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. 5.

VNderstand well the right use and end of all crea∣tures, and make it your business accordingly to im∣prove them. I have told you before that they are all for God, and glasses wherein we may see his face, and books in which we may read his Name and Will. Look after God in them; and ne∣ver come to a creature, without either an actuall or at least an habituall Intending of God, as the end thereof. Judge that crea∣ture unprofitable wherein you receive not somewhat of God, or do not somewhat for him by it. Take not up with lower thoughts and uses of it. Its one of the commonest and greatest sins, (and I doubt with most professors of Religion) to use the creature for themselves, and to over-look God in his works and in their mercies, and so to prophane them, and turn them into sin. Do you understand what is meant by this, that, To the pure all things are pure; and that all things are sanctified to us? All should be Holy to Holy men. To be Holy is to be separated unto God, from common base inferiour uses. If you your selves are sepa∣rated to God, all creatures will be sanctified to you; they will be the Messengers of God, the revealers of his will, and his Re∣membrancers to your souls: And you will use them accordingly (in that measure as you are sanctified.) As we call the Temple and Utensils of Gods worship Holy, because they are devoted to God for his special service: So may we call our meat, and drink, and lands, and houses, our corn, and grass, and every plant, and flower Holy (in their places▪) When the sanctified soul doth read his Makers name upon them, and admire, and fear, and love him in them, and study how to use them for himself. You will confess that he is a prophaner of Holy things indeed that can read over the Scripture, and never observe the name of God in it, or else regard it but as a common word, and use that Book but as a common Book. Though I do not equal the creatures with the Scriptures, in clearness or fulness of discovering the will of God, yet seeing that it also is one of his Books, (and that more legible and glorious then some inobservant wretches do believe) I would intreate all that fear God to lay this more to heart;

and to consider for the time to come, Whether it be not Pro∣phanness, even flat Prophanness, to us•• Gods works as common and unclean, and to over-look him, who is the life, and sense, and glory of them? And whether it be not a sin that we are all too guilty of, to take up with selfish carnal uses, of almost all the works of God, when we should still use them all to higher ends? I fear this great unholiness in our using of the world and all therein, is little bewailed in comparison of what it ought to be. Some Christians are apt enough to hearken to their priviledges and titles of honour given them by the Lord; but they consider not that all these are for God, and therefore oblige us to answer∣able duty. Study well those highest titles, that are given you in 1 Pet. 2. 5, 9. You are built up a Spiritual house, an holy Priest∣hood, to offer up Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ.] And what's a Spiritual house for, but the habitation of the Lord, and the performance of his service? And surely these holy Priests must fetch their sacrifice from all the creatures that are fit for sacrifice. And Vers. 9. Ye are a chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar people, that you should shew forth the Praises of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.] And must not a people so holy, and peculiar, adore and hallow the Lord in his works? Though you be not called to Minister at his Altar, you are called to see him, and sanctifie him in his creatures, and in all that you have to do with. Gods works are part of his name, and therefore see that you take not his name in vain. You are brought nearer him then the rest of the world: and therefore remember that he will be sanctified of all that draw near him. You have learned in point of Receiving to rise with Peter, kill and eat; and not to call that common which God hath cleansed: See that you learn it also in point of duty, and in regard of the use of the creatures which you receive; and take them not as common things, for common fleshly uses only, as common men do; but remember that they are cleansed, and that you prophanely devour them, further then God is intended in them.

By this time you may perceive that the Crucifying of the world, is by its truest Exaltation and Improvement, and that it is so far from being your loss, as that it will prove your greatest gain. I would commend it to you all that desire to live a life of

holiness, that you would make it your daily care and study to sanctifie your very trades and worldly labours, and all the mer∣cies and matters of your lives. For it is not a bare contempt of the world that will serve. If you should sleep out your daies, and never think of the world, or if as Melancholy men you should be weary of your lives, because of the vexatious miseries of the world, all this is little to Christian Mortification. But if you can see and taste the Goodness, and Greatness, and Wisdom of God, in every thing you have or do, this is the using the world a••••ght.

Quest. But how should a man get his soul to that frame to carry on his calling in order to God, and to see him, and intend him in all that we have or do.

Answ. To dispatch it in a word, thus, 1. Be sure that God be habitually your End in the main. For if you take him not for your Portion, and intend him not habitually in the drift of your lives, you cannot rightly intend him in particulars. 2. Make it your every daies prayer to God, before you go about the la∣bours of your calling, that he would give you hearts to seek him in all, and would watch over you, and save you from ensnaring temptations, and remember you of himself, and give in some∣what of himself by his creatures, and sanctifie them all to you. 3. Keep up a godly jealousie of your hearts, lest they should abuse the creature, and seek it and use it more for your carnall selves then for God. If God be jealous, its time for you to be jealous of your selves. Especially when the sin is the most com∣mon, and radicall, and destroying sin. 4. Before you go about your callings, bethink your selves how you may Improve them for God. Find out his Interest, and study how to promote it; and how to improve all that he gives you to that end. And renew your particular Intentions of God, in the midst of your work. 5. When you receive or use any creature, consider it both as a mercy and as an obligation unto duty; and as you will not run over the Bible by bare reading, without considering what is the meaning, but will endeavour to take the sense as you go; so do in your callings and about all the creatures. Think with your selves, [Here is now a lesson in my hands, if I can but learn it. Here is somewhat that may shew me, both God himself and my duty; if I could but skilfully open it, and understand it.] And so be∣think

your selves, What it is that God would teach you, or command you by that creature: and especially, to what use he requireth you to put it. And remember, that if you should think of God all the day long, and yet not intend him, and refer your labours and your riches to his service, and give them up to his use, this is not sanctifying God in the creature, but hypocriticall abusing of him. For it is not all thinking of God that will serve the turn. 6. As you use to take account of your servants, how they do your work, so I would advise you every night, or as often as you can, to take an account of your selves as you are the ser∣vants of the God of heaven, and ask your Consciences, [What have I done this day for God; and how have I observed and sanctified him in his works?] So much for the fifth Direction.