Having said this much to you for the Crucifying the world, and the using it as a Crucified thing; I shall here briefly enumerate some of the great benefits, which will follow to your selves where this is done. And this I shall do in order to these two ends conjunctly. 1. That those to whom the world is crucified may lay to heart the greatness of the mercy, & be thankful to God that hath done so much for them. There is the greater need of encouragement and comfort to the soul, in our Crucifixion to the world, because it is a state of so much suffering to the body, and a work that requireth so much self-denial and patience. Who will be persuaded to cast all over-board, and forsake all the pleasures and profits of this world, but he that knows of somewhat ⟨p. 203⟩to be got by it that will make him a gainer or a saver in the end? No man will incur so great a loss, and cast himself upon a life of troubles, without some considerable benefit to encourage him. And in the conflict, the heart will be ready to fail, if we have not a cordial at hand for its refreshment. As Christ himself must have an Angel in his agony to comfort him, and when consolation is withdrawn by God, doth feel himself as one forsaken: So all his members in their Crucifixion, have need of these reviving Messengers of God, that seeing the ends and benefits of their sufferings, they may be able to resign their natural wills in a full submission to the will of God, and so to persevere and conquer in their sufferings. They have need of a believing consideration of the Benefits, that they may be daily and hourly furnished against temptations, and may bear those losses and abuses from men, even to the laying down of life, and all things in this world, which flesh and blood is so exceedingly against. He that believeth the faithfulness of the promiser, will hold fast the profession of his faith without wavering, Heb. 10. 23. And he that believeth the recompense of Reward, will not cast away his confidence, Heb. 10. 35. He that knoweth in himself that he hath in heaven a better and more enduring substance, will endure the greatest fight of afflictions, becoming a gazing stock by reproaches and afflictions, and becoming a companion of them that are so used; and will take joyfully the spoiling of his worldly goods, Heb. 10. 32, 33, 34.
HAving said this much to you for the Crucifying the world, and the using it as a Crucified thing; I shall here briefly enumerate some of the great benefits, which will follow to your selves where this is done. And this I shall do in order to these two ends conjunctly. 1. That those to whom the world is crucified may lay to heart the greatness of the mercy, & be thankful to God that hath done so much for them. There is the greater need of encouragement and comfort to the soul, in our Crucifixion to the world, because it is a state of so much suffering to the body, and a work that requireth so much self-denyal and patience. Who will be perswaded to cast all over-board, and forsake all the pleasures and profits of this world, but he that knows of somewhat ⟨p. 203⟩to be got by it that will make him a gainer or a saver in the end? No man will incur so great a loss, and cast himself upon a life of troubles, without some considerable benefit to encourage him. And in the conflict, the heart will be ready to fail, if we have not a cordial at hand for its refreshment. As Christ himself must have an Angel in his agony to comfort him, and when consolation is withdrawn by God, doth feel himself as one forsaken: So all his members in their Crucifixion, have need of these reviving Messengers of God, that seeing the ends and benefits of their sufferings, they may be able to resign their natural wills in a full submission to the will of God, and so to persevere and conquer in their sufferings. They have need of a believing consideration of the Benefits, that they may be daily and hourly furnished against temptations, and may bear those losses and abuses from men, even to the laying down of life, and all things in this world, which flesh and blood is so exceedingly against. He that believeth the faithfulness of the promiser, will hold fast the profession of his faith without wavering, Heb. 10. 23. And he that believeth the recompence of Reward, will not cast away his confidence, Heb. 10. 35. He that knoweth in himself that he hath in heaven a better and more enduring substance, will endure the greatest fight of afflictions, becoming a gazing stock by reproaches and afflictions, and becoming a companion of them that are so used; and will take joyfully the spoyling of his worldly goods, Heb. 10. 32, 33, 34.
