The crucifying of the world

4. The next part of your Guilt is, that you have perverted the use of all the creatures, and turned the Works and Mercies of God against himself. He gave them all to you, to lead you to himself, and to furnish you for his service. He made this world to be a Glass in which you might see the Maker, and a Book in which you might read his Name and will. And will you overlook him, and forget the end and use of all? What shame and pity is it that men should live in the world, and not know the use of it! That they should see such a beauteous frame, and not understand its principal signification! That they should daily converse with so many creatures, which all proclaim the name of God, and with one accord declare his praise, and yet that this language should be so little understood? Like an illiterate man in a Library, that seeth many thousand Books, and knows not a word that is in any of them. Or like an ignorant man in an Apothecaries shop, that seeth the drugs, but knoweth not what they are good for, nor how to use any of them, if he had the greatest need. The poorest cottage and smallest pittance of these earthly things might be a greater Blessing to you, if you could understand their use and meaning, then all the world would be to him that understands it not. Your possessions in themselves, if you have not ⟨p. 109⟩God in them, are but the very corpse or carcass of a blessing! The Life of them is wanting! And without the Life, they will but trouble you: For you have the burden without the use. Your horse will carry you, while he hath life and health; but take away his life once, and you must carry him if you will have him any further. Verily it is no wiser a trick to make a stir in the world, and seek the profits and pleasures of it, without God, or any otherwise then as they are animated by God, then it is to ride a dead horse, where you may spur long enough before you are one mile further on your way. While your friend is living you may delightfully converse with him: but when he is dead you will have little pleasure in his company: the corpse of the most learned man will actively teach you no more then a block.

4. The next part of your Guilt is, that you have perverted the use of all the creatures, and turned the Works and Mercies of God against himself. He gave them all to you, to lead you to himself, and to furnish you for his service. He made this world to be a Glass in which you might see the Maker, and a Book in which you might read his Name and will. And will you overlook him, and forget the end and use of all? What shame and pitty is it that men should live in the world, and not know the use of it! That they should see such a beauteous frame, and not understand its principal signification! That they should daily converse with so many creatures, which all proclaim the name of God, and with one accord declare his praise, and yet that this language should be so little understood? Like an illiterate man in a Library, that seeth many thousand Books, and knows not a word that is in any of them. Or like an ignorant man in an Apothecaries shop, that seeth the drugs, but knoweth not what they are good for, nor how to use any of them, if he had the greatest need. The poorest cottage and smallest pittance of these earthly things might be a greater Blessing to you, if you could understand their use and meaning, then all the world would be to him that understands it not. Your possessions in themselves, if you have not