$o8 The Crucifying of the world, little difturbances:and interruptions ! A runner in a race is wil- ling to be rid of his very cloathes that thould cover him and keep himwarm, becaufe they arc a burden and hinderance tohim in his race : But the lookers on would be loath to be fo fiript. Take away profperity from an unmortifiedmats, and you take away thecomfort of his life : When if the fame things be taken from the mortified believer, he lofeth but his burden. How rea- dily will that man obey that is dead to the world,when he is com- manded todo good, to relieve the poor according to his power, to fuffer wrongs, to let go his right, to forgive and requite evil with good, to forfake all and follow Chrift. When to another man thefe duties are a kindof impofbilities-, and you may as well perfwade a Lyon tobecomea Lamb or a beaft to die willingly by the hand of the Butcher, as perfwade an unmortified world- ling to thefe things. They think when they hear them , Thefe are hardfayings, w1 o can bear them ? Or at leaff, they aredutiesfor a Peter or a Paul ,.andnotfor [tech as we. There is a,verygreat part of Chritlian obedience , that will beeafie to you when you are Dead to theworld, which no man elfe is able toendure, nor will be perfwaded to fubmit to. 23enefit 3. % NotherBenefit of this Crucifixion is this The 11 Tempter is hereby difarrned , and he is difabled from doing that againftyou, which with others hecan do. The Li- ving world is the Life of Temptations. As a Bear for all his flrength and fiercenefs, may be led up and down by the note , when by a ring the cord is fattened tohis fleth : So the Tempter leadeth men captiveat his will, by faftening together the world and their flefb. He finds it no hard matter to entice a fenfuall worldlymind , to almoft any thing that is evil. Bid him ll e or heal, and if it benot for flume or fear of men he will do it. Bid him negleet Godand his worthip, and he will do it. Bidhirn hate thofe that hinder his commodity, or fpeak evil of them that crois his delires, or feek revenge of thofe that he thinks do wrong him herein ; and how quickly will hedo it ? The Devil may do al- moil what he lift, with thofe that are not Crucified to the world. Theywill follow him up and down the world, from fin to fin if he havebut-a golden bait to.tice them. But when the world is Crucified
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=