John Trapp on Matthew 16:24

Verse 24. If any man will come after me] Not step before me, [illegible: 1 word] to me, as Peter attempted to do, whose fault herein is purposely recorded, that be might not be (as by the Papists, for [illegible: 1 word] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. respects, he is) over-much magnified, [illegible: 1 word], as is above observed, and made collaterall, a very copesmate to Christ himself. Let him deny himself] Abdicet seipsum, Let him abrenounce himself flatly, peremptorily, again and again (as the word importeth) with a stout and stiff deniall to so unreasonable a request, as self will be sure to make to a man, his whole [illegible: 1 word] throughout. Every one hath many a self within himself to say nay to, though never so dear to him. Levi said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him, neither did he acknowledge his [illegible: 1 word], nor knew [illegible: 1 word] own children, that he might observe Gods Word, and keep his [illegible: 1 word], Deut. 33 9. This was much. But he that will be Christs Disciple, must do more then this. He must deny himself, his own reason, will, affections, appetite, aims, ends, acts, [illegible: 1 word], &c. He must utterly renounce himself, as much as if he had nothing at all to do with himself. Yea, he must condemn and cast away himself, as God doth those reprobates, whom he denieth, disowneth and disavoweth for ever. Horreo quicquid de meo est ut sim meus, saith Bernard. Ita cave tibi ut caveas [illegible: 1 word], saith another. So take heed to your [illegible: 1 word], that you take heed of your self. Oh misery! saith a third; we could not suffer a Lord, O [illegible: 4 words] non [illegible: 1 word], conservo [illegible: 1 word]. mus. [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. lib 12. and yet we sustain to serve our fellow-servant, self. [illegible: 1 word] the Emperour dying, affirmed, that he was proud of one of his victories only, viz. That he had overcome his own flesh, that worst of enemies. Of all slaveries none so grievous to a good heart, as to be slave to himself. And this yoke of slavery, it is an easie matter to shake off, saith Seneca; but he is fouly deceived. For a man will sooner say nay to all the world, then to himself. This made Robert Smith the Martyr write thus to his wife, Be alwaies Act. and Mon. [illegible: 1 word]. 1545. an enemy to the devil and the world, but specially to your own flesh. There are some diseases that will not be cured, till we be let bloud ad deliquium animae, till the patient [illegible: 1 word]; and such is sin: it is corruptio totius substantiae, the sinner must be unmade, taken all asunder, ere the new creature can be made up in him: he must be stark dead to sin [illegible: 1 word] he can live to [illegible: 1 word], as S. Peter [non-Latin text not transcribed], 1 [illegible: 1 word]. 2. 24. hath it: and the word he [illegible: 1 word] there implieth, that the old frame must be utterly [illegible: 1 word], and the whole man done to death, and [illegible: 1 word] for a whole burnt-offering. Instead of a [illegible: 1 word], saith Origen, we must kill our [illegible: 1 word] passions: in stead of a Goat, our unclean affections: in stead of slying fowls, our idle thoughts and evil imaginations. Loe this is that evangelicall sacrifice, that rationall service so much commended and called for, Rom. 12. 1. Do this, and thou shale live: leave it [illegible: 1 word], and thou art undone for ever. Pray therefore with him, Domine, libera me à malo homine, meipso, Lord, free [illegible: 1 word] from an ill man, my self. And take up his crosse] Where [illegible: 1 word] is renounced, the crosse is [illegible: 1 word] born. It is self (saith one) [illegible: 1 word] the crosse pinch. Things puft up with winde, break when they come to the fire: so [illegible: 1 word] that are puffed up, and filled with self, will [illegible: 1 word] nothing. Privation is one of the principles of naturall generation, so is self-deniall of holy [illegible: 1 word]. Pain would this flesh make strange of that which the Spirit doth embrace (said M. [illegible: 1 word], Martyr, in a letter written to his wife out of the prison.) O Lord, how loth is this loitering [illegible: 1 word] to [illegible: 1 word] forth in Gods [illegible: 1 word]! It fancieth, Act and [illegible: 2 words]. [illegible: 1 word]. forsooth, much fear of fray-bugs, &c. Take up the crosse, and follow me thorow thick and thin, thorow fire and water; Oh this is an hard saying, saith another Martyr. But if thereIbid 1494. be any way on horse-back to heaven, surely this is the way. Only we must take up our crosse, be active in it, and not stay till it be laid upon us, whether we will or no. And then bear it patiently, not grin under the burden of it, as antick pictures [illegible: 1 word] to do under the weight of the house-side, [illegible: 1 word] they are fastened. Drink [illegible: 1 word] Gods cup willingly, and at the first (saith M. Bradford)Ibid. 1483. and when it is full: lest peradventure if we linger, we drink at length of the dregs with the wicked, if at the beginning we drink not with his children. We must take up our crosses (saith another) and when God bids us yoke, he is the [illegible: 1 word] man thatM. [illegible: 1 word]. yeelds his neck most willingly. And follow me] Without sciscitation; let him go blinde-fold [illegible: 4 words] `[non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 1 word]. whether I lead him, as Abraham did. Neither may he leap over the hedge of the command, for avoiding the foul way of affliction, Sed [illegible: 1 word] quocun que Christus vocârit, [illegible: 1 word] in ea loca migrandum [illegible: 1 word] —Pigris ubi nulla campis [illegible: 1 word] lib. 1 Od. [illegible: 1 word]. Arbor [illegible: 1 word] â recreatur aurâ; Quod [illegible: 1 word] mundi nebulae, malus que Jupiter urget. God hath [illegible: 1 word] us to be conformed to [illegible: 1 word] image of his Sonne, in sufferings also, Rom. 8. 29. Crux pendentis, Cathedra docentis. Plato was crook-backt, and his scholars counted it an ornament to go crooked like him. Aristotle [illegible: 1 word], and his scholars thought it honour to lisp. Shall not we hold our [illegible: 1 word] honoured that may suffer with Christ, and then be [illegible: 1 word] fied also with him?