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.

Direct. 10.

THE last Direction that I shall give you for the Crucifying of the world, is this. Be sure to keep off the means of its livelihood, and keep it still under the mortify∣ing means. Lay siege to it, and stop up all the passages, by which the worlds provision would come in; and keep it still under the strokes of enmity, and the influence of that which is contrary to it. Some particulars I will but briefly mention.

1. Keep a constant guard upon your senses; for this way the world creeps in to your hearts. It is by gazing on alluring ob∣jects, or hearing, or tasting, or the like, that the flames of concu∣piscence are kindled in the heart. By gazing upon beauty or com∣liness of per••••n, the heart of the wanton is infected with lust, and so incited to the damnable practises of uncleanness. The sight of the cup doth set an edge on the desires of the drunkard: and the sight of enticing meats, doth awaken and enrage the appetite of the gluttonous: and by the presence of the bait their disease is set awork, as worms in the body are by some kind of food. Clemens Alexandr. saith of these men, that their disease* 1.1 is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, A madness about the throat: And 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, A madness in the belly: And saith of them that are given to fulness or fineness of diet, for the pleasing of their bellies, that they are ruled by a Belly-Devil, which saith he, is the worst and most pernicious of all Devils. Lay siege then to this belly-Devil, and starve him out. It is by the sight of gawdy fashions, and curious apparel, that the minds of vain effeminate persons are provoked to desire the like. And the sight of pomp and honours doth kindle the fire of ambition; and the sight of buildings, and money, and lands, doth help to provoke the de∣sires of the Covetous. See therefore that you alwaies keep a watch upon your eyes. Let them not run up and down like a master-less dog, nor roul as the eyes of the lascivious, that are hunting after the prey of lust. If you have cause to pray as Da∣vid, Psal. 119. 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity.] You must practise according to your prayers, and endeavour your selves to turn them away. Have not the best of us as much rea∣son as Iob to make a Covenant with our eyes? Iob 31. 1. What

wonder if the Garrison surrender not where the besieged have free passage and continual supplies? And what wonder if the house be robbed, where the doors stand alwaies open, and all is common to every passenger? Be sure therefore to keep a con∣stant guard upon your eyes your appetites and every sense, or else the world will not be Crucified. Let not your eye move but by the conduct of your reason: at least, let it not fix upon any object, till reason give it leave. Taste not a bit of meat, or a cup of drink▪ till you have advised with right informed Reason▪ and be able to justifie what you do. Take an account of all that entereth at the door of any of your senses: For he that must give an account to the living God, had need to keep account him∣self.

2. Keep also a constant guard upon your Thoughts as well as upon your senses. As the Thoughts will tell you what is in your hearts, so they will let in whatsoever bribeth them to consent. The fancies of men are the garden of the Devil, where he sow∣eth and watereth the plants of impiety: Yea they are a princi∣pall room in which he doth inhabite. Its certain that the Devil hath readyer access to the fantasie, then to the heart; and that it is his shop in which he forgeth most vices, and doth a very great part of his work. An unclean spirit possesseth the fanta∣sies of the unclean; so that their thoughts are running upon lustful objects; and they are guilty of the filthyest cogitations within, when they seem to be of the chastest behaviour without; and do frequently commit fornication in the heart, when fear or shame doth restrain the outward practise, and cover their iniqui∣ty. The malicious person is possessed by a spirit of maliciousness that dwelleth in his fantasie, and sets him on contrivances of cru∣elty and revenge, and filleth his mind with thoughts of hatred and disdain. The same spirit reigneth in the fancies of the Proud, and setteth them upon contrivances for the advancing of their names, and causeth them to thirst after the reputation of the world, and filleth them with the troubled malicious thoughts of Haman, when they miss of their expectations. The earthly spi∣rit possesseth the fantasies of the covetous, and setteth them on contrivances for the increase of their estates. Do you not feel by sad experience, how many of Satans assaults are made upon your cogitations, and how much of his interest lyeth there, and

how much of his work is there done? As ever you would be Crucified to the world then, set a watch upon your thoughts, and keep a daily and hourly account of them, and see that they be alway under the Government of faith and reason. Your thoughts should be kept chast as the entrance into your hearts, and not be as common harlots entertaining every comer. If you feel your thoughts stepping out upon Lust or Malice, look after them be∣time, and call them in, and check them sharply, and lay a charge on them hereafter to be more pure. If you find that they are running with Geheza after the prize, and are making out after the provisions for the flesh, recall them and correct them, and bewail this evil before the Lord, and let your watch be stricter for the time to come. Believe it, your hearts will be such as are your thoughts. The flies that lye upon sores, or dung, or carrion, and the worms that are bred in them will be of the nature of that corruption themselves. If you would have your hearts clean, and humble, and heavenly, let your Thoughts be clean, and humble, and heavenly. If you will let your Thoughts run on the objects of Lust, you will be Lustful: And if you will Think on the enticements of Pride, you will be Proud: And if you will let out your thoughts on the Profits of the world, no wonder if it steal away your hearts, saith the Lord to the covetous and un∣merciful, Deut. 15. 7, 8, 9. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy Brethren within any of thy gates, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor Brother, but thou shalt open thy hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release is at hand, and thy eye be evil against thy poor Brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved, when thou givest to him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the Land: therefore I command thee saying, Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in the Land.] Besides the main drift of the Text, mark how we are command∣ed to beware that a Thought of unmercifulness enter not into our hearts. And when Christ doth so vehemently disswade his

followers from this damning sin, he doth it by setting a Law up∣on their Thoughts: Why take ye Thought? &c. Take no thought, &c. Mat. 6. 25, 27, 28, 31, 34. Luke 12. 22, 26. If the un∣righteous man forsake not his thoughts, he will not forsake the evil of his way, Isa. 55. 7. As you love your souls then look to your Thoughts, and keep them under the Government of the Lord. Would you be free from a vain and sensual mind? How long then shall your vain thoughts lodge within you? Ier 4. 14.

3. And see also that you make not worldly minded men your companions. While they savour nothing but earth and flesh, they will have no savoury discourse of any thing else: And their discourse is like to be infectious to your minds. As a Stews is not the best place to preserve you from uncleanness; nor an Alehouse the best place to preserve you from drunkenness; so the company of worldlings is not the best place to preserve you from worldliness: Where you shall see or hear little, but earth∣ly things, and heavenly matters can find no room. Its not the safest place to fight against the Devil, in the midst of his own Army; but in the Army of Christ.

On the contrary side, be sure that you keep under mortifying means. Attend to the lively preaching of the word, which will disgrace the world to you, and be still drawing your hearts ano∣ther way. Be much with God in secret prayer, and be much above in Heavenly Meditation; and dwell upon those Thoughts which lay the world naked to you, and shew it you in its own complexion. If death and judgement be seriously in your minds, it will waken you from these fleshly dreams, and prick the bladder of your aery minds, and let out that wind which puft you up, and kept out the things of God and Glory. Converse also as much as you can with the most Heavenly peo∣ple, whose discourse, and prayers, and daily examples will help to draw up your minds to God, and to affect them with things that nearlyer concern you, then all the profits or pleasures of the world.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cl. Alex. Paedag. l. 2. c. 1. The whole Book is worth the reading, by such.