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. XIV.

Use 2.

BY all that hath been said, you may perceive what it is to be a Christian indeed, and that true Christi∣anity doth set men at a further distance from the world, then car∣nal self-deceiving Professors do imagine. You see that God and the world are enemies; not God and the world as his Creature, but as his Competitor for your hearts, and as the seducer of your understandings, and the opposer of his interest, and the fuel and food of a fleshly minde, and that which would pretend to a Being or Goodness separated from God, or to be desirable for it self, having laid by the relation of a means to God. To be a Friend to the world in any of these respects, is to be an enemy to God. And God will not save his enemies, while enemies. An en∣mity to God, is an enmity to our salvation: for our salvation is in him alone. If then you have but awakened consciences, if the true love of your selves be stirring in you, and if you have but the free use of common reason, I dare say you do by this time perceive, that it closely concerneth you▪ presently to look about you▪ and to try whether you are crucified to the world or not. Seeing my present business is, for the securing of your Everlast∣ing Peace, and the healing of your souls, of that which would deprive you of it; let me intreate you all in the fear of God to give me your assistance, and to go along with me in the work; for what can a Preacher do for you, if you will do no∣thing for your selves? How can we convert, or heal, or save you, without you? I do foresee your appearance before the Lord; a jealous God; that will not endure that any Creature should be sweeter and more amiable to you then himself. I do foresee the condemnation that all such must undergo, and the remediless cer∣tain

misery that they are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 know there is no way that the wit of man or Angels can devise, to prevent the damnation of such a soul, but by Crucifying the flesh and world by the Cross of Christ, and dethroning these Idols, and submitting sincerely to God their Happiness. This cannot be done while you are strangers to your selves, and will not look into your own hearts, and see what abominable work is there, that you may be moved to return with shame and sorrow for that which hath been for∣merly your glory and your joy. O do not keep out the light of Conviction, that you may keep up your Idols in the dark: Your sin is never the less because you wilfully keep it out of sight: and your danger is never the less for being unknown! If you will sin in darkness, you shall suffer in darkness: As you have a fire of fleshly and worldly lusts within you, which abhors the light of saving truth; so God hath a fire of perpetual torment for you, which is as far from the consolatory light of his coun∣tenance. As the fire of concupiscence is dark, so is the torment∣ing fire dark. If you hate the converting light because your deeds are evil, and will not by this light be made manifest to your selves, Iohn 3. 19, 20, 21. this will be your condemnation, and by this will you deprive your selves of the Glorifying light. If you love Darkness, who can you blame but your selves, if you be cast into outer darkness: And if you hate light, you cannot reasonably expect to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in Light, Col. 1. 13.

What say you then, Beloved Hearers, are you willing to know your hearts, or not? Whether you are dead to the world and the world to you? Me thinks you should be willing; when you see the Question is as great, as Whether you are Christians indeed or not? and as great, as Whether you are in a state of salvation or not? Me thinks you that naturally love knowledge, and would be at some pains to know all thats about you in the world, should not be unwilling to know your selves, and special∣ly, so great a matter by your selves, as Whether you are the heirs of salvation or damnation? for in the issue it is no less. Espe∣cially when your disease is such as must be cured by the Light, if ever it be cured. You cannot lament your worldliness and sen∣suality, you cannot lament your disaffectedness to God, and in∣tolerable neglects of him, till you find them out. You cannot

betake you to Christ for the pardon of this sin, till you have dis∣covered it. A sin unseen, will never humble you and break your hearts, nor fit them for Christ to bind them up. If you see not that the world is yet alive in you, you will not apply the Cross, for the crucifying of it, nor have recourse to a Crucified Christ for that End. Moreover, it is the Nature of all sin, and worldly vanities, to seem best in the dark, and basest in the Light. As God and heavenly things seem best in the greatest Light, and worst in the Darkness. None do set light by God, and Grace, and Glo∣ry, but those that know them not. And none do set much by worldly fleshly things, but those that know them not. As illu∣mination brings in God into the soul, so doth it help to cast out Satan and the world. When mens eyes are opened, and they are turned from darkness to light, they are presently turned from the power of Satan unto God, Acts 26. 18. These infernall worldly spirits cannot endure the Light: They walk not by day, but haunt them whom they captivate, in the night of ignorance: and if we do but come in upon them with Light, they are gone. It is the same Devil that is called, The Prince of this world, and the Ruler of the darkness of this world, Eph. 6. 12. and this power is a power of darkness, Luke 22. 53. and therefore as light im∣mediatly expelleth darkness; so if you will admit the Light of Christ, it will deliver you from the power of darkness, Col. 1. 13. and cause you to cast off the works of darkness, Rom. 13. 12. that is, your worldly fleshly works.

For my part I have not access to your hearts, unless grace perswade you to open me the door. I cannot promise to Illumi∣nate you, and go with you into the inmost rooms; but I shall stand at the door and hold you the Candle, by which you may see your selves what is within, if you will but consent and take the pains of a through enquiry. I do therefore earnestly intreate you, to set up a judicature in your selves, and by the Word which you have heard to try your states, and let Conscience be Judge, and do it speedily, faithfully and effectually. By this means you may prevent a sharper tryal If you are afraid of Conscience, how much more should you be afraid of God? Will not his Judgement, think you, be more dreadful then your own? What madness is it to leave all to that tetrible Judgement, rather then to Judge your selves for the preventing of it. Believe it, you

shall be condemned, by your selves, or ••y God. Yea both by your selves and by God, •…•…s your self-condemnation be se∣conded by an effectual execution of the sin which you condemn. Willing or unwilling, you must to the Barr either of Conscience, or of God, or both. Come on then beloved Hearers; rouze up your sleepy souls; and remember that your salvation is the thing in question; and therefore put it not to a wilful hazard, and leave not loose a matter of such consequence: But if you are men of common reason, if you do not hate your selves, and have not a resolved plot to damn your selves, take time while you may have it, and aceept the light and help that is offered you, and speedily and strictly examine your own hearts, Whether they are Crucified and dead to the world, or not? Is it so, or is it not Sirs? Cannot you tell? If you know but what this mortification is, and know but your own hearts, no doubt but you may tell. And if you are ignorant of either of these, it is because you are shamefully negligent, and have not much regard∣ed the things that you should know.

For those that are willing to be acquainted with their state, I shall besides the foregoing discoveries, here give you a few more signs, by which you may discern whether you are crucified to the world. And I beseech you do what you can in the tryal as we go, and make up the rest at the next opportunity, when you come home, and follow it on till you come to a resolution.