The crucifying of the world

SECT. XXV. Use 2.

From hence also many disconsolate Christians may see their error, who cannot Glory in a Mortified state. They can see matter of comfort in a state of exaltation, when they perceive themselves prosper in all that they undertake, and find a present answer of their prayers, and enjoy the sense of the Love of God: but to be Crucified to the world and the world to them, doth seem to them but an uncomfortable state, and they cannot see the greatness of the mercy. It is easy to perceive the excellency of those mercies that participate of the ultimate End, and are known by proper fruition, and have nothing in them but pure sweetness and delight: And therefore a state of Joy declareth it self: But as for those mercies that have the Nature of a Means, whose excellency is in order to their end, and those that have some wholesome bitterness mixed; because they are less grateful to sense, and valued only by faith, therefore we are too prone to overlook their worth, and to neglect the comforts which the consideration of them might afford us, and so to deny God the thanks that is his due. Every sensual man can rejoice in the having and enjoying of outward prosperity: And every Christian can rejoice in the fruition of God, whether in foretaste here, or in fullness hereafter: But to rejoice in the absence of worldly prosperity, in that we are dead to it and have learned to set light by it; and to Rejoice in the absence of God, in that we have hearts that are set upon him, and cannot be satisfied without him, and are desiring after him, and in progress towards him, and ⟨p. 232⟩hope ere long that we shall be with him; this is the joy that must be expected by believers here on earth.

FRom hence also many disconsolate Christians may see their errour, who cannot Glory in a Mortified state. They can see matter of comfort in a state of exaltation, when they perceive themselves prosper in all that they undertake, and find a present answer of their prayers, and enjoy the sense of the Love of God: but to be Crucified to the world and the world to them, doth seem to them but an uncomfortable state, and they cannot see the greatness of the mercy. It is easie to perceive the excellency of those mercies that participate of the ultimate End, and are known by proper fruition, and have nothing in them but pure sweetness and delight: And therefore a state of Joy declareth it self: But as for those mercies that have the Nature of a Means, whose excellency is in order to their end, and those that have some wholsom bitterness mixt; because they are less grateful to sense, and valued only by faith, therefore we are too prone to overlook their worth, and to neglect the comforts which the consideration of them might afford us, and so to deny God the thanks that is his due. Every sensual man can rejoyce in the having and enjoying of outward prosperity: And every Christian can rejoyce in the fruition of God, whether in foretaste here, or in fulness hereafter: But to rejoyce in the absence of worldly prosperity, in that we are dead to it and have learned to set light by it; and to Rejoyce in the absence of God, in that we have hearts that are set upon him, and cannot be satisfied without him, and are desiring after him, and in progress towards him, and