The crucifying of the world

Understand well the right use and end of all creatures, and make it your business accordingly to improve them. I have told you before that they are all for God, and glasses wherein we may see his face, and books in which we may read his Name and Will. Look after God in them; and never come to a creature, without either an actual or at least an habitual Intending of God, as the end thereof. Judge that creature unprofitable wherein you receive not somewhat of God, or do not somewhat for him by it. Take not up with lower thoughts and uses of it. Its one of the commonest and greatest sins, (and I doubt with most professors of Religion) to use the creature for themselves, and to over-look God in his works and in their mercies, and so to profane them, and turn them into sin. Do you understand what is meant by this, that, To the pure all things are pure; and that all things are sanctified to us? All should be Holy to Holy men. To be Holy is to be separated unto God, from common base inferior uses. If you your selves are separated to God, all creatures will be sanctified to you; they will be the Messengers of God, the revealers of his will, and his Remembrancers to your souls: And you will use them accordingly (in that measure as you are sanctified.) As we call the Temple and Utensils of Gods worship Holy, because they are devoted to God for his special service: So may we call our meat, and drink, and lands, and houses, our corn, and grass, and every plant, and flower Holy (in their places▪) When the sanctified soul doth read his Makers name upon them, and admire, and fear, and love him in them, and study how to use them for himself. You will confess that he is a profaner of Holy things indeed that can read over the Scripture, and never observe the name of God in it, or else regard it but as a common word, and use that Book but as a common Book. Though I do not equal the creatures with the Scriptures, in clearness or fullness of discovering the will of God, yet seeing that it also is one of his Books, (and that more legible and glorious then some inobservant wretches do believe) I would entreat all that fear God to lay this more to heart; ⟨p. 159⟩and to consider for the time to come, Whether it be not Profaneness, even flat Profaneness, to us• Gods works as common and unclean, and to over-look him, who is the life, and sense, and glory of them?

VNderstand well the right use and end of all creatures, and make it your business accordingly to improve them. I have told you before that they are all for God, and glasses wherein we may see his face, and books in which we may read his Name and Will. Look after God in them; and never come to a creature, without either an actuall or at least an habituall Intending of God, as the end thereof. Judge that creature unprofitable wherein you receive not somewhat of God, or do not somewhat for him by it. Take not up with lower thoughts and uses of it. Its one of the commonest and greatest sins, (and I doubt with most professors of Religion) to use the creature for themselves, and to over-look God in his works and in their mercies, and so to prophane them, and turn them into sin. Do you understand what is meant by this, that, To the pure all things are pure; and that all things are sanctified to us? All should be Holy to Holy men. To be Holy is to be separated unto God, from common base inferiour uses. If you your selves are separated to God, all creatures will be sanctified to you; they will be the Messengers of God, the revealers of his will, and his Remembrancers to your souls: And you will use them accordingly (in that measure as you are sanctified.) As we call the Temple and Utensils of Gods worship Holy, because they are devoted to God for his special service: So may we call our meat, and drink, and lands, and houses, our corn, and grass, and every plant, and flower Holy (in their places) When the sanctified soul doth read his Makers name upon them, and admire, and fear, and love him in them, and study how to use them for himself. You will confess that he is a prophaner of Holy things indeed that can read over the Scripture, and never observe the name of God in it, or else regard it but as a common word, and use that Book but as a common Book. Though I do not equal the creatures with the Scriptures, in clearness or fulness of discovering the will of God, yet seeing that it also is one of his Books, (and that more legible and glorious then some inobservant wretches do believe) I would intreate all that fear God to lay this more to heart;