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 to go out of self to God, and resign up our selves to him, and possess no interest but him and in him, and to have nothing that we esteem or love, or care for, in comparison of him, knowing that for him we were made, redeemed, preserved and sanctified, and therefore desiring to be wholly and only his, and to have no credit, no goods, no life, no self, but what is his, for his service, at his will and at his Disposal and Government and provision; this is the true self-denial, which the spirit of God worketh in a prevailing though not a perfect measure, in every gracious believing soul.

But to go out of self to God, and resign up our selves to him, and possess no interest but him and in him, and to have nothing that we esteem or love, or care for, in comparison of him, knowing that for him we were made, redeemed, preserved and sanctified, and therefore desiring to be wholly and only his, and to have no credit, no goods, no life, no self, but what is his, for his service, at his will and at his Disposal and Government and provision; this is the true self-denyal, which the spirit of God worketh in a prevailing though not a perfect measure, in every gracious believing soul.

But alas Sirs, how strange is this in the world, and how weak and low in the souls where it is found! And what matter of Lamentation would a survey of the world, or of our selves present us with! Is not SELF the great Idol which the whole world of unsanctified men doth worship? Who is it that ruleth the children of disobedience, but carnal self? For what is all the stir and stirrings, the tumults and contentions of the world but for self? This ruleth Kingdoms, and this is it that raiseth wars, and what is it except the works of Holiness but self is the author of? Look unto the Thrones and Kingdoms of the earth, and conjecture how many self hath advanced and placed there; and how fe• ⟨p. 38⟩have stayed till God enthroned them and gave them the Crown and Sceptre with his approbation. Among all the Nobles and great ones of the earth, that abound in riches, how few are there that were not set a work by self and ruled by it, in the getting or keeping or using their riches, dignities and honours? Look on the great Revenues of the Nation, and of the world, and consider whether God or self, have the more of it. One man hath many thousands a year, and another hath many hundreds, and how much of this is devoted to God, and how much to carnal self? And the poor that have but little, would think us injurious to them if we should call to them for any thing for God, who have not enough for themselves; when indeed God must have all, and self must have nothing, but what it hath by way of return from God again, and that for God, and not for self but as subservient unto him. Alas, of many hundred thousand pounds a year, which the inhabitants of a Country possess among them, how little hath God that should have all, and how much hath self that should have nothing? O dreadful reckoning when these Accounts must be all cast up! Judge by the use of all whether self have not yet Dominion of all? If men throw out to God his tenth, which is none of their own; or if they cast him now and then some inconsiderable alms, when in his member he is fain to beg for it first, they think they have done fair, though self devour all the rest. Is it more think you for God or self that our Courts of Law are filled with so many Suits, and Lawyers have so much employment? Is it more think you for God or self that Merchants compass Sea and Land for commodity? Who is it that the Soldier fights for?