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

And accordingly ⟨p. 14⟩much of this selfishness knowledge of the Creature he did attain: but with the woeful loss of the Divine knowledge of the Creature, and of the filial soul-contenting knowledge of God: yea and of himself, as in his due subordination to God. This seems the sense of this text, and this is the case of fallen mankind.

And accordingly ⟨p. 14⟩much of this selfishness knowledge of the Creature he did attain: but with the woful loss of the Divine knowledge of the Creature, and of the filial soul-contenting knowledge of God: yea and of himself, as in his due subordination to God. This seems the sence of this text, and this is the case of faln mankind.

Naturally now every man would fain have his safety and Comforts in his own hand. He thinks them not so sure and well in the hand of God: O what would a carnal man give that he had but his life and health in his own hand, and might keep them as long as he saw good! When he is poor, he had rather it were in his hand to supply his wants, than in Gods; for he thinks it would go better with him. When he is sick, he had far rather it were in his own hand to cure him, than in Gods, for then he should be sure of it. If he be in any strait, he cannot be content with a bare promise for his deliverance; but unless he see some probability in the means, and work, and unless he be acquainted with the particular way by which he must be delivered he is not satisfied: for he cannot trust God, so well as himself. Is not this the case of all you that are carnal? Would you not think your case much safer and better if it were in your own hands, than you do now it is in Gods! What would you not give, that you were but as able to give ease, and heath and wealth, and honour, and life to your selves, as God is! Hence it is that you so anxiously contrive for your selves, and trouble your selves with needless cares; because you dare not trust God, but think you are fallen to your own care and finding. You think your selves quite undone when you have nothing left you but God and his Promise to trust upon, and when you see nothing in your selves and the Creature to support you. And thus are all men fallen from God to themselves.