1. As the creature would be man's felicity, or any part of it 350 2. As it is set in competition with God, or in the least de- ibid. 3. As it standeth at enmity to God and his ways 4. As it is the matter of our fleshpleasing and fuel of con- Ephesians ii. 12. Psal. xxxix. 6. lxxiii. 20. considered. The different successes of sanctified and unsanctified studies The creature's aptitude to tempt us is inseparable How this enmity may be apprehended ibid. The difference between this 2. And our inordinate cogitations, and 3. Affections So in the irascible, 1. Displacency and hatred, &c. How the cross of Christ doth crucify the world. And 1. How it is done by the cross as suffered by Christ...... 2. How by the same cross believed in and considered 2. Wherever the cross of Christ is effectual, the world is crucified 412 Trial whether we are dead to the world. Eight signs by which we may know whether the world or God be our end 416 A closer application for conviction of worldly hypocrites 425 Further applications for conviction of worldlings Convincing evidences produced, especially to the greater sort ibid. Direct. 2. Receive not a false picture of the world into your minds, but think of the creature truly as it is Direct. 3. Crucify the flesh, which is the master idol. Direct. 4. Keep your minds intent on the greater things of Direct. 5. Understand the right use and end of the creatures, and make it your business to employ them accordingly Direct. 6. Keep sensible of its enmity, and your danger 3. Suffer it not to crucify you with cares and sorrows 4. Let it not thrust out God's service, nor be made an excuse ibid. Doct. True Christians must with abhorrency renounce all car- nal glorying, and must glory only in the cross of Christ, by whom the world is crucified to them, and they to the world 552 Particularly, 1. True Christians that are crucified to the world, and the world to them, by the cross of Christ, may and must glory therein. How far, and how far not Use 1. To confute the Antinomian mistake, that tells reasons to prove the point asserted Use 2. To discover the error of too many Christians, that can glory in the state of exaltation, but not of cruci- Obs. 2. When believers glory in their own mortification, it must be as it is the fruit of the cross of Christ, that so all their glorying may be principally and ultimately Use. To condemn self-exalting thoughts, and provoke to Obs. 3. To glory in any thing save the cross of Christ, and our crucifixion thereby, is a thing that the soul of 9. Norin meat,drink, dwellings, ease, company, recreation, &c.ibid. 10. Nor in men's good word, though they be learned, godly,&c. 579 11. Nor in learning, parts, &c. . 12. Take heed in what respect you glory in spiritual mer- ibid. "Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." MATT. XI. 28. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the thing that ye would." GAL. v. 17. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" "Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. ROM. VI. 16. ROM. XIII. 14. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." ROM. VIII. 13. "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Pet. 11. 19. "Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" EZEK. XXXIII. 10, 11. "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God." 2 Cor. v. 20. "Trust in the Lord, and do good, &c. Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." PSAL. XXXVII. 3, 4. Sound doctrine makes a sound judgment, a sound heart, a sound conversion, and a sound conscience. |