A26905:358
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 › Application 1: Use 1.
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.
2. It is the End of Christ, his Cross and Doctrine, to Heal us, and to save us: to Heal us of our sin, and to save us from it, and its destroying fruits. But by sanctification, and so by mortification, doth Christ thus Heal and Save us. If health be worth nothing, the Physician and all his Physic is worth nothing. The Health of the soul objectively is God, and formally is its Holiness, or perfect Disposedness, and Devotedness to God, of which anon. These therefore doth Christ come to restore: And therefore he comes to call us off the Creature, and bring our affections back to God.
2. It is the End of Christ, his Cross and Doctrine, to Heal us, and to save us: to Heal us of our sin, and to save us from it, and its destroying fruits. But by sanctification, and so by mortification, doth Christ thus Heal and Save us. If health be worth nothing, the Physician and all his Physick is worth nothing. The Health of the soul objectively is God, and formally is its Holiness, or perfect Disposedness, and Devotedness to God, of which anon. These therefore doth Christ come to restore: And therefore he comes to call us off the Creature, and bring our affections back to God.
3. It is the End of Christ, his Cross and Doctrine, to conquer Satan and destroy his works, and with him, the rest of the enemies of God, and of our salvation: But the world is one of these enemies, and the Means by which the Devil doth prevail▪ therefore it is Christs End to overcome the World, and cast it out of the hearts of men, Luk. 11. 22. Joh. 16. 33. 1 Joh. 3. 5, 8. He was manifested to this end, to take away our sins, and destroy the works of the Devil: And therefore he causeth his followers to overcome him, 1 Joh. 2. 13, 14. And herewithal observe, that it is essential to the Relation to respect the End; to the Physician, that he be for the health of the Patient: and to Christ the Redeemer, that he be the Saviour of his People from their sins, and the Restorer of their souls to the Love of God: So that Christ is denied and made no Christ, where Mortification, and Sanctification are denied: He is not believed in as Christ, where he is not believed in for these Ends. And therefore he that cometh not with this intent to Christ, that he may restore the Image of God upon him, and bring him off from the Creature unto God, that he may live