The crucifying of the world

And what less doth that man do that would have his prerogative given to the creature? and so would have the creature to be God? If God be not the chief Good, he is not God. And if he be not chiefly to be esteemed and loved, he is not the chief Good. What then doth that man do, but deny God to be God, that denieth him his highest esteem and love? And certainly he that giveth it to any creature, denieth it to God. For there can be but ⟨p. 62⟩one Chief, and but one God. They take him down therefore as much as in them lieth, that set up another. So also, if God be not the Sovereign Ruler of all, he is not God. And there can be but one Sovereign. What less then do they do, that deny him his sovereignty, then deny him to be God. And he that maketh the flesh or world his sovereign, denieth God to be his sovereign; because there can be but one, especially seeing also that their commands are contrary. I beseech you therefore Sirs be not so unwise as to think that this Mortification or Crucifying of the world, is only the perfection, or higher pitch of some Believers, and not the common state of all. Do not imagine that your selves, or any other can be true Christians without it. You may as well think that that man should be saved that is a flat Atheist, and denieth God, and renounceth him, as that a worldling should be saved: And he that is not dead to the world, is a worldling. If any one piece of Reformation be essential to a true Christian, it is this. It is as possible for a Turk, or an Infidel to be saved, as one that is not dead to the world; Yea the case of these is more desperate, if more can be: for they have not the like means of information (ordinarily) as our worldly Professors have: what can any Persecutor or Idolater do more, then set against God, and set up his enemies? And so doth every worldling, while he denieth God his esteem and chiefest Love, and giveth it to the pleasures and profits of this life. I beseech you be not so weak as to dream, that God is nothing but a bare name or title, or that you deny not God, if you refuse not to call him God; or that none are Atheists that speak God fair, and give him all his titles. Or that none are impious that give him good words. It is the thing, and not the bare words, the description of God (such as we are capable of) and not bare names, that we must enquire of.

And what less doth that man do that would have his prerogative given to the creature? and so would have the creature to be God? If God be not the chief Good, he is not God. And if he be not chiefly to be esteemed and loved, he is not the chief Good. What then doth that man do, but deny God to be God, that denyeth him his highest esteem and love? And certainly he that giveth it to any creature, denyeth it to God. For there can be but