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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
THE ALONE WAY TO THE REST AND KINGDOM OF GOD.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

THE LIVING AND DYING TESTIMONIES OF MANY PERSONS OF FAME
AND LEARNING, BOTH OF ANCIENT AND MODERN

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
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."-LUKE iv. 23.

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith;
henceforth there is laid up for me a CROWN of righteousness," &c.-1 TIM. iv. 7, 8.

PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY

FRIENDS' BOOK ASSOCIATION,

No. 1500 RACE STREET.

1897.

BAXIT TO VU

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.

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PREFACE.

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

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