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

Because it is ⟨p. 35⟩the Religion of the Country, and they are taught that there is no salvation without it, they will be Baptized, and be called Christians, and say their Prayers, and come to Church, and say they believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and they will go as far with you in Religion as they can without denying themselves: but for the rest, which is the life and truth of Christianity, they will not understand it, or believe that it is of such necessity: God forbid say they, that none should be Christians and saved but those that thus deny themselves, and take up their cross and forsake all they have, and accept not Life it self from Christ: They say they believe in Christ, and yet they say, God forbid his word should be true; or God forbid we should believe Christ that hath spoken this in the Gospel! See what kind of Christians multitudes are! Every man and woman on earth, that take themselves for true Christians, and yet do not deny themselves, even life and all for the sake of Christ and the hope of everlasting glory, are mere self-deceivers, and no true Christians at all. He that will save his life, saith Christ, shall lose it; that is, He that in his coming to Christ, and Covenanting with him, will put in an exception for the saving of his Life, and will forsake all for Christ if he be put to it, except Life it self, this man is no true Disciple of Christ, and shall be so far from saving his life, that he shall lose both Heaven, and Life, and all: and the Justice of God shall take from him that Life which he durst not resign to the will of mercy; and he shall lose that for nothing which he would not lose for Christ and Heaven. It is impossible for that man to be Christs Disciple, that loveth his life better than Christ and the hopes of Life everlasting, Mat. 10. 37, 38. Luk. 14. 25, 26, 33. Some Self-denial there may be in the unsanctified: Many of them would leave a little pleasure or profit rather than be ⟨p. 36⟩damned; and many had rather suffer a little than venture upon eternal sufferings. But I beseech you remember that this is the lowest degree of Self-denial that is saving, to set more by Christ and the hopes of glory than by all this world and life it self; and to be habitually resolved to forsake life and all, rather than to forsake him. No less than this is proper self-denial, or will prove you Christians, and in a state of life.