so cooled and discouraged at hearing of
the cross, and selling of all he had, that he went away sad and sorrowful,
Mark x. 21, 22. The apostles themselves having heard him say, that "it is
easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man
to enter into the kingdom of God," "they were exceedingly amazed [at this
doctrine], saying, Who then can be saved?" Matt. xix. 24, 25. As for his
life and actions, they were such that not only did the Gadarenes beseech
him to depart out of their coasts (Matt. viii. 34), but his own friends
and kinsfolks were about "to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside
himself," Mark iii. 21. His sufferings were such, that all his disciples
did forsake him, and went away every man to his own home again. And what
shall be the condition of those that will follow him? If we will indeed be
his disciples, he hath forewarned us to sit down first, and count our
cost, Luke xiv. 28. He hath told us, It will cost us no less than the
bearing of the cross, the forsaking of all, yea, which is hardest of all,
the denying of ourselves, John v. 26; ii. 33. We must even cease to be
ourselves, and cannot be his, except we leave off to be our own, Matt.
xvi. 24. And what shall the world think of us all this while? "Know ye not
(saith James) that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God,"
James iv. 4; "Let no man deceive himself (saith Paul). If any man among
you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may
be wise," 1 Cor. iii. 18. What do ye think now? Are not all these hard
sayings for flesh and blood to hear? I might add much more of this kind.

Thirdly, Thus it must be, to set the higher value upon Christ, and upon
the lot of God's children: "Will I offer burnt-offerings to the Lord my
God (saith David) of that which doth cost me nothing"? 2 Sam. xxiv. 24.
And shall our lines fall to us in pleasant places? or shall we have a
goodly heritage which doth cost us nothing? How should the preciousness of
the saint's portion be known, if we lose nothing that is dear to us to
come by it? Phil. iii. 7, "What things were gain to me, those I counted
loss for Christ;" Matt. xiii. 44-46, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto
treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and
for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven i