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

But sin turned man into a Rebel against Heaven, and a Traitor to his Maker: so that now the selfish unsanctified man disliketh Gods Government, at least in the particulars, and would Govern himself. The Law of God contained in his Word and Works he murmurs at as too obscure, or too precise and strict for him. He finds that it crosseth his Carnal interest, and speaks not good of him but evil, and therefore he is against it as supposing it to be against him and his pleasure, profit, and honour in the world. If men had but the Government of themselves, what a difference would there be between their way and Gods? If corrupt unsanctified selfish man might make a Law for himself in stead of ⟨p. 20⟩the Word of God, what a Law would it be? and how much of the Law of God should be repealed? If sinners might make a Scripture, you should find in it no such passages as these, [Except a man be Converted, or born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven: without Holiness none shall see God.] If self might make Laws, you should not read in them [If ye live after the flesh ye shall die; but if by the Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live▪ ] Nor should you there find, that the Gate is strait, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few there be that find it; or that the righteous are scarcely saved] As all the Scripture is now for Holiness, and against Profaneness, Ungodliness, and Sensuality; if self had the framing of it, it should all be changed, and it should at least speak peace to fleshly-minded men: All those true and dreadful passages that speak fire and brimstone against the unsanctified, and threatened everlasting torments, should be razed out; and you shall find no talk of damnation in the Scripture for such as they: no talk of the worm that never dyeth, or the fire that is never quenched, or of [Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity; I know you not] or that [the way of the ungodly shall perish] or that [God doth laugh at them, because he seeth that their day is coming] Abundance of the Bible would be wiped out, if Carnal self had but the altering of it: Nay it would be quite made new, and made a contrary thing: the Articles of our Creed would be changed: the Petitions of our Rule for Prayer would be most altered: every one of the ten Commandments would be altered, as I shall after show.

But sin turned man into a Rebel against Heaven, and a Traitor to his Maker: so that now the selfish unsanctified man disliketh Gods Government, at least in the particulars, and would Govern himself. The Law of God contained in his Word and Works he murmurs at as too obscure, or too precise and strict for him. He finds that it crosseth his Carnal interest, and speaks not good of him but evil, and therefore he is against it as supposing it to be against him and his pleasure, profit, and honour in the world. If men had but the Government of themselves, what a difference would there be between their way and Gods? If corrupt unsanctified selfish man might make a Law for himself in stead of