The crucifying of the world

THE Method which I shall observe as fittest for your Edification in handling this Doctrine is this. 1. I shall more fully show you Negatively what it is not, and Affirmatively what it is, to have the world Crucified to us, and to be Crucified to the world. 2. I shall show you, How this is wrought by the Cross of Christ. 3. I shall give you the Reasons, which prove that so it is. 4. I shall give you the Reasons why it must be so. 5. I shall make application of this first part of the Doctrine. And then handle the latter part as time shall permit.

THE Method which I shall observe as fittest for your Edification in handling this Doctrine is this. 1. I shall more fully shew you Negatively what it is not, and Affirmatively what it is, to have the world Crucified to us, and to be Crucified to the world. 2. I shall shew you, How this is wrought by the Cross of Christ. 3. I shall give you the Reasons, which prove that so it is. 4. I shall give you the Reasons why it must be so. 5. I shall make application of this first part of the Doctrine. And then handle the latter part as time shall permit.

I. There are few Doctrines of faith, or ways of holiness, but have their extremes, which men will reel into from side to side, when few will consist in the Sacred mean. The purblind world cannot cut by so small a thread, as the word of God directeth them to do, and as all must do that will be conducted into Truth. We have much ado to take men off these vanities; but yet when many of them are convinced, and see that the world must be cast aside, they mistake the nature of holy mortification, and embrace instead of it some superstitious and cynical conceits; in which they are as fast bemired almost as they were before. I shall therefore first tell you what is not the Crucifixion which we are to treat of.

I. THere are few Doctrines of faith, or waies of holiness, but have their extreams, which men will reel into from side to side, when few will consist in the Sacred mean. The purblind world cannot cut by so small a thred, as the word of God directeth them to do, and as all must do that will be conducted into Truth. We have much ado to take men off these vanities; but yet when many of them are convinced, and see that the world must be cast aside, they mistake the nature of holy mortification, and embrace instead of it some superstitious and cynicall conceits; in which they are as fast bemired almost as they were before. I shall therefore first tell you what is not the Crucifixion which we are to treate of.