May 5

E die daily. — 1 COR. xv. 31.

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. — LUKE ix. 23.

WE are wont to say that Christ died that we might not die. We should speak more truly if we affirmed that he died that we might die. He died for sin that we might die to sin; he bore our guilt in his own body, that we might bear about his dying in our bodies. Hence it is written in the Scripture: "Forasmuch, then, as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." "With the same mind," not with the same instrument! The jewelled cross or the marble crucifix can do nothing to enable us "fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ." Not the image of his crucifixion laid upon us, but the fellowship of his crucifixion wrought within us, is what he requires. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Our wills surrendered to Christ's even as his will was surrendered to the Father's; our self-pleasing daily foregone for his sake who "pleased not himself;" our ease surrendered day by day in order that we may endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, — these are the crucial tests of discipleship. Our souls are saved only by Christ's outward cross of atonement; they are sanctified by his inward cross of self-abnegation.

A. F. Gordon

Take up thy cross, and follow Christ, Nor think till death to lay it down, — For only he who bears the cross May hope to wear the glorious crown.

C. W. EVEREST.