A26905:405
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 17
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.
Honourable, Worshipful, and all well beloved, it is a weighty1 employment that occasioneth your meeting here to day. The estates and lives of men are in your hands. But it is another kind of Judgement which you are all hasting towards: when Judges and Justices, the Accusers and Accused must all appear upon equal terms, for the final decision of a far greater Cause. The case that is then & there to be determined, is not whether you shall have Lands or no Lands, Life or no Life; (in our natural sense;) but whether you shall have Heaven or Hell, Salvation or Damnation, an endless life of Glory with God, and the Redeemer, and the Angles of Heaven, or an endless life of Torment with devils and ungodly men. As sure as you now s•t on those seats, you shall shortly all appear before the Judge of all the world, and there receive an irreversible sentence to an unchangeable state of Happiness or Misery. This is the great business that should presently call up your most serious thoughts, and set all the powers of your souls on work for the most effectual preparation: that if you are men, you may quit your selves like men, for the preventing of that dreadful doom which unprepared souls must there expect. The greatest of your secular affairs are but dreams and toys to this: Were you at every Assize to determine causes of no lower value then the Crowns and Kingdoms of the Monarchs of the earth, it were but as children's games to this. If any man of you believe not this, he is worse then the Devil that tempteth him to unbelief: and let him know that unbelief is no prevention, nor will put off the day, or hinder his appearance; but ascertain his condemnation at that appearance. And if you all do believe this▪ you will sure be content that I speak to you of it as one that also do believe it. Faith is the evidence of things not seen: by it we may fore see the Judgement set, the world appearing, and your selves there waiting for your final doom. And because we clearly find before-hand, who then shall die and who shall live, I shall desire of you that you would presently improve the discovery. Some think we cannot know in this life what will become of us in the next: But God hath not bid us try in vain, nor in vain delivered ⟨p. 95⟩us so many signs, by which it may be known, nor is the difference between the saved and the damned so small as to be undiscernible.