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. XXII. Vse: For Consolation and further Perswasion.

HAving said this much to you for the Crucifying the world, and the using it as a Crucified thing; I shall here briefly enumerate some of the great benefits, which will follow to your selves where this is done. And this I shall do in order to these two ends conjunctly. 1. That those to whom the world is crucified may lay to heart the greatness of the mercy, & be thankful to God that hath done so much for them. There is the greater need of en∣couragement and comfort to the soul, in our Crucifixion to the world, because it is a state of so much suffering to the body, and a work that requireth so much self-denyal and patience. Who will be perswaded to cast all over-board, and forsake all the plea∣sures and profits of this world, but he that knows of somewhat

to be got by it that will make him a gainer or a saver in the end? No man will incur so great a loss, and cast himself upon a life of troubles, without some considerable benefit to encourage him. And in the conflict, the heart will be ready to fail, if we have not a cordial at hand for its refreshment. As Christ himself must have an Angel in his agony to comfort him, and when consolation is withdrawn by God, doth feel himself as one forsaken: So all his members in their Crucifixion, have need of these reviving Messengers of God, that seeing the ends and benefits of their sufferings, they may be able to resign their natural wills in a full submission to the will of God, and so to persevere and conquer in their sufferings. They have need of a believing consideration of the Benefits, that they may be daily and hourly furnished against temptations, and may bear those losses and abuses from men, even to the laying down of life, and all things in this world, which flesh and blood is so exceedingly against. He that believeth the faithfulness of the promiser, will hold fast the pro∣fession of his faith without wavering, Heb. 10. 23. And he that be∣lieveth the recompence of Reward, will not cast away his confidence, Heb. 10. 35. He that knoweth in himself that he hath in heaven a better and more enduring substance, will endure the greatest fight of afflictions, becoming a gazing stock by reproaches and afflictions, and becoming a companion of them that are so used; and will take joyfully the spoyling of his worldly goods, Heb. 10. 32, 33, 34. He that can look to Iesus the author and finisher of his faith, and with him to the Ioy that is set before him, will endure the Cross, and despise the shame, and run with patience the race that is set before him, Heb. 12. 1, 2. He that by faith fore-seeth the Peaceable fruits of righteousness, will bear the chastisement which for the pre∣sent seemeth not joyous but grievous, Heb. 12. 11. All the cloud of witnesses and army of Martyrs, Heb. 11. do testifie this to us; that it is faith's beholding the benefits and promised blessings, that must enable us to contemn the world, and suffer the loss of all for Christ. Having therefore need of Patience, that after we have done the will of God, we may receive the promise, we have need also of these encouraging helps which must support our pa∣tience, that in this Patience we may possess our souls; When im∣patient men to save the world, do lose their souls, Heb. 10. 36. Luk. 21. 19. Mat. 16. 25, 26. These considerations are neces∣sary

to us in so hard an undertaking, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds, Heb. 12. 3. Though we may manfully bear some few assaults, yet when we feel the vinegar and the gall, and the cruelty of the world even piercing not only our hands and our feet, but our very heart, and see them shrink from us that were most obliged to adhere to us, we shall then judge our selves for∣saken of God; if we have not the lively sense of these benefits. As the very thought of Forsaking all, doth strike a carnal heart with sorrow, and the work doth over-match all the power of flesh and blood, Luke 18. 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29. So also the Be∣liever hath need to keep his faith waking and in exercise, that he may lift up the hands that else will hang down, and the knees that else will be feeble, and may make straight paths for his feet, that the lame may not be turned out of the way, but may be healed, Heb. 12. 11, 12, 13, 14. For if we hear Iobs Messengers, and have not Iobs Faith and Patience, we shall not be able heartily to say, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord, Iob 1. 21.

2. My second end in the mentioning of these benefits is; that if yet all that is said before, have not perswaded you to be Cruci∣fied to the world, at least you may be perswaded by the considera∣tion of the benefits, and of the happy condition of those that are thus mortified; even when they seem in the eyes of unbelievers to be most miserable. To these two ends I shall mention the Be∣nefits.

Benefit 1.

YOur Crucifixion to the world by the Cross of Christ, will be one of the clearest and surest evidences of your sincerity; And so may afford you abundant help for the conquering of your doubts, and the ascertaining your salvation. When on the contrary, an unmortified worldly mind, is the cer∣tain and common mark of a miserable hypocrite. I know a melan∣choly man may be so weary of the world, as to be impatient of his life: But to prefer the Lord and everlasting Life, before it, in our practical Estimation, and Resolution, and Endeavours, is the very point of saving sincerity, and the specifical nature of true Sanctification: And all other marks must be reduced unto this. There is no man so spiritual and heavenly, but while▪ he is

here, hath a mixture of earthliness and carnality: And many a thousand that are earthly and carnal, have some esteem of God and Glory, and some purposes for them, and some endeavours after them: But it is that which is predominant that giveth the Denomination. According to that, it is that we must be called either Spiritual and Heavenly, or Carnal and Earthly men.

More particularly, 1. If you look to the Understanding, this Crucifixion to the world is a very great part of the Wisdom of the soul. For wherein doth wisdom more consist, then in judging of things as indeed they are, and especially in matters of greatest moment. He therefore that is Crucified to the world, must needs be wise: And, whatever his knowledge or reputation may be, he that wants this must needs be a fool. Is that a wise man, that knoweth the times and seasons, and how to do this or that in the world, and knoweth not how to escape damnation, nor where his safety and happiness must be sought? And is not he a wiser man that can see the snares that are laid for his soul, and so escape the burning Lake: then he that will sell his Saviour and his soul, for a little pleasure to his flesh for a moment? I make no doubt, but the weakest man or woman, that practically knows the vani∣ty of this world, and the desirable excellencies of God and Glo∣ry, is a thousand fold wiser, then the most famous Princes or Learned men that want this knowledge. He never take that man for a fool, that can hit the way to heaven; nor that for a wise man that cannot hit it. Its the Greatest matters that try mens Wisdom, though childish Wit may appear in trifles.

2. To be Crucified to the world, is the Certain effect of a Li∣ving effectual faith. The dead faith that Iames speaketh of, may move you to so much compassion as to say to the poor, Go in peace; be warned and filled, Iam. 2. 16. But it will not so far loose you from the world, as to perswade you to part with it to supply his wants: At least you will never be perswaded to part with all and follow Christ, till the Belief of a Treasure in Hea∣ven do perswade you to it, Luke 18. 21, 22. Can you say from your hearts, [Let all go, rather then the Love of God▪] And in a case of tryal, do you certainly find, that There is nothing so dear to you, which you cannot part with, for God and the hopes of everlasting life? This is a sign of an effectual Faith: For nei∣ther

nature nor common grace did ever bring a soul so high.

3. It is also a certain evidence of unfeigned Love. For wherein is Love so clearly manifested, as in the highest adventures for the person whom we Love, and in the costlyest expressions of our Love when we are called to it? Then it will appear that you Love God indeed, when there is nothing else that you prefer be∣fore him, and nothing but what you lay down at his feet: When the greatest professors that love the world, do shew that the love of the Father is not in them, 1 Iohn 2. 15. So far as it is loved.

4. To be Crucified to the world, and alive to God, is the ve∣ry Honesty, and Chastity, and Iustice of the soul. This is your Fidelity to God, in keeping the holy Covenant that you have made with him in Christ. This is your keeping your selves un∣spotted from the world, and undefiled by it: When the friends of it live in its Adulterous embracements, Iam. 4. 4. Thus do you give the Lord his own, even both the creature and your hearts; when worldlings do unjustly rob him of both. This is the great command and request of God, Prov. 23. 26. My Son, give me thy heart. Give him but this, and he will take it as if you gave him all: For indeed the rest will follow this. But if you give the world your hearts, God will take all the rest as Nothing.

Benefit 2.

THE second Benefit is this. If you are truly Crucified to the world, Your minds will be free for God and his service; When the minds of worldlings are like imprisoned hampered things. What a toylsom thing is it for a man to travail in fetters, or to run a race with a burden on his back? But knock off his fetters, and how easily will he go? and take off his burden, and how lightly will he run? Do you not feel your selves that the world is the clog of your souls? and that this is it that hindereth you from duty, and hindereth you in duty, and keepeth you from the attainment of an heavenly con∣versation? When you should chearfully go to God in secret, or in your families, the world is ready to pull you back: Either it calleth you away, by putting some other business into your hands; or else it dulleth and diverteth your Affections, so that you have no heart to duty, or no life in it; or else it creepeth into your

Thoughts in duty, and taketh them off from the work in hand, and makes you do that which you seem not to be doing: And if you shake off these thoughts, and drive them out of your way, they are presently again before you, and meet you at the next Turn. But in that measure as you have Crucified the world, you are freed from these disturbances. The Apostle Peter describeth the miserable estate of Apostates, 2 Pet. 2. 20. to be like a bird or beast that had escaped out of the snare that he was taken in, and after is taken in the same again; Having escaped the polluti∣on of the world, &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they are again entangled therein: as a beast in a snare, that cannot escape or help himself; So 2 Tim. 2. 4. its said, no man that warreth entang∣leth himself with the affairs of this life: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. So that you see that the world is a snare that en∣tangleth mens souls, and holdeth them as in captivity. The table of the wicked becometh a snare to them, and so▪ do all the bodily mercies which they possess.

But the mortified Christian may look back on all these dan∣gers, and say, Blessed be the Lord that hath not given us as a prey to their teeth: Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we are escaped, Psal. 124. 6, 7. Oh with what ease and freedom of mind may you converse with God in holy Ordinances, when you are once dis••entangled from this snare? Now that which formerly drew off your hearts, and clog'd your affections is Crucified and dead: that enemy that kept your souls from God, and was still casting baits or troubles in your way is dead▪ As the Apostle saith of sin, Rom. 6. 7. He that is dead is freed from sin; So I may say of the world: He that is dead to the world, in that measure as he is dead to it, is freed from the world. Let us therefore lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us▪ and then we may run with Patience, the race that is set before us, Heb. 12. 1.

This makes a poor Christian sometimes to live in more content and comfort in the depth of adversity, then he did before in the midst of his prosperity: because, though his flesh hath lost, his soul hath gain'd: though he want the fleshly accommodations which he had, yet the world is now more Dead to him then be∣fore; and so his mind is freer for God; and consequently more with him. How blessed a life is it to converse with God with

little disturbances and interruptions! A runner in a race is wil∣ling to be rid of his very cloathes, that should cover him and keep him warm, because they are a burden and hinderance to him in his race: But the lookers on would be loath to be so stript. Take away prosperity from an unmortified man, and you take away the comfort of his life: When if the same things be taken from the mortified believer, he loseth but his burden. How rea∣dily will that man obey that is dead to the world, when he is com∣manded to do good, to relieve the poor according to his power, to suffer wrongs, to let go his right, to forgive and requite evil with good, to forsake all and follow Christ. When to another man these duties are a kind of impossibilities; and you may as well perswade a Lyon to become a Lamb, or a beast to die willingly by the hand of the Butcher, as perswade an unmortified world∣ling to these things. They think when they hear them, These are hard sayings, who can bear them? Or at least, they are duties for a Peter or a Paul, and not for such as we. There is a very great part of Christian obedience, that will be easie to you when you are Dead to the world, which no man else is able to endure, nor will be perswaded to submit to.

Benefit 3.

ANother Benefit of this Crucifixion is this, The Tempter is hereby disarmed, and he is disabled from doing that against you, which with others he can do. The Li∣ving world is the Life of Temptations. As a Bear for all his strength and fierceness, may be led up and down by the nose, when by a ring the cord is fastened to his flesh: So the Tempter leadeth men captive at his will, by fastening together the world and their flesh. He finds it no hard matter to entice a sensuall worldly mind, to almost any thing that is evil. Bid him lye or steal, and if it be not for shame or fear of men he will do it. Bid him neglect God and his worship, and he will do it. Bid him hate those that hinder his commodity, or speak evil of them that cross his desires, or seek revenge of those that he thinks do wrong him herein; and how quickly will he do it? The Devil may do al∣most what he list, with those that are not Crucified to the world. They will follow him up and down the world, from sin to sin, if he have but a golden bait to tice them. But when the world is

Crucified to you, what hath he to entice you with? The cord is broken by which he was wont to bind and lead you. Can you tice a wise man by pins and counters, as you may do a child? If he would draw you from God, he hath nothing to do it with: for the world by which he should do it, is now dead. If he would tice you to pride, or ambition, or covetousness, or to sinful means for worldly ends, he hath nothing to do it with; because the world is dead. The Devil hath nothing but a little money, or sen∣sual pleasure, or honours to hire you with to betray and cast away your souls: And what cares a mortified man for these? Will he part with Christ and heaven for money, who looks on money as other men do on chips or stones? It is the frame of mens hearts that is the strength of a temptation. To a man that is in love with money, O what a strong temptation is it, to see an opportunity of getting it by sin? But what will this move him, that looketh on it as on the dirt in the streets? To a proud man that is tender of his reputation in the world, what a troublesom temptation is it to be reproached, or slighted, or slandered? and what a dan∣gerous temptation is it to him, to be applauded? But what are these to him that takes the approbation and applauses of the world, but as a blast of wind? As Christ saith of himself, Iohn 14. 30. The Prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.] that is, He cometh to make his last and strongest assault; but he shall find no carnall sinfull matter in me to work upon; and he cometh by his instruments to perscute me to the death: but he shall find no guilt in me, which might make it a glory to him, or a dishonour to me: So in their measure the mortified members of Christ may say: When Satan cometh by temptations, the world is dead by which he would tempt them, and he shall find little of that earthly matter in them, to work upon, and to enter∣tain his seed: and therefore when he afterward cometh by perse∣cution, he will find the less of that guilt which would be the oyl to enlarge and seed these flames. Your innocency and safety lyeth much in this Mortification.

Benefit 4.

ANother Benefit that followeth our Crucifixion of the world, is this, It will prevent abundance of needless unprofitable cost and labour, that other men are at. You will not be drawn to run and toyl for a thing of nought: When other men are riding, and going, and caring, and labouring for a little smoak, or a flying shadow, you will sit, as it were, over them, and discern, and pitty, and lament their folly. To see one man rejoyce that hath got his prize; and another lament because he cannot get it; and a third in the eager pursuit of it; as if it were for their lives. While they live as if they had forgotten the eternal Life which is at hand; will cause you to lift up your soul to his praises, that hath saved you from this dotage. The world worketh on the sensual part first, and thereby corrupteth, and as it were brutifi∣eth our very reason; and the whole course of worldly designs and affairs, even from the glorious actions of Kings and Com∣manders, to the daily business of the plow-man and the beggar, are all but the actions of frantick men, or mad men▪ I say, so far as the affairs of the world are managed by this sensuall unmorti∣fied principle, a sanctified Believer can look upon them all, as on the runnings or tumults of children or ideots, or on a game at Chests, where wit is laid out to little purpose. Mortification will help you to turn your thoughts, and cares, and labours, into a more profitable course: So that when the end comes, you will have somewhat to shew that you have gained; when others must complain, that they have lost all their labour, and worse then lost it. What abundance of precious time do other men lose, in dream∣ing pursuits of an empty, deceiving, transitory world? When God hath taken off the poise from you, of such unprofitable mo∣tion; and taught you better to employ your time. Many an hun∣dred hours which others cast away upon worldly thoughts, or discourse, or practises, are redeemed by the wise for their ever∣lasting benefit.

Benefit 5.

MOreover this Mortification, Will help you to prevent a great deal of sharp Repentance, which must tell unmortified worldlings of their folly. When they have run themselves out of breath, and abused Christ, and neglected grace, and either lost or hazarded their souls, they must sit down in the end and befool themselves for losing their time and lives for no∣thing. When God hath given a man but a short life, and laid his everlasting life upon it, and put such works into his hand as call for his utmost wisdom and diligence: What a sad perplexing thought must it be, to consider that all or most of this time hath been cast away upon worldly vanities? If a man shall run away from his own Father, and serve a Master that at last will turn him off with nothing but shame and blows, will he not wish that he had never seen his face? Such a Master all worldlings and sensu∣alists do serve: And he that got most by the world among them, shall wish at last that he had never served it: When the mortifi∣ed Christian that slighted the world, and laid out his care and labour for a better, may so far escape the bitterness of such Re∣pentings, and be glad that he hath chosen the better part. That is not the best meat that is sweetest in the eating, when afterward it must be vomited up with pain, because it cannot be digested. The sparer dyet of Mortified men, will prevent such after pains and troubles.

Benefit 6.

MOreovor where the world is Crucified, A great deal of self-tormenting care and trouble of mind will be prevented. You will not live such a perplexed miserable life, as worldlings do. Even in your outward troubles you will have less inward trouble of soul, then they have in their abun∣dance. They are like a man that is hanged up in chains alive, that gnaws upon his own flesh a while, and then must famish. What else do worldlings but tear and devour themselves with cares and sorrows, and scourge themselves with vexatious thoughts and troubles? If others did but the hundredth part as much to them, against their wills, as they wilfully do against themselves, they would account them the cruellest persons in the world. Paul saith of men that are in love with money, that while they covet after it, they do not only err from the faith, but also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they pierced themselves through and through, and stab'd their own hearts with many sorrows. A worldly mind and a melancholly are some kin: The daily work of both is self-vexation, and they are wilfully set upon the stabbing and destroy∣ing of themselves. But it is not thus with the Believer so far as he is mortified. Will he vex himself for nothing? Will he be troubled for the loss of that which he disregardeth? The dead world hath not power thus to disquiet his mind, and to toss it up and down in trouble. When it hath power on his body, it cannot reach his soul. As the soul of a dead man feeleth no pain, when the corpse is cut in pieces, or rotteth in the grave: So in a lower measure, the soul of a Believer, being in a sort as it were separa∣ted from the body by faith, and gone before to the heavenly in∣heritance, is freed from the sense of the calamities of the flesh. So far as we are Dead, we are insensible of sufferings.

Benefit 7.

ANother Benefit that followeth upon the for∣mer is this: We shall be far better able to suffer for Christ, because that sufferings will be much more easie to us, when once we are truly Crucified to the world. What is it that makes men so tender of suffering, and startle at the noise of it, and therefore conform themselves to the times they live in, and venture their souls to save their flesh? but only their over-valu∣ing fleshly things, and not knowing the worth and weight of things everlasting. They have no soul within them but what is become carnal, by a base subjection to the flesh; and therefore they savour nothing but the things of the flesh. All Life desireth a suitable food for its sustentation. A Carnal Life within, hath a Carnal appetite, and is most sensible of the miss of Carnal com∣modities: But a Spiritual Life hath a Spiritual appetite: And as Carnal minds can easily let go Spiritual things; so a spiritual mind, so far as it is such, can easily let go carnal things, when God requireth it. When you are Dead to the world, you will easily part with it. For all things below will seem but small matters to you, in comparison of the things which they are put in competi∣tion with. If you are scorned, or accounted the off scouring of the Town, you can bear it; because with you it is a very small matter to be judged of man, 1 Cor. 4. 3. If you must endure abuses or persecutions for Christ, you can do it: because you reckon that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be com∣pared with the glory that shall be revealed, Rom. 8. 18. You can let go your gain, and account it loss for Christ; yea and account all things loss for the knowledge of him; and suffer the loss of all things for him, accounting them but as dung, that you may win him, Phil 3. 7, 8. If you knew that bonds and afflictions did abide you, yet none of these things would move you, neither would you account your life it self dear to you, so that you may finish your course with joy, Acts 20 23, 24. So far as you are dead to the world, and alive to God, it will be thus with you. When they that are alive to the world are so far from being able to dye for God, that every cross doth seem a death to them. I have many a time heard such lamentable complaints from people that are ••aln into po∣verty, or disgrace, or some other worldly suffering, that hath

given me more cause to lament the misery of their souls then of their bodies. When they take on as if they were quite undone, and had lost their God and hope of heaven, doth it not too plainly shew, that they made the world their God and their heaven?

Benefit 8.

MOreover if indeed you are Crucified to the world, your hearts will be still open to the moti∣ons of the Spirit, and the motions of further Grace: And so you will have abundant advantage, both for the exercise and encrease of the graces which you have received. The earthly minded have their hearts locked up against all that can be said to them: Never can the Spirit or his Ministers make a motion to them for their good, but some worldly interest or other doth contradict it, and rise up against it. But what have you to stop your ears when the world is dead? The word then will have free access to your hearts. When the Spirit comes, your thoughts are ready, your af∣fections are at hand; and all are in a posture to entertain him and attend him: and so the work goes on and prospers. But when he comes to the worldly mind, the thoughts are all from home; the affections are abroad and out of the way, and there is nothing for his entertainment, but all in a posture to resist him and gain∣say him. O what work would the preaching of the Gospel make in the world, if there were not a worldly principle within, to strive against it? But we speak against mens Idols, against their Jewels and their Treasure, and therefore against their hearts and natures. And then no wonder if we leave them in the jaws of Satan where we found them, till irresistible merciful violence shall rescue them. But so far as you are mortified, the enemy is dead; contradictions are all silenced; opposition is ceased; the Spirit findeth that within that will befriend its motions, and own its cause; the soul lyeth down before the word; and gladly heares the voice of Christ: And thus the work goes smoothly on.

Benefit 9.

MOreover when once you are Crucified to the world, you are capable of the true spiritual use of it, which it was made for. Then you may see God in it; and then you may savour the blood of Christ in it: Then you may perceive a great deal of Love in it: And that which before was venemous, and did endanger your souls, will now become a help to you, and may be safely handled when the sting is thus taken out. Before it was the road to Hell: and now there is some taste of heaven in it. The stones and earth are useful for you to tread upon, though they are unfit for you to feed on, or too hard to rest upon. So though the world be unfit to Rest, or feed your souls, it may be made a convenient way for you to travail in. It is unmeet to be Loved, but it is meet to be Used, when you have learned so to use it, as not abusing it. When self is throughly down and denyed, and God is exalted, and your souls brought over so clearly to him, that you are nothing but in him, and would have nothing but in and with him, and do nothing but for him; then you shall be able to see that glory and amiableness in the creature, that now you cannot see. I or you shall see the Creator himself in the creature.

Benefit 10.

WHEN once you are truly Crucified to the world, You will have the honour and the comfort of an heavenly life. Your thoughts will be daily steeped in the Coelestial delights, when other mens are steept in Gall and Vinegar. You will be above with God, when your carnal neigh∣bours converse only with the world. Your thoughts will be higher then their thoughts, and your waies then their waies, as the heaven where you converse is higher then the earth. When you take flight from earth in holy Devotions, they may look at you, and wonder at you, but cannot follow you; for whither you go, they cannot come, till they are such as you. You leave them groveling here on earth, and feeding on the dust, and stri∣ving like children, or rather like swine or dogs, about their meat. When you are above in the Spirit, on the speedy wings of Faith and Love, beholding that face that perfecteth all that perfectly

behold it; and tasting that Joy, which fully reconcileth all that fully do enjoy it: which we must here contend for, but none do there contend about it. What a noble employment have you, in comparison of the highest servants of the world? How sweet are your delights in comparison of the Epicures? O happy souls that can see so much of your eternal happiness, and reach so near it. Were I but more in your condition, I would not envy Princes their glory, nor any sensualists and worldlings their contents, nor desire to be their partner. I could spare them their troublesom dignities, and their burdensom Riches, and the unwholsom plea∣sures which they so often surfet on, and the wind of popular ap∣plause which so swelleth them: Yea, what could I not spare them, if I might be more with you. O happy poverty, sickness or im∣prisonment, or whatever is called misery by the world, if it be nearer Heaven, then a sensual life! and if it will but advantage my soul for those contemplations, which are the imployment of mortified heavenly men! Yea if it do but remove the impedi∣ments of so sweet a life! I know (by some little, too little ex∣perience I know) that one hours time of that blessed life, will easily pay for all the cost; and one believing view of God will easily blast the beauty of the world, and shame all those thoughts as the issues of my dotage, that ever gave it a lovely name, or turned mine eye upon it with desire, or caused me once with com∣placency to behold it, or ever brought it near my heart. O Sirs, what a noble life may you live! and how much more excellent work might you be employed in, if the world were but dead to you, and the stream of your souls were turned upon God? Had you but one draught of the Heavenly consolations, you would thirst no more for the pleasures of the world. Yea did you but taste of it, as Ionathan of the honey from the end of his rod, (1 Sam. 14. 27.) your eyes would be enlightened, and your hearts revived, and your hands would be so strengthened in your spiritual warfare, that your enemies would quickly perceive it, in your more resolute prevailing opposition of their assaults. And experience will tell you, that you will no further reach this heavenly life, then you are Crucified to earth and flesh. God useth to shew himself to the Coelestial inhabitants, and not to the Terrestrial: And therefore you will see no more of God, then you get above and converse in Heaven: And if faith had

not this elevating power, and could not see further then sense can do, we might talk long enough of God, before we had any saving knowledge of him, or relish of his Goodness. And doubtless, if we must get by faith into Heaven, if we will have the reviving sight of God; then we must needs away from earth: For our hearts cannot at once converse in both. Believe it Sirs, God useth to give his heavenly Cordials, upon an empty stomack; and not to drown them in the mud and dirt of sensuality. When you are emptyest of creature-delights and love, you are most capable of God. And fasting from the world, doth best prepare you for this heavenly Feast. Let Abstinence and Temperance be imposed up∣on your senses; but command a totall Fast to your Affections, And try then whether your souls be not fitter to ascend, and whether God will not reveal himself more clearly then before. It may seem a paradox that the vallies should be nearer Heaven then the Hills; But doubtless Stephen saw more of it, then the high Priests: And Lazarus had a fairer prospect thither, from among the dogs at the Rich mans gate, then the Master of the house had at his plentiful table. And who would not rather have Lazarus's sores with a fore-sight of Heaven, then the Rich mans fulness without it; yea with the fears of after misery? A Heaven∣ly life is proper to the mortified.

Benefit 11.

MOreover, those that are Crucified to the world, are most fruitfull unto others, and bles∣sings to all within their reach. They can part with any thing to do good with. They are rich to God and their Brethren, if they be rich, and not to themselves. If a mortified man have hundreds or thousands by the year, he hath no more of it for himself, then if he had a meaner estate. He takes but necessary food and ray∣ment; he shunneth intemperance and excess: Nay he often pinch∣eth his body, if needfull, that he may tame it, and bring it into subjection to the Spirit: and the rest he layes out for the service of God, so far as he is acquainted with his will. Yea his neces∣sary food and rayment which he receiveth himself, is ultimately not for himself, but for God: Even that he may be sustained by his daily bread for his daily duty, and fitted to please his Master that maintaineth him. If they have much they give plenteously:

If they have but little, they are faithfull in that little: And if they have not silver and gold, they will give such as they have, where God requireth it.

But the unmortified worldling, is like some spreading trees, that by drawing all the nutriment to themselves, and by dropping on the rest, will let no other prosper under them. They draw as much as they can to themselves: For themselves is their care and daily labour, Psal. 49. 18. They all mind their own things; but not the things of Christ or their Brethren. Getting, and Having, and Keeping is their business; and as swine, are seldom profitable till they die.

Benefit 12.

THE last Benefit that I shall mention is this: If you are now Dead to the world, and the world to you, your natural Death will be the less grievous to you when it comes. It will be little o•• no trouble to you to leave your houses, or lands, or goods; to leave your eating, and drinking, and re∣creations; to leave your employments and company in the world; for you were dead to all that is worldly before. Surely so far as the Heart is upon God, and taken off these transitory things, it can be no grief to us to leave them and go to God. It is only the remnants of the unmortified flesh, together with the natural evil of death, that maketh death to seem grievous to Be∣lievers: but so far as they are Believers, and dead to the world, the case is otherwise. Death is not neer so dreadful to them, as it is to others; except as the quality of some disease, or some ex∣traordinary dissertion, may change the case: Or as some despa∣rate wicked ones may be insensible of their misery. How bitter is the sight of approaching death, to them that laid up their trea∣sure on earth; and placed their happiness in the prosperity of their flesh? To such a fool as Christ describeth, Luke 12. that saith to himself, Soul take thy ease, eat, drink and be merry; thou hast enough laid up for many years. How sad must the tidings of death needs be to him that set his heart on earth, and spent his daies in providing for the flesh, and never laid up a treasure in heaven, nor made him friends with the Mammon of unrighteousness, nor gave not diligence in the time of his life to make his Calling and Ele∣ction sure? To a worldly man, that sets not his heart and hopes

above, the face of death is unspeakably dreadful. But if we could kill the world before us, and be dead to it now, and alive to God, and with Paul, die daily, it would be a powerful means to abate the terrours, and a certain way to take out the sting, that death might be a sanctified passage into life. So much of the Benefits of Mortification.

AND now what remains, but that you that are Mortified Believers, receive your Consolation, and consider what the Lord hath done for your souls, and give him the praise of so great a mercy: Believe it, it is a thousand▪ fold better to be Cru∣cified to the world, then to be advanced to prosperity in it; and to have a heart that is above the world, then to be made the pos∣sessor of the world.

And for you that yet are strangers to this mercy, O that the Lord would open your hearts to consider where you are, and what you are doing, and whether you are going, and how the world will use you, and how you are like to come off at last, be∣fore you go any further, that you may not make so mad a bargain, as to gain the world and lose your souls. O that you did but throughly believe, that it is the only wise and gainful choice, to deny your carnal selves, and forsake all and follow Christ, in hope of the heavenly treasure which he hath promised. And let me tell you again, as the way to this; That though melancholly may make you weary of the world, and stoicall precepts may restrain your lusts▪ yet it is only the power of the Holy Ghost, the Cross of Christ, the belief of the promise, the Love of God, & the Hopes of the everlasting invisible Glory, that will effectually and saving∣ly Crucifie you to the world, and the world to you. It is a Lesson that never was well taught by any other Master but Christ▪ and you must Learn it from him, by his Word, Ministers and Spirit in his School, or you will never Learn or Practise it aright.