A26905:718
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.
6. It is the great sin of the Devil and wicked men, to wrong and dishonour Christ in his Saints, and when he himself is out of their reach, they persecute him in his members; and those that love not and relieve not these, shall be judged as not loving and relieving Christ. It is certainly our duty then to do contrary to them, and to love and admire Gods graces in the Saints, and to observe and honour Christ within them.
7. What comfortable use can we make of the promises, if we must not look at those Evidences in our selves that prove our interest in them. God hath promised, that If we confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in the heart that God raised him ⟨p. 230⟩from the dead, we shall be saved, Rom. 10. and that he that believeth shall not perish, but have everlasting life, John 3. 16. If you say with the Papists, that no man can tell whether he be a true Believer or not: then you make the promise vain; For what good will it do any man to know that heaven is promised to Believers, if it cannot be known whether we are Believers or not: But if you confess that it may be known, why should we so despise the comfort of the promise as not to search after and observe the qualification, which must evidence that it is ours? Will you apply this promise to all, or to some, or to none? If to none, then its made in vain. If to all, you will deceive the most. I mean if you absolutely promise them the benefit. For it is not all that are Believers, nor all that shall have everlasting life. You dare not absolutely tell all men in the world, that they shall not perish. It must needs therefore be the proper benefit of some: and how will you know but by the Text who those are. There is no way of applying it, that the Text or common reason will allow of, but by discerning that we are Believers, to conclude thereupon that we shall not perish. If you say that all are bound to believe that they shall not perish, I answer, then most should be bound to believe a falsehood; which cannot be. They are only bound to believe the truth of the Gospel, and accept of Christ as offered therein, and then discerning this faith in themselves to conclude that they shall be glorified.