The crucifying of the world

I speak only to the guilty: and for Evidence of the fact, I need none but your Consciences, seeing it is only to your Consciences that I accuse you, which are acquainted, or should be, with the whole. But lest Conscience it self should be bribed and corrupted, I shall, besides all that is before said, produce a little Evidence more.

1. If indeed the world be Crucified to you, what meaneth your eager pursuit after it? Are not your thoughts contriving for it, and your wit and interest all improved for it? Are not those taken for your chief friends, that further your advancement or worldly Ends? and those for your chief enemies that hinder it most? Is it not in your mind in the night when you awake, and in the day when you are alone? Do you not rise earlier for your worldly business, then for prayer or any holy exercise? Ask your family whether you do not oftener call them up to work then to pray? and whether you drive them not on harder to your own service then to Gods? and whether you examine them not strictlyer about your business, then about the matters that their salvation doth depend upon? and whether you be not more deeply offended with them for crossing your commodity, then for sinning against God? Ask your neighbours whether you talk not with them many hours of worldly vanities, for one hours serious discourse about the life to come? What a stir do poor men make to be rich, or to live in some content to the flesh, and what a stir do rich men make to be richer, or to keep that they have; and yet have they the face to pretend that they are Crucified to the world?

1. If indeed the world be Crucified to you, what meaneth your eager pursuit after it? Are not your thoughts contriving for it, and your wit and interest all improved for it? Are not those taken for your chief friends, that further your advancement or worldly Ends? and those for your chief enemies that hinder it most? Is it not in your mind in the night when you awake, and in the day when you are alone? Do you not rise earlyer for your worldly business, then for prayer or any holy exercise? Ask your family whether you do not ofter call them up to work then to pray? and whether you drive them not on harder to your own service then to Gods? and whether you examine them not strictlyer about your business, then about the matters that their salvation doth depend upon? and whether you be not more deeply offended with them for crossing your commodity, then for sinning against God? Ask your neighbours whether you talk not with them many hours of worldly vanities, for one hours serious discourse about the life to come? What a stir do poor men make to be rich, or to live in some content to the flesh, and what a stir do rich men make to be richer, or to keep that they have; and yet have they the face to pretend that they are Crucified to the world?