A26905:765
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 27
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. Have you convenient habitations, for buildings, and ⟨p. 247⟩rooms, and walks, and lands, and neighbourhood? Glory not in them as any of your felicity. They are baits to tice your hearts from God. But rather rejoice that you have a building not made with hands eternal in the heavens, and that you can be contented till you come thither with any thing in the way, and make shift with inconveniences for a little while. Heaven wants no furniture, nor hath any encumbrances, nor inconveniences. If a winding sheet and Coffin be room enough when we are dead, we can endure sure to be somewhat straitened while we are alive, seeing we are dead to the world while we live in it. O what is the most sumptuous Palace, to the meanest room in our Fathers house. The green and flourishing earth in Summer, covered with the more glorious spangled Firmament, is a goodly structure; but far short of that which the poorest Saint shall have with God.
3. Have you convenient habitations, for buildings, and ⟨p. 247⟩rooms, and walks, and lands, and neighbourhood? Glory not in them as any of your felicity. They are baits to tice your hearts from God. But rather rejoyce that you have a building not made with hands eternall in the heavens, and that you can be contented till you come thither with any thing in the way, and make shift with inconveniences for a little while. Heaven wants no furniture, nor hath any encumbrances, nor inconveniences. If a winding sheet and Coffin be room enough when we are dead, we can endure sure to be somewhat straitened while we are alive, seeing we are dead to the world while we live in it. O what is the most sumptuous Palace, to the meanest room in our Fathers house. The green and flourishing earth in Summer, covered with the more glorious spangled Firmament, is a goodly structure; but far short of that which the poorest Saint shall have with God.
4. Have you comeliness of body? have you beauty or strength? Glory not in it. It is but warm well▪coloured earth. The pox or other sickness can quickly turn your beauty to deformity. If age do not wrinkle it, death will dissolve it. The comelyest and strongest body, will shortly be as homely and loathsome a thing, as the dirt in the streets, and as the carry on in a ditch. The stoutest youth, and the neatest dmes must come to this; there's no remedy. And is such a body a thing to be Gloried in: No, but glory rather in your assurance of a Resurrection: when your mortal bodies shall put on immortality, and your corruptible, incorruption, and and death shall be swallowed up in victory; and when you shall shine as Stars in the Firmament of your Father, and be subject to heat and cold, hunger, and thirst, and weariness no more: And that in the meantime you can tame this flesh, and use it as a servant, and instead of caring for its inordinate provision, can lay out your care for a more during substance.