A26905:584
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 21 › Subsection
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.
4. IF you are Crucified to the world, then Let it not thrust out the service of God, and be made an excuse for a negligence in Religion. How rare are holy Meditations in the minds of many that think themselves Religious? And it is worldly Thoughts that thrust them out, and worldly businesses that are the common excuse. How formal are many in the Instructing of their families? how seldom and how coldly do they exhort their children or servants to make ready for death, and make sure of their salvation? How coldly and cursorily are family prayers and other duties slubbered over? And all is because they have other things to mind: the world will give them leave to do no more. The decay of zeal and diligence in family-duties, is the common symptom and cause too, of the destruction of knowledge and godliness in the Land. And all is because the world is Master, and must be served before God: The business of the world doth seem to them the principal business, and must first be done; and all thoughts and talk of Heaven must stand by, till the world will give them leave to enter. Men cannot have while to call upon God and instruct their families, because they have their worldly works to do. Go into the families of most Noblemen, Knights or Gentlemen in England, and see there whether God or the world be most regarded and looked after. Perhaps they may civilly yield an ••r while a Chaplain makes a short prayer among them: but if you look after heavenly mindedness, and seriousness in Religion, and zeal against sin, and diligence to help to save the souls that are under their charge, how little shall you find? Do they earnestly persuade their servants to study holy things? and do they examine them about their everlasting ⟨p. 183⟩state, and call them to account of what they learn from the public Ministry? Do they show a vehement hatred of sin, and go before their families in an heavenly conversation? Alas, how thin are such families as these! No, no: they are so taken up with entertaining their friends, and pampering their flesh, and in complements, and in worldly affairs, that they have little time for heavenly work: