A declaration of the true manner of knowing Christ crucified

As for our neighbours, those especially that are of Gods Church, they are to be known of us on this manner: When we are to do any duty unto them, we must not barely respect their persons, but Christ crucified in them, and them in Christ. When Paul persecuted such as called on the name of Christ, he then from heaved cried, Saul, Saul, Why per secutest thou me? Here then let this be marked, that when the poor comes to us for relief, it is Christ that comet to our doors and saith, I am hungry, I am thirsty, I am naked: and let the bowels of compassion be in us towards them as towards Christ, unless we will hear that fearful sentence in the day of judgement, Go ye cursed into hell, &c. I was ⟨p. 23⟩hungry, and ye fed me not: I was naked, and ye did not clothe me, &c.

As for our neighbours, those especially that are of Gods Church, they are to be knowen of us on this manner: When wee are to doe any duty unto them, wee must not barely respect their persons, but Christ crucified in them, and them in Christ. When Paul persecuted such as called on the name of Christ, he then from heaued cryed, Saul, Saul, Why per secutest thou me? Here then let this be marked, that when the poore comes to vs for releefe, it is Christ that comet to our dores and saith, I am hungry, I am thirstie, I am naked: and let the bowells of compassion be in vs towardes them as towardes Christ, vnlesse wee will heare that fearefull sentence in the day of iudgement, Goe yee cursed into hell, &c. I vvas ⟨p. 23⟩hungry, and yee fedde me not: I vvas naked, and yee did not cloath me, &c.

Thirdly, the right knowledge of our selves ariseth of the knowledge of Christ crucified, in whom and by whom we come to know five special things of our selves. The first, how grievous our sins are, and therefore how miserable we are in regard of them. If we consider our offences in them-selves, and as they are in us, we may soon be deceived, because the conscience being corrupted often erreth in giving testimony, and by that means maketh sin to appear less then it is indeed. But if sin be considered in the death and passion of Christ, whereof it was the cause, and the vileness thereof measured by the unspeakable torments endured by the son of God: and if the greatness of the offence of man be esteemed by the endless satisfaction made to the justice of God, the least sin that is will appear to be a sin indeed, and that most grievous and ugly. Therefore Christ crucified must be used of us as a mirror or looking glass, in which we may fully take a view of our wretchedness and misery, and what we are by nature. For such as the passion of Christ was in the eyes of men, such is