Matthew Poole and continuators on Mark 8:34

34 ¶ And when he had called the people unto him, with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.

Our Saviour hearing Peter so stumble at the news, he told him, and the rest, of the cross which himself was to endure, and taking notice of his exceeding sondness to gratify himself, to the prejudice of a far greater good, he now tells them the Law of his Discipleship, that as he was not to please himself nor to decline afflictions for the Gospel, so neither must any who would be his followers, [illegible: 2 letters]ey must all deny themselves, take up the Cross, and follow him. And because this was an hard saying to Flesh and Blood, and what was to be their certain lot, he presseth it upon them by several Arguments to the end of this Chapter. See more in the Notes on Matth. 10.38 & 16.24.