Vol. 2

122 ST. MARK.O my God, with an entire submission, continuallyadore the infinitely wise contrivances of thy sovereignreason." 33. But when he had turned about, and lookedon his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying. Get theebehind me, Satan :for thou savourest not the thingsthat be of God, but the things that be of men."Human sentiments are always opposite to the waysof God. Whoever opposes the love of the cross, isa satan. Reason, left to itself, is incapable of receivingthe mysteries of faith.Christ looks on hisdisciples whilst he speaks to St. Peter, to let themknow that this lesson concerns them all, and us aswell as them. How dangerous a counsellor is naturaltenderness in the affairs of salvation ! Menthink to preserve nature, to please a friend, and touse a penitent gently, by sparing them in what istroublesome and grievous;a fatal kindness.and so they ruin them by" 34. f And when he had called the people untohim, with his disciples also, he said unto them. Whosoeverwill come after me, let him deny himself, andtake up his cross,and follow me."Self-denial is the abridgment of the morality ofthe gospel, which concerns every body,and consistsin renouncing not only some external things, but theold man entirely; namely, whatever is irregular andcorrupt in the understanding, judgment, memory,will, and affections, and whatever is therein oppositeto Jesus Christ, his cross, and his gospel. There isno manner of privilege, no difference in the least, betwixtthe pastors and the flock, in relation to thecross and evangelical self-denial. It is for this very