The crucifying of the world

Another Benefit that followeth upon the former is this: We shall be far better able to suffer for Christ, because that sufferings will be much more easy to us, when once we are truly Crucified to the world. What is it that makes men so tender of suffering, and startle at the noise of it, and therefore conform themselves to the times they live in, and venture their souls to save their flesh? but only their over-valuing fleshly things, and not knowing the worth and weight of things everlasting. They have no soul within them but what is become carnal, by a base subjection to the flesh; and therefore they savour nothing but the things of the flesh. All Life desireth a suitable food for its sustentation. A Carnal Life within, hath a Carnal appetite, and is most sensible of the miss of Carnal commodities: But a Spiritual Life hath a Spiritual appetite: And as Carnal minds can easily let go Spiritual things; so a spiritual mind, so far as it is such, can easily let go carnal things, when God requireth it. When you are Dead to the world, you will easily part with it. For all things below will seem but small matters to you, in comparison of the things which they are put in competition with. If you are scorned, or accounted the off scouring of the Town, you can bear it; because with you it is a very small matter to be judged of man, 1 Cor. 4. 3. If you must endure abuses or persecutions for Christ, you can do it: because you reckon that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed, Rom. 8. 18. You can let go your gain, and account it loss for Christ; yea and account all things loss for the knowledge of him; and suffer the loss of all things for him, accounting them but as dung, that you may win him, Phil 3. 7, 8. If you knew that bonds and afflictions did abide you, yet none of these things would move you, neither would you account your life it self dear to you, so that you may finish your course with joy,