The crucifying of the world

You see then I hope sufficient reason why the world must be abhorred and crucified, when it is made an Idol, and would become our God; and why this Crucifixion of it is of absolute indispensable necessity to salvation. If it had kept its place and distance, and would have been only a stream from the infinite power, and wisdom, and goodness, and a Messenger to bring us the report of his excellencies, and a book in which we might read his name, and a glass in which we might see his face, then might we have esteemed and magnified it: But when the Devil and the flesh will make it their bait to draw away our hearts from God, and to steal that love, desire, and care, which is due to him, and begin to tell us of Rest, or Satisfaction, or Felicity here, its time to cry out, Crucify it, crucify it. When it would insinuate it self into our bosom, and get next our hearts, and have our most delightful and frequent thoughts, and become so dear to us, that we cannot be without it; when it is the very thing that our minds are bent upon, and that lifts us up when we have it, and ⟨p. 14⟩casts us down when we want it; and thus disposeth of our affections and endeavours, its time to lay such an Idol in the dust, and to cast out such a Traitor with the greatest detestation. As we our selves shall be exalted if we humble our selves, and brought low if we exalt our selves; so must we cast down the world when it would exalt it self in our esteem, and the right exaltation of it is by the lowest subjecting of it unto God. For whoever hath to deal with Infinite Power, must think of no other way of exaltation.

You see then I hope sufficient reason why the world must be abhorred and crucified, when it is made an Idol, and would become our God; and why this Crucifixion of it is of absolute indispensable necessity to salvation. If it had kept its place and distance, and would have been only a stream from the infinite power, and wisdom, and goodness, and a Messenger to bring us the report of his excellencies, and a book in which we might read his name, and a glass in which we might see his face, then might we have esteemed and magnified it: But when the Devil and the flesh will make it their bait to draw away our hearts from God, and to steal that love, desire, and care, which is due to him, and begin to tell us of Rest, or Satisfaction, or Felicity here, its time to cry out, Crucifie it, crucifie it. When it would insinuate it self into our bosom, and get next our hearts, and have our most delightfull and frequent thoughts, and become so dear to us, that we cannot be without it; when it is the very thing that our minds are bent upon, and that lifts us up when we have it, and