The crucifying of the world

I have been long, and yet I would I had done. I have taught you, and yet I fear lest you have not learned. I have told you what you knew before, (unless it be because you will not know it;) and yet have more need to hear it, then a thousand things that you never knew. I have set you an easy Lesson, hard to be Learned. Were but your senses Rational, or were your Will but dis-engaged and morally Free, the work were done, and that would be learnt in an hour, that the ⟨image 27⟩Church & Common-wealth might rejoice in till the Sun shall be no more. O had we but such Princes, Nobles and Gentlemen, as were thus Zealous and Studious of Good works, and wholly Devoted and Dedicated unto God, what a Resemblance should we have of Heaven or Earth? How then would our Princes and Nobles be both Loved and Honoured, when their Addictedness to God did make them so Divine? How Honourable then would our Parliaments be, and how cheerfully should we flock together for their Election? How dear would our Judges and country Magistrates be to all that have any thing of piety or humanity in them. Kings then would reign in Righteousness, and Princes Rule in judgement; and a man should be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land: And the eyes of them that see should not be dim, and the ears of them that hear should hearken; the heart also of the rash should understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers should be ready to speak elegantly.] Isa. 32. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. what help then should Ministers have in their work, and the souls of all the people for their happiness! and what a shaking would Satan's Kingdom feel? Then neither seducers should have this pretence, nor the seduced this temptation as now they have▪ to call their various Models of Republics, by such splendid names, and to think Christ Reigns when they Reign; or that it is the only Government, to have all to be Governors, or to have the greatest Liberty to be bad. No forms will reform us and heal our maladies, till we are healed and reformed within. Lead will not be Gold, what form soever you mould it into. And though some ways may be more effectual to restrain the evil, and improve the good, that is among them, yet still the wicked will do wickedly.

I have been long, and yet I would I had done. I have taught you, and yet I fear lest you have not learned. I have told you what you knew before, (unless it be because you will not know it;) and yet have more need to hear it, then a thousand things that you never knew. I have set you an easie Lesson, hard to be Learned. Were but your senses Rational, or were your Will but dis-engaged and morally Free, the work were done, and that would be learnt in an hour, that the