A26905:314
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 8 › Subsection
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.
1. It bringeth us under the actual promise of the Spirit: For though there be a work of the Spirit, which causeth us to Believe, before our actual faith in nature, yet the further gift of the Spirit for Mortification, is promised upon Condition of our faith. And upon the performance of that Condition, we have right to the thing promised. It is by faith that we fetch strength from Christ for the conquest of this and all other enemies. If we could believe, these mountains would be cast into the Sea; and all things are possible to us, if we could believe, Mark 9. 23.
2. The believing Meditation of the Cross of Christ, doth make us apprehensive of the Vanity and Enmity of the world, and so doth kill our esteem of it, and affection to it. For when we consider how little Christ did set by it, and how he made it his work professedly to contemn it, this will tell us how to think of it our selves. For doubtless the judgement of Christ was true: He was able to discern between good and evil: If it had been valuable, he would have valued it. He would not have contemned it, if it had not been contemptible. He could have had better usage in the world, if he had desired it, and thought it meet. But he would show us by his Example as well as by his Doctrine, how to judge of it, and what to expect from it. If you saw the wisest man in the world tread a thing under feet in the dirt, or throw it away, you would think it were a thing of no great worth.
2. The believing Meditation of the Cross of Christ, doth make us apprehensive of the Vanity and Enmity of the world, and so doth kill our esteem of it, and affection to it. For when we consider how little Christ did set by it, and how he made it his work professedly to contemn it, this will tell us how to think of it our selves. For doubtless the judgement of Christ was true: He was able to discern between good and evil: If it had been valuable, he would have valued it. He would not have contemned it, if it had not been contemptible. He could have had better usage in the world, if he had desired it, and thought it meet. But he would shew us by his Example as well as by his Doctrine, how to judge of it, and what to expect from it. If you saw the wisest man in the world tread a thing under feet in the dirt, or throw it away, you would think it were a thing of no great worth.