The Di

ture the

rance from all that love the light, I fhall speak fomething first of Chrifts own crucifying, and then of our crucifying together with Chrift.

1. Of Chrifts own crucifying.

Now Chrifts true crucifying, I mean his inward and fpiritual crucifying, in which all his Saints, without any exception, have their fellowship with him, it was this: It was the taking up his humane nature into his divine nature, or the taking up his flesh into the Word; in fuch fort, that the flesh of Chrift, did not live the life of the flesh, in the reafon and understanding, and wifdom, and will, and affections, and defires, and delights, and ends of the flesh; but the flesh or humanity of Chrift, being crucifyed and dead to all these things, did live in it felf the life of the eternal Word, in the nature, righteoufnefs, life, mind, will, and in all the things of God. And this was the Full and perfect crucifying of the flesh of Chrift indeed,

And thus you fee, that the Living word, and Spirit of God, which dwelt in the flesh of Chrift, did truly Crucifie and destroy the proper will and affections, and the whole life of his flesh.

And thus was Chrift crucified before his cross; vine Na-and his outward crucifying, was but a fign of what was done before within; and if Chrifts conftant Grofs of flesh, had not thus been crucified before his Crofs, the - he had not after given it up, fo freely cheerfully, ne N-and defirously, to be crucified fo fhamefully,

sure.

painfully, and bleedingly on the Cross.

The Divine Nature of Chrift, was the conftant crofs of his Humane Nature, and his humane nature was fully crucified in his Divine; in fuch fort, that the Humane nature of Chrift, had not the leaft freedom of its own proper will left to it felf; but when it was to undergo the heaviest and bittereft things, that any creature was capable

to undergo, even Death and Hell, and the fenfe of the whole wrath of God, yet even then he faid, not my will, but thine be done: Which was the most full and perfect crucifying that could be. For the Man Chrift, loft all his own things in God, through immediate union with God, and was filled again with all the things of God in his humanity which took away his humanity wholly from it felf, to God, to be, do, and fuffer all in the will of God; and this was his crucifying.

And this now, is the most excellent and glorious crucifying of Chrift, that is to be preached to all Nations for the obedience of faith. For to preach the outward crucifying of Christ barely and alone, without this inward and Spiritual crucifying of him (which is not only the original and the cause, but also the perfection and glory of the other) is no great matter, neither will it make the world much in love with him, feeing two Thieves were thus crucified with him, at the fame time, outwardly, as he was. But to preach Christ crucified by the living Word and Spirit of God that dwelt in him, through which he was wholly dead to himself and the world, and lived wholly in the will of God, so that though he were the Son of God, yet he made himself of no reputation, but gave up his flesh and outward man to be crucified among Thieves, at the will of his Father. This I fay is the glorious crucifying of Chrift, which the Gospel preaches in all the world, even the crucifying of Chrifts flesh by the Spirit and Divine nature. For Chrifts dying had been nothing, if the life of God within him had not offered up his humine life; and his crucifying had been nothing, if God in Chrift had not humbled his humane nature to the death of the Crofs, and he had not offered up that flesh of his to God without fault by his Eternal Spirit, as Paul speaks Heb. 9. 14.

But

But this did put fuch an infinite worth excellency, and efficacy on his outward crucifying; and thereby he is faid to redeem us unto God, even by his blood; and by that one offering of himself, to perfect for ever them that are fanctified. Heb. 10. 14.

And thus much touching Chrifts own Crucifying; the next thing is,

Our Crucifying with Chrift.

I am (faith Paul) crucified with Chrift, that is, with that Humane nature of his that was taken up into the word. Now as the most excellent crucifying of Chrift, was through the Word and fpirit that dwelt in him: fo likewife the true and glorious crucifying of all the faithful, is through the fame Word and fpirit of Chrift dwelling in them. For to have the Word and Spirit of Christ, that is, the Word and Spirit that is true God, dwelling in us, is the greatest crucifying of flesh and blood that can be. And when we are thus crucified with Christ, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in us, then afterwards, the body will be ready and willing to fuffer the cross, or fire, or Lyons, or racks, or torments, or any thing, as we fee in the bleffed Martyrs, who if they had not been first crucified with Chrift, through the Word and Spirit, had never delivered up their bodies fo readily as if they had not known them, to fuffer fo many grievous and intolerable things for Chrift. For that flesh that is truly crucified by the Spirit, is fitted for all fufferings, though never fo grievous and intolerable to it felf.

Wherefore let us learn, That no outward forrows, or tribulations, or prisons, or rackings, or killings, are fuch real crucifyings, to a Believer, as his faith, hope, and love, the fruits of the Word and Spirit in him, which will not fuffer him to live in himself, or in the creature, but do carry him with great force out of all these things

to

to live in God; which thing is the greatest mortification and crucifying of the flesh that can

be.

And as Chrifts outward crucifying on the cross, without his inward crucifying by the word of God, had been nothing worth; no more would all the fufferings and Martyrdoms of all the believers in the world, be of any worth in themselves, or of any account with God, without this inward, Spiritual, dayly, and conftant crucifying, fuffercing and Martyrdom of theirs. Seeing nothing doth fo truly and throughly restrain, hamper, mortifie, crucifie, kill, and destroy the flesh, and all the corruptions, lufts and affections of it, as the living Word and fpirit do. And this is the glorious Cross of the Church, the Body, as well as of Chrift the Head; without which, all Martyrdom is nothing; and of which, all the bodily fufferings and torments of the Saints, have been but a demonftration to the world for the glory of God, and for the Comfort, fupport and encouragement of other Chriftians. And where this inward crucifying hath not been firft wrought and accomplished, Chriftians could fuffer nothing outwardly as hath been very evident in many Chriftians, who having in times of perfecution been called forth to witnefs to the truth with their lives, have at first, for fear and dread of the outward crofs, abjured the truth to fave their lives. But afterwards when the Word and Spirit within them, had truly and fully crucified them, they would then come forth again of their own accord, and willingly offer up their bodies to fire and death.

And thus alfo I have declared what is our crucifying with Chrift, Paul faying here, I am crucified with Chrift; because his fins were fubdued, and

his nature conquered through the living word and Spirit of Chrift dwelling in him.

Now that both these things are so in truth, and that they are no fond notions, fpeculations, and gloffes of mine owe devifing, I will yet make it more evident by fome few other plain Scriptures: as by that of Paul, in Rom. 8. 10. where he faith, If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of fin; that is, the prefence of Chrift that is the living Word of God within us, is the killing and crucifying of the body to all fin, And in Gal. 5. 24. The fame Apoftle faith, That they that are Chrifts, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lufts of it and ver. 25. he fhews, that this crucifying of the flesh of Chriftians, is not brought about by any outward forrows and fufferings, but by the prefence of the Spirit in it, faying, if we live in the fpirit, let us alfo walk in the fpirit: and ver. 16. of the fame chapter, he faith, This I fay then, walk in the fpirit and ye shall not fulfill the lufts of the flesh; and Rom. 8. 13. If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body, ye jhall live. So again,

Rom. 6. 5. if we have been planted together in the Likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his refurrection. Now all Believers, without exception, are planted with Chrift into a likeness of his death; which is not fo to be understood, as if all fhould be crucified on a material Crofs, as he himself was: but that all of them are buried with him by Baptifm into his death, that is, by the baptifm of the fpirit; and the baptifm of the Spirit, is the death of the flesh; it is the death of our flesh with Chrifts: for thus was Chrifts flesh made dead to it felf, to fin, and the world, to wit, through the Baptifm of the fpirit; and thus alfo is ours: whertore Paul adds, verf. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of fin might be deftroyed, that henceforth we fhould not ferve fin:

So