The crucifying of the world

The Doctrine of Christ doth lead us from the world, in these several parts of it, and by these steps (How the Cross doth it, I showed before.) 1. It declareth to us what God is, and what man is: and so that God is our absolute Owner, and Governor: and that he is the only Primitive, simply, necessary being; and that man was made by him, and therefore for him, and disposed to him. 2. It declareth to us that the state of our integrity consisted in this closure of the soul with God. 3. It showeth us that our felicity consisteth in his Love, and in the fruition of him by a mutual complacency. 4. It showeth us that our first sin was by turning from him to Carnal self and to the world 5. And that this is our lost estate wherein both sin and misery are conjunct, to Adhere to self and Creatures and to depart from God. 6. It showeth us what Christ hath done and suffered, to Reconcile God to us, and open us a way of admission into his presence, and how far God is Reconciled to us; and thus Revealeth him in the face of a Mediator as Amiable to our souls, that so we might be capable of loving him, and closing with him again. For if he had remained in his wrath, he would have been the object of our hatred, or mere terror at least, and not of our Love. And no man can Love him that is not presented to him, and apprehended by him as Lovely, that is, as Good. For it is impossible that there should be an act without its proper object. Nothing but appearing Good is Loved. If a lost condemned sinner have no hope given him of Gods Reconciliation or his willingness to receive him to mercy, it is (ex parte objecti) an impossible thing that the mind of that sinner should be reconciled to God. And therefore the Gospel publisheth Gods Reconciliation to sinners (viz. his universal Conditional Reconciliation) before it beseech them to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20. And before they believe, we cannot give any one man the least assurance that God is any more reconciled to him, then to others that are unconverted, or that he is any willinger to Receive him, then others.

The Doctrine of Christ doth lead us from the world, in these several parts of it, and by these steps (How the Cross doth it, I shewed before.) 1. It declareth to us what God is, and what man is: and so that God is our absolute Owner, and Governour: and that he is the only Primitive, simply, necessary being; and that man was made by him, and therefore for him, and disposed to him. 2. It declareth to us that the state of our integrity consisted in this closure of the soul with God. 3. It sheweth us that our selicity consisteth in his Love, and in the fruition of him by a mutual complacency. 4. It sheweth us that our first sin was by turning from him to Carnal self and to the world 5. And that this is our lost estate wherein both sin and misery are conjunct, to Adhere to self and Creatures and to depart from God. 6. It sheweth us what Christ hath done and suffered, to Reconcile God to us, and open us a way of admission into his presence, and how far God is Reconciled to us; and thus Revealeth him in the face of a Mediater as Amiable to our souls, that so we might be capable of loving him, and closing with him again. For if he had remained in his wrath, he would have been the object of our hatred, or meer terrour at least, and not of our Love. And no man can Love him that is not presented to him, and apprehended by him as Lovely, that is, as Good. For it is impossible that there should be an act without its proper object. Nothing but appearing Good is Loved. If a lost condemned sinner have no hope given him of Gods Reconciliation or his willingness to receive him to mercy, it is (ex parte objecti) an impossible thing that the mind of that sinner should be reconciled to God. And therefore the Gospel publisheth Gods Reconcilation to sinners (viz. his universal Conditional Reconciliation) before it beseech them to be reconciled to God,