The crucifying of the world

I cannot but understand, that I am like to be an unwelcome Messenger to you, that come on such an ungrateful errand. If I came as the Levellers or Quakers, to cry down your pride and worldliness, with such mixtures of distraction as might make you laugh at me as a self-conceited fantastical person, perhaps it would trouble you less to hear me. For you look on them as histrionical actors. Quakers do but jest with you, or harden you by their vanity: But we are in good sadness, and God himself is in good sadness with you. We must have your worldly Interest out of the very hearts of you; Christ will have your heart blood for it, if he shall not have it.

I cannot but understand, that I am like to be an unwelcome Messenger to you, that come on such an ungratefull errand. If I came as the Levellers or Quakers, to cry down your pride and worldliness, with such mixtures of destraction as might make you laugh at me as a self-conceited fantasticall person, perhaps it would trouble you less to hear me. For you look on them as histrionicall actors. Quakers do but jest with you, or harden you by their vanity: But we are in good sadness, and God himself is in good sadness with you. We must have your worldly Interest out of the very hearts of you; Christ will have your heart blood for it, if he shall not have it.

And here you may see, that it is no wonder if the serious faithful Ministers of Christ, be men detested by most of the world, even of professed Christians themselves. For alas, what an errand is it that God doth send upon! If I should take the Crown from the Princes head, and tread it in the dirt, what must I expect! If I came to take away your honours, or your estates, your houses, lands, or moneys; What must I expect! Do you not prosecute and hang Thieves for robbing you of some of these! Why though I do less in some respects, it is more that I am sent to do in other respects. Though we take not the Princes Crown from his head, we must take it from his heart. Though we take ⟨p. 127⟩not your money out of you• purses, nor your goods out of your houses, nor your houses out of your possessions, we must attempt to take them all out of your hearts. No wonder then if we be hated of all such; For at the heart it is that the world is sweetest to you: there it is nearest and dearest to you: and there is your carnal Interest deepest rooted. To be let blood in the very heart, will be more grievous to you then in the hand. And yet so it must be, that the heart blood of worldly Interest may be let out, in the Crucifying of it, as the world did let out the heartblood of Christ. What are all your suits at this Assize about! but against one man that robbed you of your money! against another that took your cattle! against another that would deprive you of your estate! and against another that hath wounded your Honour and Reputation! and another that some how provoked you to revenge by contradicting your will. What wonder then if you should all turn your spleen against me, that would take not one of these, but all, and that from you all, and that from your very hearts. The flesh would be all, and have all; or else it were not the chiefest Idol: No marvel then if it storm, when we would take all from it.