Menno Simons · 54 of 73

THE CROSS OF CHRIST · Part 5

Finally, I beseech and exhort you to con­sider with earnest diligence that which is promised to all the conquering soldiers of Christ Jesus in the world to come, namely, the eternal, incorruptible kingdom, the crown of glory, and the life that will remain for­ever. Therefore, O thou people of God! equip thyself and make ready for battle, not with external weapons and armor, as the blood‑thirsty barbarous world, but with the firmness of confidence, the tranquillity of patience, and the vehement ardor of prayer.

There is no alternative, the combat of the cross must be maintained, and the wine­press of affliction must be trodden. O thou bride and sister of Christ, prepare thyself; the thorny crown must pierce thy head; and the nails transfix thy hands and feet; thy person must be scourged, and thy face spit upon. Gird thyself round about, and be prepared; for thou must go forth with thy Lord and Bridegroom without the city, bearing his reproach. On Golgotha thou must offer up thy sacrifice. Awake and pray, for thine enemies are more numerous than the hairs of thy head, or the sand of the sea. Though their hearts, hands, feet, and swords are exceedingly red, and stain­ed with blood, be not dismayed; for God is thy leader. Thy life on earth is an inces­sant warfare. Strive valiantly, and thou shalt receive the promised crown.

"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God," and of the hidden and heavenly manna.

Him that overcometh will God make a pillar in his temple, and will write upon him his name and the name of the new Je­rusalem.

He that overcometh shall not be hurt by the second death. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and his name shall not be blotted out of the book of life, but Christ Jesus will confess his name before his heavenly Father, and before his angels.

He that overcometh shall sit with Christ in his throne, even as Christ overcame, and has sat down with his Father on his throne, Rev. 3.

O thou soldier of God, prepare thyself and fear not! The wine‑press thou must tread; thou must go the narrow way, and enter in through the strait gate unto eternal life.

The Lord is thy strength, thy refuge and consolation; he is with thee in prisons and bonds; he flies with thee to foreign lands; he is with thee in fire and in water; he will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; yea, he will come quickly, and his great reward shall be with him.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Be not grieved that thou art black; thou art still comely and pleasing to the King.

As a rose, thou must grow among thorns, and be stung with the prickles. Rejoice for the King delighteth in thy comeliness.

Though in his first appearance he was offered as an innocent Lamb, and opened not his mouth, yet the time shall come when he will appear in judgment as a triumph­ant Prince and a victorious King. Then will our persecutors look upon him whom they pierced: then will they cry aloud and exclaim, Ye mountains fall upon us, hide us ye hills. But you shall leap and dance in excessive joy like calves of the stall, Matt. 4. Joy and exultation will never forsake you; for your King, Bridegroom and Redeemer, Christ Jesus, will remain with you forever. "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain," Rev. 21:4.

Praise, thanksgiving, and glory to God, shall flow from your mouth in an eternal stream. I repeat it, Strive, the crown of glory is prepared, shrink not, neither draw back; "For yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry. The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him," Heb. 10:37, 38.

Take heed and watch, lest the fire of the cross consume you as wood, hay and stub­ble, and the rains and storms of persecution overthrow the house. Let not the heat of the sun wither the cross, lest like the dog you turn again to that which you have ejected. Let not your garments and your feet, which you have washed, become un­clean, lest seven worse spirits enter you, and so the last error be worse than the first.

Therefore, beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, fear God with all your heart, and with all your souls, and seek him with all your powers. Watch night and day; knock before the throne of his mercy, that with his paternal hand he may support you un­der every affliction, succor you in trouble and distress, and graciously preserve you in his way, word and truth; that you may not dash your feet against a stone, and so failing in your profession and your life, be overcome and disgraced; but that you may preserve the treasure, intrusted to your care, pure and untarnished against that day, and thus obtain, with all saints, the promised land, inheritance, kingdom, life and crown. May the Father of mercies and of love, grant this unto you and us through his blessed Son, Jesus Christ, in the power of his eternal Holy Spirit, to his praise, and everlasting glory, Amen.