A treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at KidderminsterA treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kederminster

To the Honourable Colonel JAMES BERRY, &c.

SIR,

Providence having deprived me of the opportunity of nearer converse with you, which heretofore I have enjoyed, yet leaving me the same affections, they work towards you as they can; and have chosen here to speak to you in the hearing of the world, that my words may remain to the ends intended, when a private Letter may be burnt or cast aside. Flattery I am confident you expect not from me, because you know me, and know me to be your friend. (And yet my late Monitor hath made many smile, by accusing me of that fawning crime.) I am told what it is to bless my friend with a loud voice, Prov. 27. 14. I have learnt ⟨image 5⟩my self, that [Open rebuke is better than secret love; and that faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful] Prov. 27, 5, 6. And therefore I shall do as I would be done by. Faithfulness and Usefulness shall be the measure of my message to you. And they have commanded me to set before you this lesson of Self-denial, and earnestly to entreat you, and again entreat you, that you will faithfully Read, and Learn, and Practise it. Though I judged you have learnt it long ago, I think it not needless to mind you of it again; my soul being astonished to see the power of Selfishness in the world, even in those that by Confessions and Prayers, and high Professions, have frequently condemned it. Yet this is the Radical-mortal sin. Where this lives, all sins virtually lives. Say that a man is Selfish, and (in that measure) you say all that is naught of him as to his inclination. That Selfishness is the sum of Vice, and the Capital enemy of God, of Common-wealths, of Order and Government, of all Grace and Virtue, of every holy Ordinance and Duty, especially of Unity and Brotherly Love, and of the welfare of our neighbours, and of our own salvation, I have manifested to you in the following Discourse. But alas, what need we words to manifest it, when the flames of discord and long-continued divisions among Brethren do manifest it! When hatred, strife, variance, emulation, backbiting, violence, rebellions, bloodshed,