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.

SECT. XIII.

1. AND as you see that the Christian Doctrine teacheth this: So 2. It is thence clear without any more ado, that wherever the Cross and Doctrine of Christ are effectuall, the world is Crucified to that man, and he to the world. There are some great Duties which a man may possibly be saved, though he omit them, in some cases: but this is none such. It is a won∣der to see the security of worldlings, how easily they bear up a confidence of their sincerity, under this sin which is as inconsi∣stent with sincerity as Infidelity it self is •• If they see a man live in common Drunkenness, or Adultry, or Swearing, they take him for a prophane and miserable wretch; and good reason for it: When in the mean time they pass no such sentence on them∣selves, who may deserve it as much as the worst of these. It is one notable cheat among the Papists, that occasions the ruine of many a soul, that they make a Religious mortified life, to be a work of supererrogation, and those that profess it, (and some of their own inventions with it, which turn it into sin) they Cloyster up from the rest of the world, and these they call Re∣ligious people, and some few even of these that are either more devout or superstitious then the rest, they call Saints. So rare a thing is the appearance of Religiousness and Sanctity among them, that it must be inclosed in Societies, not only separated from the world, as the Church is, but separated as it were out of the Church it self. And yet the common people are kept in hope

of salvation in their way. By which means they are commonly brought to imagine that it is not absolutely necessary to salvation to be a Religious man, or a Saint, or one that doth really re∣nounce and crucifie the world; but that these things belong to certain Orders of Monks and Fryers, and that it is enough for other men to honour these devout and mortified Saints, and to crave their Prayers, and do some lower and easier things. And indeed their vows of Chastity, and separation, and unprofitable∣ness, and other Inventions of their own, they may well conceive unnecessary to others, being noxious to themselves. But they will one day finde that none but Religious men and Saints shall be saved, and that every true Member of Christ is dead to the world, and not only Monks, or Votaries, or such like. And a Conceit too like to this of the Papists, is in the minds of many of our Au∣ditors. They think indeed that those are the best men that are resolved contemners of all the Riches, and Honours, and Plea∣sures of the world; but they think of them as the Papists do of their votaries; as People of a higher pitch of Sanctity then the rest, but think not that it is essential to Sanctity, and to true Chri∣stianity it self. They confess they should be all contemners of the world; but, God forbid▪ say they, that none but such should be saved! But, I tell you, God hath forbidden already by his Laws, and God will forbid hereafter by his sentence and execution, that any other but such should be saved. Do you think in good sad∣ness that any man can be saved that is not truly dead to the world, and doth not despise it in comparison of God, and the great things of Everlasting Life? Let me satisfie you of the contrary here once for all, and I pray you see that your flesh provoke you not to mutter forth such unreasonable self-delusions any more, 1 Ioh. 2. 15. [Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him] what can be spoken more plainly, or to a worldly minded man more terribly? 1 Ioh. 5. 4. [For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith.] Jam. 4. 4. [Know ye not that the Friend∣ship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God.] Will not all this serve to convince you of this truth? Rom. 8. 5, 6, 7, 13. [For they that are after the flesh do minde the things of the flesh, but they that are

after the Spirit the things of the Spirit: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spirituall ••••nded is life and peace: Because the carnal minde is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live] Joh. 3. 6. [That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit.] Gal. 5. 16, 17. & 6. 8. [Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other.] [He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.] Col. 3. 1, 2, 3. [If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God: When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory: Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth.] Matth. 6. 19, 20, 21, 24. [Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for your selves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. No man can serve two Masters; for either he will hate the ore and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other: Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.] Matth. 10. 38, 39. [He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me: He that findeth his life shall lose it, and he that lo∣seth his life for my sake shall finde it.] Mat. 16. 24. [If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.] Luk. 14. 26, 27. [If any man come to me, and hate not his Father, and Mother, and Wife, and Children, and Bre∣thren, and Sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my dis∣ciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.] Verse 33. [Whosoever he be of you that for∣saketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.] Heb. 11. 13, 14, 15. and to the end. But I will cite no more. Here is enough to convince you, or condemn you. If any thing at all be plain in Scripture, this is plain, that every true Christian is

dead to the world, and looks on the world as a crucified thing, and that God, and the life of glory which he hath promised, have the Ruling and chiefest interest in their souls. Believe it Sirs, this is not a work of supererrogation, nor such as only tendeth to the perfecting of a Christian, but such as is of the essence of Chri∣stianity, and without which there is not the least hope of sal∣vation.