The crucifying of the world

Direct. 2. Be sure to fix with a serious faith upon the Invisible glory as your portion: and then look at all things in this world, as good or bad, as they respect ⟨image 18⟩your end: and judge of them as they help or hinder you in the main. Nothing but a truly heavenly mind, is the saving cure of an earthly mind. No man will rightly let go earth, till he have the powerful Light that hath showed him the greater good, and given him a taste of the world to come. Had you not been strangers to God and heaven (in heart, whatever you were in tongue and fancy) you could never have so fallen in love with earth. None are so much disposed to travail into other Countries, as they that are fallen out with their own. Remember that you have not one penny or pennies worth in the world, but what you had from God, and must be accountable to God for; and must employ with an eye upon his will, and your salvation. I do not call you to cast away your Riches, but to see that you use all that ever you have, as will be most comfortable to you in your last review. I know, as Seneca saith, He is a wise man that can make use of earthen vessels, as if they were all silver: and he is wise too, that can make use of silver vessels as if they were but earth. Infirmi est animi pati non posse divitias: but its one thing to Bear Riches, and Use them for God, and another thing to Enjoy them with delight. I neither take the Monastics to be the only or the highest in perfection; nor yet do I condemn necessitated retirements. For I know it is hard to most to converse with God in tumults, and to hear the still voice of his Spirit, in the murmuring noise of a crowd: I know that the commons are usually more barren and fruitless then inclosures: and that the fruit-tree that groweth by the high-way side, shall have many a stone and cudgel thrown at it, which those that▪ are in your Orchard scape. But still look to your end, and secure the main: Dream not that you have any full Propriety: Remember that you are Gods Stewards. Set therefore your Masters name and not your own upon every penny-worth you possess: Let Holiness to the Lord be written upon all. Possess nothing but what ⟨image 18⟩is Devoted to him, to be used as he would have you. Put him not off with scraps and leavings, that gave you all. So much as you save from him, you lose, and worse then lose;