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.

BLessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain Mercy, Mat. 5. 7.

Read Mat. 6. 19. to the end of the Chapter.

Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven, Matth. 7. 21.

Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them, I will liken him to a wise man that built his house upon a Rock, &c. Mat. 7. 24.

Let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your Good Works, and Glorifie your Father which is in Heaven, Mat. 5. 16.

I have shewed you all things, how that so Labouring ye ought to support the weak? and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give then to receive, Act. 20. 35.

Give to him that asketh thee, and of him that would borrow of thee, tu•••• thou not away Mat. 5. 42.

All these have •• kept from my youth up—yet lack∣est thou one thing: Sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. And when he heard this he was very sorrowful, for he was very Rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God? Luke 18. 21, 22, 23, 24.

Read and consider Luke 12. 15. to 49. And Luke 16. 19▪ to the end.

Luke 14. 33, 26, 27, 28. So likewise whosoever he be of you, that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my Disciple.

Eph. 2. 10. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to Good Works, which God hath before ordain∣ed that we should walk in them.

Jam. 2. 14. What profiteth it my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?

Tit. 2. 14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and sanctifie to himself a pe∣culiar people zealous of Good Works.

1 Tim. 6▪ 17, 18, 19. Charge them that are Rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertainty of Riches, but in the living God, who gi∣veth us richly all things to enjoy: that they do Good: that they be rich in Good Works; ready to distribute; willing to communicate: Laying up in store for them∣selves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.]

Heb. 13. 16. But to do Good and to Communicate forget not; for with such sacrifice God is well pleased.

Luke 16. 9, 13. I say unto you, Make you friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations. If ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon, who will commit to your trust the true Riches? ye can∣not serve God and Mammon.

Psal. 41. 1, 2, &c. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble, &c.

Read Deut. 15. 7, 8, 9, &c. 2 Cor. 9. 8, 9, &c. Dan. 4. 27. Lev. 23. 22. Prov. 22. 9.

Prov. 28. 27. He that giveth to the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Read Isa. 58. throughout.

Jam. 1. 27. Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this; To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted of the world.

Jam. 5. 1, 2, 3, 5. Go to now ye Rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you: your Riches are corrupted and your Garments moath∣eaten: your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire: Ye have heaped treasure together for the last daies.—Ye have lived in pleasure on earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter—

1 Joh. 3. 16, 17, 18. We ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren: but whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels from him, how dwelleth the Love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Gal. 6. 6, 7, 9, 10. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all his goods (or

good things.) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap—Let us not be we•…•…y in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. As we have therefore Oppor∣tunity, let us do Good unto all men: especially to them who are of the houshold of faith.

Eph. 4. 28. Let him Labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Mat. 10. 41, 42. He that Receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, shall receive a Prophets reward: and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous mans reward. And whoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a Disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.]

Read 1 Cor. 9. 4, 5. to 16.

Mat. 25. 40, 45. Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of those my Brethren, ye have done it unto me—Verily I say un∣to you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Mat. 6. 3, 4. But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth; That thy alms may be in secret: And thy father which seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.

But this I say Brethren; the time is short: it remain∣eth that both they that have wives be as though they had none—and they that buy as though they possessed not; and they that use this world as not abu∣sing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away, 1 Cor. 7. 29, 30, 31.