The crucifying of the world

Truly Brethren, all that we have to do with the world in a separated sense, as without God, is such a game, a dream, a show. When Scholars are thus studying their Physics or Mathematics, or any thing of the creature, as separated from God, ⟨p. 21⟩yea, or as not studying God in that creature, they are but playing the children and fools: they are like a Printer that cannot read, (if there were such a man) that studieth how to shape his letters, when he knoweth not what a letter meaneth. When they are disputing in the Schools about Gods works, in this separated sort, as without God, they are busily playing the idiots, and taking the name of God in vain, and making a learned stir about nothing.

Truly Brethren, all that we have to do with the world in a separated sense, as without God, is such a game, a dream, a shew. When Schollars are thus studying their Physicks or Mathematicks, or any thing of the creature, as separated from God, ⟨p. 21⟩yea, or as not studying God in that creature, they are but playing the children and fools: they are like a Printer that cannot read, (if there were such a man) that studyeth how to shape his letters, when he knoweth not what a letter meaneth. When they are disputing in the Schools about Gods works, in this separated sort, as without God, they are busily playing the ideots, and taking the name of God in vain, and making a learned stir about nothing.

And here I pray you mark the different successes of a sensual, and of a sanctified study and knowledge. The first sinner by seeking to know and enjoy the creature in a separated sort, did lose God who was his All, and made the creature his All, and thereby as to its signification and principal use, did to himself annihilate it. And in this path do all his posterity walk, till faith recover them; and this is their vain show, and their living without God in the world. But when faith hath opened a mans eyes, and showed him God in every creature, who was hid from him before, then is the creature who was before his All, annihilated to him in that separated sense, and God becomes his All again: and this annihilation of the creature, is indeed its restoration, objectively to its primitive nature and use; and it was not indeed known or respected as a creature till now. So that sensual men, by making the creature an imaginary God, or chiefest Good, or All, do make it indeed objectively to become Nothing: and so their All, their God, their felicity is Nothing; and so all their life is a Nothing. When as the faithful by Crucifying or Annihilating the creature, as it would appear a felicity to us, or any Good, as separated from God, do restore it to its true objective being and use, by returning to God who is truly All; and in whom the creature is a Derived Imperfect something, and out of whom it is indeed a Nothing.