A26905:195
The crucifying of the world
The crucifying of the world by the cross of Christ with a preface to the nobles, gentlemen, and all the rich, directing them how they may be richer / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R. W. for Nevill Simmons, 1658
The Crucifying of the world, BY The Cross of CHRIST. › Part 1 › Section 3
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
More particularly; though it be but one and the same thing which they all import, yet I think it may the better insinuate into your understandings, if I present it to you in these various notions.
1. As the creature would be mans felicity, or any part of his true felicity, so is it to be hated, resisted and crucified. If the world would know its own place, it might be esteemed and used ⟨p. 11⟩in its place; but if it will needs pretend to be what it is not, and will promise to do what it cannot, and so would not only be used but enjoyed, we must take it for a deceiver, and rise up against it with the greatest detestation. For else it will be the certain damnation of our souls. For he that hath a wrong End, is wrong in all the means; and doth much worse then lose his labour in every step of his way. It is the greatest and most pernicious error in the world, to mistake in our very end, and about our chiefest good. When once the world would seem to be your home, and promiseth you content and satisfaction, and is indeed the condition that you would have; so that you do not heartily and desirously look any further, but would with all your heart take this for your portion, if you knew but how to keep it when you have it, and begin to say, It is good to be here; and with that stigmatized fool [soul take thy rest] then hath the world perniciously deceived you, and if you be not effectually recovered, will be your everlasting ruin. Whatever it be that presenteth it self to you (of this world) as your felicity, is to be hated, opposed and crucified.
1. As the creature would be mans felicity, or any part of his true felicity, so is it to be hated, resisted and crucified. If the world would know its own place, it might be esteemed and used ⟨p. 11⟩in its place; but if it will needs pretend to be what it is not, and will promise to do what it cannot, and so would not only be used but enjoyed, we must take it for a deceiver, and rise up against it with the greatest detestation. For else it will be the certain damnation of our souls. For he that hath a wrong End, is wrong in all the means; and doth much worse then lose his labour in every step of his way. It is the greatest and most pernicious errour in the world, to mistake in our very end, and about our chiefest good. When once the world would seem to be your home, and promiseth you content and satisfaction, and is indeed the condition that you would have; so that you do not heartily and desirously look any further, but would with all your heart take this for your portion, if you knew but how to keep it when you have it, and begin to say, It is good to be here; and with that stigmatized fool [soul take thy rest] then hath the world perniciously deceived you, and if you be not effectually recovered, will be your everlasting ruine. Whatever it be that presenteth it self to you (of this world) as your felicity, is to be hated, opposed and crucified.