A26905:740
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.
6. Now you have a little grace, you cannot keep it of your selves: Now you are made alive, you cannot keep your selves alive. If you be not preserved by him that did revive you, and kept by his mighty power to salvation, and if he be not the finisher of your faith, who was the author of it? how speedily, how certainly would you prove apostates, and undo all that hath been so long a doing? If then you stand not on your own legs, but are carried in his arms, you may see in whom it is that you should glory.
6. Now you have a little grace, you cannot keep it of your selves: Now you are made alive, you cannot keep your selves alive. If you be not preserved by him that did revive you, and kept by his mighty power to salvation, and if he be not the finisher of your faith, who was the author of it? how speedily, how certainly would you prove apostates, and undo all that hath been so long a doing? If then you stand not on your own legs, but are carryed in his arms, you may see in whom it is that you should glory.
7. Nay more, if you were left to your selves, but to resist one temptation, it would bear you down. You now think of many sins with an holy scorn: But the filthyest of those sins would become your pleasure, if you were forsaken by Christ. You now look on whoredom, and gluttony, and drunkenness, and ambition, as dirt and dung: But if Christ should forsake you, this dung would you feed upon, and as dogs you would eat up the filthyest vomit that ever you did disgorge your selves of, and as swine you would choose that mire for your bed, and rest in it till hell awaked you. By this then you may perceive in whom you should glory.
8. Moreover, without Christ you cannot make use of the Grace that he hath given you. The life and comfort of your grace is in the exercise. To draw forth your Faith, and Love, and Joy into exercise, is the way to increase them, and to show you experimentally their nature, truth, and worth, and to attain their ends. And without Christ, you will never do this. You may lie as if you were dead, and dry, and withered, if he do but