A26905:735
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 26
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.
And moreover the way he hath taken is wonderful. There are ⟨p. 236⟩unsearchable wonders of Love, and wonders of Justice, wonders of Wisdom, and wonders of Power: Its the admiration of Angels; the study of all Saints, to know the height, and breadth, and length, and depth; and when they have all done, they find that the Love of Christ surpasseth knowledge. As all other knowledge of arts, creatures, languages, is nothing in comparison of the knowledge of a Crucified Christ; so our own knowledge is too narrow to comprehend the greatness, and too dull to reach to the bottom of the mystery, of this design of the heavenly Love, Eph. 3. 17, 18, 19. When Christ hath posed men and Angels with wonders in our Redemption; And when we have done nothing in it our selves, its easy to perceive in whom we should Glory.
And moreover the way he hath taken is wonderful. There are ⟨p. 236⟩unsearchable wonders of Love, and wonders of Iustice, wonders of Wisdom, and wonders of Power: Its the admiration of Angels; the study of all Saints, to know the height, and breadth, and length, and depth; and when they have all done, they find that the Love of Christ surpasseth knowledge. As all other knowledge of arts, creatures, languages, is nothing in comparison of the knowledge of a Crucified Christ; so our own knowledge is too narrow to comprehend the greatness, and too dull to reach to the bottom of the mysterie, of this design of the heavenly Love, Eph. 3. 17, 18, 19. When Christ hath posed men and Angels with wonders in our Redemption; And when we have done nothing in it our selves, its easie to perceive in whom we should Glory.
2. Consider also that it is Christ that God hath advanced to this Glory, and it is the magnifying of him that is designed by God, and not of such as you. Its true, that he intendeth to Glorify us with Christ, and that in some participation of his Glory: But that is not by ascribing merit, and power, and wisdom to us, nor by praising us for that which indeed we have not: but it is by communicating some of the Spirit of Christ unto us, and letting us see the glory of our head: Though we may see the brightness of the Sun, and have the comfort of its rays, yet that doth not make us Suns our selves. So though we shall be where Christ is, and behold his Glory, 1 John 17. 24. and exercise our selves in his eternal praise; yet all this is but a derived dignity, communicated to us by the aspect of our Lord; and therefore it will not be our work to praise our selves but him.