The Works of the Rev. John Witherspoon; to Which Is Prefixed an Account of the Author's Life, in a Sermon Occasioned by His Death Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1802 edition. Excerpt: ... ---- By whom the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world. THE character of a servant of God is sometimes described in scripture by particular dispositions or instances of obedience, and sometimes by a general view of the spirit that runs through the whole of his temper and carriage. Each of these ways has its own advantage and use. Each of them is to be found in its proper order in the holy scriptures, and stands there as a proof of their sulness and persection. The whole of this passage, but particularly the last clause, upon which I am now to insist, is of the general kind, and, in the apostle's own example, gives us a very comprehensive view of what ought to be the temper and disposition of every real Christian; "By "whom," that is, by Christ crucified, or, "by which," that is to say, by the cross of Christ, "the world is cruci"fied unto me, and I unto the world." This description will serve, if caresully attended to, as a trial and touchstone of sincerity t and, in particular, will serve to distinguish real religion from some of its most deceitsul and plausible counterseits. At the same time, ' it will surnisti the sincere Christian with very important directions for his preservation and improvement, by pointing out the most fatal and dangerous rocks of temptation, which it is his interest to avoid. Having explained the words in my discourse upon the former part ot' the verse, I now only observe, that the proposition contained in them is " That the world is crucisied to the believer, and he to "the world, by the cross of Christ." This naturally resolves itself into two parts, which I propose to consider distinctly, viz. I. What is the import of a believer's being crucisied to the world, and the world to him. II. What influence...