LUKE ix. 23. _And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me._ 1. IT has been frequently imagined, that the direction here given, related chiefly, if not wholly to the apostles: at least to the Christians of the first ages, or those in a state of persecution. But this is a grievous mistake: for although our blessed Lord is here directing his discourse more immediately to his apostles, and those other disciples who attended him in the days of his flesh, yet in them he speaks to us, and to all mankind, without any exception or limitation. The very reason of the thing puts it beyond dispute, that the duty which is here enjoined, is not peculiar to them, or to the Christians of the early ages. It no more regards any particular order of men, or particular time, than any particular country. No: it is of the most universal nature, respecting all times and all persons. Yea, and all things: not meats and drinks only, and things pertaining to the senses. The meaning is, _If any man_, of whatever rank, station, circumstances, in any nation, in any age of the world, _will_ effectually come after me, _let him deny himself in all things: let him take up his cross_, of whatever kind, yea and that _daily, and follow me_. 2. The _denying_ ourselves and the _taking up our cross_, in the full extent of the expression, is not a thing of small concern: it is not expedient only, as are some of the circumstantials of religion; but it is absolutely, indispensably necessary, either to our becoming, or continuing _his disciples_. It is absolutely necessary, in the very nature of the thing, to our _coming after him_ and _following him_. Insomuch that as far as we do not practise it, we are not _his disciples_. If we do not continually _deny ourselves_, we do not learn of him, but of other masters. If we do not _take up our cross daily_, we do not _come after him_: but after the world, or the prince of the world, or our own _fleshly mind_. If we are not walking in the way of the cross, we are not _following_ him; we are not treading in his steps, but going back from, or at least wide of him. 3. It is for this reason that so many ministers of Christ, in almost every age and nation, particularly since the reformation of the church from the innovations and corruptions gradually crept into it, have wrote and spoke so largely on this important duty, both in their public discourses and private exhortations. This induced them to disperse abroad many tracts upon the subject; and some in our own nation. They knew both from the oracles of God, and from the testimony of their own experience, how impossible it was not to deny our master, unless we will deny ourselves: and how vainly we attempt to follow him that was crucified, unless we take up our own cross daily.