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.

1. IF you are Crucified to the world, be sure that you seek it not, nor any thing in it, for its own sake; but only as a means to higher things. The sincerity of your hearts doth lie much in this; and the life of your souls depends much upon it. Labour in your lawful callings and spare not (so you exclude not your spiritual work): It is not your Labour that we find fault with: But if the creature be the end of any Labour, you may better ••it still, and spare your pains, or rather speedily change your intentions. If you overtake the hastyest traveller in his journey, and ask him, why he takes all that pains; he will not say it is, For Love of the way that he travaileth in, but for Love of the place to which he is going, or the persons, or things which ••e there expects: So must it be with you, if you are the heirs of heaven: I blame you not to be glad of a fair way, and to love it rather then a foul one: but it is not for the love of the way that you must travail. He that runs in a race, doth not bestow all that pains for the Love of the path which he runs in, but for Love of the Prize, which he expecteth at the end. And he that plougheth and soweth, doth it more for Love of the crop which he hopeth for, then for Love of his labour: He that saileth through the dangerous Seas, performeth not his voyage for Love of the Sea, or of his Ship, but for Love of the Merchandize and Gain which he seeketh. The Carryer that goeth weekly to Lon∣don with your wares, doth not take all that pains for Love of the carriage, or of the way; but of the gain which he deserveth. So must it be with you, in all your worldly business. When you seek for credit, or pleasure, or maintenance in the world, it must not be finally for the Love of these, but for the End which they are given for, and which your hearts and lives and all must be devoted to. Your hearts will as soon deceive you in this as in any thing, if you do not watch them with jealousie and diligence. How quickly will the heart begin to Love the creature for it self, that seemed once to Love it but for God? Look in what measure you love your wealth, your houses, your recreations, your friends, for themselves, and because they accommodate the flesh; so far you wrong God, and abuse them to ••dolatry.

And if your Love do begin in greater purity, if you be not

watchful it will quickly degenerate to a carnal Love. Many a Scholar that at first desired Learning to fit him for the service of God, and his Church, doth by suffering carnality to insinuate and prevail, lose much of the purity of his first affections, and in time grow more cold and regardless of his first ends, and loveth common Learning meerly for it self and for the delight of know∣ing, or (which is worse) to get him a name among men.

Its common with men that need recreation for their health, when they set upon it as they think but to fit them for their duty, to fall in love with it afterwards, to the perverting of their hearts, the wounding of their consciences, the wasting of their time, and the neglect of that work of God for which it should be used.

We should take our meat, and drink, and cloathes, but to strengthen and ••it us for the service of our Master: but how quickly do we turn them to the gratifying of our flesh, and so the service of another Master?

Its too frequent for young persons of different sexes to Love each other at first as Christians only, with a chast and necessary Love; but when they have been tempted awhile to an imprudent familiarity, their Love doth degenerate, and that which was Spiritual becometh Carnal, and the Serpent deceiveth them to the corrupting of their minds, and its well if it proceed not to actuall wickedness, and the undoing of each other.

Many a poor man thinks with himself, If I were but out of debt, or could but live so as to serve the Lord without distractions, and had such and such necessities supplyed, I would not desire any more, or care any further for the world But if their desires be granted them, they find themselves entangled, and their hearts deceived, and they thirst more after fulness, then before they did after necessaries. And many a one thinks, [I care not for riches or honours, but only to do good with, and if I had them I would so use them.] But when they have their desires, the case is altered: the flesh then hath need of it, and can spare for God as little as other men, because it loves it better then before, and pretendeth to have more use for it then formerly it had.

Watch therefore over your deceitful hearts, and be sure to keep up the Love of God, and actually intend him in all that you have or do; and be not withdrawn to carnal affections.