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 therefore they do not take him for their God. And can you expect that God should save those that deny him and would dethrone him? that is, his very enemies.

Reas. 2. Yea more than so; God will not save those that make themselves their own Gods, when they have rejected him. But all these unsanctified selfish men, do make themselves their own Gods: for in all the ten particulars before mentioned, they take to themselves the Prerogatives of God. 1. They would be their own End and loo• further. 2. They use all Creatures but as means to […] End; yea God himself is esteemed but for themselves. 3. They Love their present Life and Prosperity better than God. 4. They would be their own, and live as their own, and not as those that are none of their own. 5. They would have the Creatures to be their […] them as their Own, and not as God's. •. […] ••st care for themselves, and shift for themselves •t themselves wholly upon God. 7. They would dispose of themselves and their own conditions, and of all things else. 8. They would Rule themselves, and be from under the Laws and Government of God. 9. They would be the Rulers of all others, and have all men do their wills. 10. And they would be honoured and admired by all, and have the praise ascribed to them. And if all this be not to set up themselves as Gods or Idols in the world, I know not what is. Certainly God is so far from having a thought of saving such vile Idolaters (in this Condition) that they are the principal objects of his high displeasure, and the fairest Marks for his Justice to shoot at: and he is engaged to pull them down and tread them into hell: should God stand by and see a company of rebellious sinners sit down in his Throne, or usurp his Sovereignty and Divine Prerogatives, and let them alone, yea and advance them to his Glory? No, he hath resolved that he that humbleth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalted himself shall be brought low. And what higher self-exaltation can there be, than to make ourselves ⟨p. 29⟩