A DISCOURSE SHEWING THE NATURE AND DISCIPLINE OF THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST; AND THAT THE DENIAL OF SELF, AND DAILY BEARING OF CHRIST'S CROSS, IS TO WHICH ARE ADDED, THE LIVING AND DYING TESTIMONIES OF MANY PERSONS OF FAME TIMES, IN FAVOUR OF THIS TREATISE. IN TWO PARTS. BY WILLIAM PENN. "And Jesus said unto his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; PHILADELPHIA: FRIENDS' PUBLICATION ASSOCIATION, No. 701 ARCH STREET. 1872. THE republication of "No CROSS, NO CROWN" having been verbally referred to the Representative Committee or Meeting for Sufferings at our late yearly meeting, it was, on solid consideration, believed a benefit might result to the youth of our Society, as well as advance our testimonies, by its republication. It has gone through many editions, being considered a standard work, and as setting forth, in a clear and conspicuous manner, the nature and discipline of the Cross of Christ. It is recommended to the careful perusal of the youth, being written in 1668, during the Author's confinement in the Tower of London for conscience sake, when only twenty-four years of age. 11th mo. 1853. PREFACE. bee tion well Hard the -ing READER: The great business of man's life is, to answer the end for which he lives; and that is, to glorify God, and save his own soul: this is the decree of heaven as old as the world. But so it is, that man mindeth nothing less than what he should most mind; and despiseth to inquire into his own being, its original, duty and end; choosing rather to dedicate his days (the steps he should make to blessedness) to gratify the pride, avarice, and luxury of his heart; as if he had been born for himself, or rather given himself being, and so not subject to the reckoning and judgment of a superior power. To this wild and lamentable pass hath poor man brought himself, by his disobedience to the law of God in his heart, by doing that which he knows he should not do, and leaving undone what he knows he should do. And as long as this disease continueth upon man, he will make his God his enemy, and himself incapable of the love and salvation that he hath manifested by his son, Jesus Christ, to the world. If, Reader, thou art such an one, my counsel to thee is, to retire into thyself, and take a view of the condition of thy soul: for Christ hath given thee light with which to do it: search carefully and thoroughly; thy 3 5639 706 .3 (RECAP) life is upon it; thy soul is at stake. It is but once to be done; if thou abusest thyself in it, the loss is irreparable; the world is not price enough to ransom thee wilt thou then for such a world be-late thyself, over-stay the time of thy salvation, and lose thy soul? Thou hast to do (I grant thee) with great patience; but that also must have an end: therefore provoke not that God that made thee, to reject thee. Dost thou know what it is? It is Tophet, it is hell, the eternal anguish of the damned. Oh! Reader, as one knowing the terrors of the Lord, I persuade thee to be serious, diligent, and fervent about thy salvation! aye, and as one knowing the comfort, peace, joy and pleasure of the ways of righteousness too, I exhort and invite thee to embrace the reproofs and convictions of Christ's light and spirit in thine own conscience, and bear the judgment, who hast wrought the sin. The fire burns but the stubble; the wind blows but the chaff: yield up thy body, soul and spirit, to him that maketh all things new; new heavens and new earth, new love, new joy, new peace, new works, a new life and conversation. Men are grown corrupt and drossy by sin, and they must be saved through fire, which purgeth it away; therefore the word of God is compared to a fire, and the day of salvation to an oven; and Christ himself to a refiner of gold, and purifier of silver. Come, Reader, hearken to me a while; I seek thy salvation; that is my plot; thou wilt forgive me. A refiner is come near thee, his grace hath appeared to thee it shews thee the world's lusts, and teacheth thee to deny them. Receive his leaven, and it will change thee; his medicine, and it will cure thee; he once is S B SOM Self ult ce: Ost the to rt C S P t as infallible as free; without money, and with certainty. A touch of his garment did it of old; it will do it still; his virtue is the same, it cannot be exhausted; for in him the fulness dwells: blessed be God for his sufficiency. He laid help upon him, that he might be mighty to save all that come to God through him: do thou so, and he will change thee: aye, thy vile body like unto his glorious body. He is the great philosopher indeed, the wisdom of God, that turns lead into gold, vile things into things precious: for he maketh saints out of sinners, and almost gods of men. What rests to us then, that we must do, to be thus witnesses of his power and love? This is the Crown: but where is the Cross? Where is the bitter cup and bloody baptism? Come, Reader, be like him; for this transcendent joy lift up thy head above the world; then thy salvation will draw nigh indeed. Christ's Cross, is Christ's way to Christ's Crown. This is the subject of the following discourse; first written during my confinement in the Tower of 5, London, in the year 1668, now re-printed with great enlargements of matter and testimonies, that thou, Reader, mayest be won to Christ; and if won already, brought nearer to him. It is a path, God in his everlasting kindness guided my feet into, in the flower of my youth, when about two and twenty years of age: then he took me by the hand and led me out of the pleasures, vanities, and hopes of the world. I have tasted of Christ's judgments, and of his mercies, and of the world's frowns, and reproaches: I rejoice in |