A26905:343
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 12 › The Uses.
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.
The Uses.
Beloved Hearers, I suppose you will give me leave to take it for granted, that you are all the rational creatures of God, made subject to him, and capable of enjoying him, and such as must be happy or miserable for ever: as also that you are all unwilling to be miserable, and willing to be happy; and that this life is the time for the use of those means on which your everlasting life dependeth; and that Judgement will turn the scales at last, as Grace or Sin shall turn them now. I hope also that I may suppose that you are agreed that Christianity is the only way to happiness, and consequently that you are all professed Christians. And one would think that where men are so far satisfied of the End and of the Way, we might conceive great hopes of their sincerity and salvation. But when we see that mens lives do nullify their professions, and that while they look towards God, they row towards the world, and while they Hope for Heaven, their daily travel is towards Hell, and while they plead for Christ, they work against him, our Hopes of them are turned to necessary lamentation. But how comes this to pass that reasonable men, yea men reputed wise and learned, yea many that seem Religious to others and to themselves, should be so shamefully over seen, in a matter that so concerneth their everlasting state? As far as I am able to discover, the causes of this Calamity are these two.
BEloved Hearers, I suppose you will give me leave to take it for granted, that you are all the rational creatures of God, made subject to him, and capable of enjoying him, and such as must be happy or miserable for ever: as also that you are all unwilling to be miserable, and willing to be happy; and that this life is the time for the use of those means on which your everlasting life dependeth; and that Judgement will turn the scales at last, as Grace or Sin shall turn them now. I hope also that I may suppose that you are agreed that Christianity is the only way to happiness, and consequently that you are all professed Christians. And one would think that where men are so far satisfied of the End and of the Way, we might conceive great hopes of their sincerity and salvation. But when we see that mens lives do nullifie their professions, and that while they look towards God, they row towards the world, and while they Hope for Heaven, their daily travel is towards Hell, and while they plead for Christ, they work against him, our Hopes of them are turned to necessary lamentation. But how comes this to pass that reasonable men, yea men reputed wise and learned, yea many that seem Religious to others and to themselves, should be so shamefully over seen, in a matter that so concerneth their everlasting state? As far as I am able to discover, the causes of this Calamity are these two.