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.

The Uses.

BEloved Hearers, I suppose you will give me leave to take it for granted, that you are all the rational creatures of God, made subject to him, and capable of enjoying him, and such as must be happy or miserable for ever: as also that you are all unwilling to be miserable, and willing to be happy; and that this life is the time for the use of those means on which your everlast∣ing life dependeth; and that Judgement will turn the scales at last, as Grace or Sin shall turn them now. I hope also that I may suppose that you are agreed that Christianity is the only way to happiness, and consequently that you are all professed Christi∣ans. And one would think that where men are so far satisfied of the End and of the Way, we might conceive great hopes of their sincerity and salvation. But when we see that mens lives do nulli∣fie their professions, and that while they look towards God, they row towards the world, and while they Hope for Heaven, their daily travel is towards Hell, and while they plead for Christ, they work against him, our Hopes of them are turned to necessary la∣mentation. But how comes this to pass that reasonable men, yea men reputed wise and learned, yea many that seem Religious to others and to themselves, should be so shamefully over seen, in a matter that so concerneth their everlasting state? As far as I am able to discover, the causes of this Calamity are these two.

1. One part of the Professed Christians of the world, under∣stand not what Christianity is, and so profess but the empty name, when indeed the thing it self which is in their conception, and which they mean in that profession, is nothing like to true Christianity.

2. The other part of miscarrying professors, though they do conceive of the Christian Religion as it is, yet not with an ap∣prehension intensively answerable to the thing which they appre∣hend: Though their conceptions of the Christian verities have a morall Truth in them, it being not false but True which they

conceive; yet there is no ••irmness and solidity in the Act, and so they do not effectually app••••••••nded them. Nothing more easie, more common, and more dangerous, then to make a Religion either of Names and Words, which he that useth doth not un∣derstand; or of meer speculations and superficial conceits; which never became practical, habituate, and predominant; nor were the serious; effectual apprehensions of the man. A right Object, and a sincere and serious Act, do essentially constitute the Christians faith. If either be wanting, it is not that faith, whatever it may pretend to be. Nothing but the Gospel objects will suffice to a mans salvation, were it never so firmly appre∣hended. And nothing but a firm and serious Belief of those ob∣jects, will make them effectuall, or saving to the Believer: Were we able to cure the two fore-mentioned defects, and to help you all to these two requisites, we should make no question but you would all be saved. We cannot expect that men should let go their sensual delights, till they hear of somewhat better to be had for them, and till they firmly and heartily give credit to the report.

And because the matter before us in my Text, is sitted to both these needfull works, and containeth those very truths which must rectifie you in both these points, I shall draw them forth, and distinctly apply them hereunto.