The right use is this: we are in mind and meditation to consider Christ crucified: and first, we are to believe, that he was crucified for us. This being done, we must go yet further, and as it were spread our selves on the cross of Christ, believing and withal beholding our selves crucified with him. §20Thou wilt say, this is a hard matter, I cannot do it. I say again, this is the right practise of faith: strive therefore to be settled in this, that the body of thy sin is crucified with Christ. Pray instantly by asking, seeking, knocking, that thou mayest thus believe. This faith, and persuasion, is of endless use. First, it is §25the foundation of thy comfort. If thou believe thy self to be crucified with Christ: thou shalt see thy self freed from the dominion of the law and sin, from hell, death, and condemnation; and to thy great comfort shall see thy self to triumph over all thy spiritual enemies. For this Christ doth, Col. 2. 14. §30and thou dost the same, if thou be settled in this, that thou art crucified with him. Secondly, upon this persuasion, thou shalt feel the virtue of the death of Christ to kill sin in thee, and to raise thy dead soul to spiritual life. When the Sunamites child was dead, Elisha went and lay upon him applying face to §35face, hand to hand, and foot to foot: and then his flesh waxed warm, and revived, 1. King. 4. 34. even so apply thy self to Christ crucified, hand to hand, foot to foot, heart to heart; and thou shalt feel in thy self a death of sin, and the heat of spiritual life to warm and inflame thy dead heart. Thirdly, if ⟨p. 143⟩thou believe thy self to be crucified with Christ, thou shalt see the length, the breadth, the height, the depth of the love of god in Christ. For thy sins are the swords, and the spears that crucified Christ: and yet thou hast all the benefit of his passion. Lastly, if thou canst believe that thou art crucified with Christ, thou shalt further be assured, that he is partner with §5thee in all thy miseries and afflictions, to ease thee, and to make thee to bear them. 1. Pet. 4. 13. Col. 1. 24.
The right vse is this: we are in minde and meditation to consider Christ crucified: and first, we are to beleeue, that he was crucified for vs. This beeing done, we must goe yet further, and as it were spread our selues on the crosse of Christ, beleeuing and withall beholding our selues crucified with him. §20Thou wilt say, this is a hard matter, I cannot doe it. I say againe, this is the right practise of faith: striue therefore to be setled in this, that the bodie of thy sinne is crucified with Christ. Pray instantly by asking, seeking, knocking, that thou maist thus beleeue. This faith, and perswasion, is of endles vse. First, it is §25the foundation of thy comfort. If thou beleeue thy selfe to be crucified with Christ: thou shalt see thy selfe freed from the dominion of the law and sinne, from hell, death, and condemnation; and to thy great comfort shall see thy selfe to triumph ouer all thy spirituall enemies. For this Christ doth, Col. 2. 14. §30and thou dost the same, if thou be setled in this, that thou art crucified with him. Secondly, vpon this perswasion, thou shalt feele the vertue of the death of Christ to kill sinne in thee, and to raise thy dead soule to spirituall life. When the Sunamites child was dead, Elisha went and lay vpon him applying face to §35face, hand to hand, and foote to foote: and then his flesh waxed warme, and reuiued, 1. King. 4. 34. euen so applie thy selfe to Christ crucified, hand to hand, foote to foote, heart to heart; and thou shalt feele in thy selfe a death of sinne, and the heat of spirituall life to warme and inflame thy dead heart. Thirdly, if ⟨p. 143⟩thou beleeue thy selfe to be crucified with Christ, thou shalt see the lēgth, the breadth, the height, the depth of the loue of god in Christ. For thy sinnes are the swords, and the speares that crucified Christ: and yet thou hast all the benefit of his passion. Lastly, if thou canst beleeue that thou art crucified with Christ, thou shalt further be assured, that he is partner with §5thee in all thy miseries and afflictions, to ease thee, and to make thee to beare them. 1. Pet. 4. 13. Col. 1. 24
