A26905:500
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 19
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.
They that applaud you in prosperity, and when you fit their turns, will despise you in adversity, and rage against you, as if you were unworthy to live, when once you cross their opinions and desires. If you are so puffed up that you love the praise of men, perhaps God may make you run the gantlope through town and country, and suffer every venomous tongue to speak swords to your heart, and have a lash at your reputation; till you have learned to stand to Gods approbation, and to account it a small thing to be Judged of man.
They that applaud you in prosperity, and when you fit their turns, will despise you in adversity, and rage against you, as if you were unworthy to live, when once you cross their opinions and desires. If you are so puft up that you love the praise of men, perhaps God may make you run the gantlope through town and countrey, and suffer every venemous tongue to speak swords to your heart, and have a lash at your reputation; till you have learned to stand to Gods approbation, and to account it a small thing to be Judged of man.
Yea if it be reputation with Godly men that you dote upon, its possible that the tongues even of godly men may become your scourge. Sometimes their ears lie open to the slanders that worser men have raised, and they think it no great sin to report the reproaches which they have heard from others: And sometime through Temptations and the remnant of their corruptions, they are ready to be the principal authors themselves. If you differ from them in any opinion in which they expect reputation themselves, or if you contradict them, or stand in the way of ⟨p. 142⟩their sinful designs and ends, o• any way diminish their honour with men, you may possibly find that you had but a slippery standing in their esteem. Even godly men in passion may offer you as base indignities as others, and may tread down your desired reputation the more successfully, by how much their credit is stronger then other mens, to carry on their reports. For if one that is esteemed godly do accuse you, the most will think they are obliged to believe it, & to say, [Such or such a godly person spoke it] doth seem to many enough to warrant the spreading of the falsest reports to your disgrace.