"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily." Luke 9:23. "Daily"-this is the trial. A man might heroically do it once for all, and he would have plenty of people to honor him, and have books written about him; but it is very difficult to go on every day denying oneself, and no one knowing anything about it. It comes to this that, if you spare the flesh in this life, you will lose your life in the next; and what if a man gain the whole world and lose his own soul: what would a man give in exchange for his soul? It is not a question of bringing life down to the flesh; but if you lose your life here, you will get it elsewhere, above and beyond this world: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will• lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it." It is either giving up the world for eternal life, or else it is eternal misery; that is the real question. "What is a man advantaged?" You must give it up; you cannot keep it.