A26905:715
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 2 › Section 24: Use 1.
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.
3. Was it not the very end of Christs death to save his people from their sins? Mat. 1. 21. and to bring them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God? Acts 26. 18. and did he not give himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and sanctify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, Ti•. 2. 14. Did he not therefore die for all, that they which Live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him that dyed for them, and rose again? 2 Cor. 5. 15.] [When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.] To what end? • For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the Father, and the knowledge of the •on of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that henceforth we be no more children, &c. • • Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it, and cleanse it by the washing of water, by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such t•ing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. • Abundance of such passages in Scripture do assure us that the Holiness of the Saints was the End that Christ intended in his death. If therefore you teach men that they must not look at the En•, in effect you •each them that they must not look at the Means▪ •f they must not rejoice in the fruits of Christs death, they must not rejoice in his ⟨p. 229⟩death it self: For in it self considered, his death was not matter of Joy, but of Sorrow: but it is for the sake of the effects that we must rejoice in it. It is a dishonour to the sufferings and merits of Christ, to obscure or make light of the ends and effects of them. And they that will Glorify the blood of Christ, must Glorify its effects on the souls of men. Who is it that more honoureth the Physician? he that magnifieth the cure, or he that vilifieth it, or makes nothing of it? as was aforesaid.