triumphs. But, O my soul, how unfit are we to celebrate the victories of our crucified King over death, sin and hell whilst we, by pride, self-love, and the love of the world, wilfully remain slaves to these same enemies, whose usurpation he sought to abolish by his death!

Consider, thirdly, the sentiments of St. Paul, with relation to the cross of Christ, (Gal. ii. 19, 20:) with Christ I am nailed to the cross. And I live now not I but Christ liveth in me; who loved me and delivered himself for me. Chap. vi. 14: God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. He tells the Corinthians, (1 Cor. ii. 2,) that he judged not him self to know any thing among them but Jesus Christ, and him crucified; and (chap. i. 23, 24,) that he preached nothing but Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles; but to the true believers, the power of God, and the wisdom of God, He proposes his own conduct as a model to the Philippians, (Philip, iii. 17, 18,) and warns them, with tears, against all sensual and earthly-minded Christians, whom he calls enemies of the cross of Christ, O, how high was the cross of Christ exalted in the heart of the apostle. It reigned there without control. And as it was exalted in him by love and esteem, so it exalted him here, to the glorious fellowship oj the sufferings of Christ crucified; and hereafter, to that eternal kingdom, which our Lord has purchased by his cross for all the true friends and followers of the cross. O, how happy are all they, that, like the apostle, are sincere lovers of the cross of Christ!

Conclude, for thy own practice, to honour the triumphs of thy crucified King, by planting thyself at the foot of his cross, and there constantly attending to him, and studying well the lessons he teaches thee from his cross, and entering into all his sentiments. He will teach thee to submit to thy crosses with patience, to undergo them with cheerfulness, yea, to embrace them with joy. He will undeceive thee, with regard to the false maxims of worldly pride, of the love of riches, and of sensual pleasures; and from his cross will preach to thee his truths, and discover to thee lovely charms, that are found in humility, poverty of spirit, contempt of the world, and mortification of the flesh. His cross is the school, in which he will teach thee all good, and from which he will not cease to communicate to thee all grace, till at length he draw thee up to himself, and make thee his own for ever.