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

Shall I give you but one instance more, that the Ale-sellers themselves will take my part in, so far as to bear me witness that its true! Here are Farmers of the Excise that have power to know what Ale-houses are in the Town, and their gain lieth on it: and there shall scarce a man in Town or Country sell Ale so secretly but they will know it; nor sell a Barrel but what they are acquainted with. They do not say, [I am not bound to go search after them:] nor that they be not able to discover them and to bring them to pay Excise. But the Justices (too commonly) can overlook abundance that the Excise-men can find; and they cannot make one of twenty pay, when the other can; And whats the matter? Why one works for self and money, and the other works but for God and his own and other mens salvation (a small matter!) See then beyond denial what self and money can do with such men, when God and mens salvation can do next to nothing.

Shall I give you but one instance more, that the Ale-sellers themselves will take my part in, so far as to bear me witness that its true! Here are Farmers of the Excise that have power to know what Ale-houses are in the Town, and their gain lyeth on it: and there shall scarce a man in Town or Country sell Ale so secretly but they will know it; nor sell a Barrel but what they are acquainted with. They do not say, [I am not bound to go search after them:] nor that they be not able to discover them and to bring them to pay Excise. But the Justices (too commonly) can overlook abundance that the Excise-men can find; and they cannot make one of twenty pay, when the other can; And whats the matter? Why one works for self and money, and the other works but for God and his own and other mens salvation (a small matter!) See then beyond denyal what self and money can do with such men, when God and mens salvation can do next to nothing.

But I must desire you not to mistake me, and think I speak this of any honest godly Magistrate, and abuse the good by joining them with the bad! No: far be it from me to be so injurious. For its evident that they can be no good men, nor have any true Love of God in their souls, that are such in a predominant sense as I have here described. It is not in my thoughts to lay this blame on any honest Godly Magistrate: for none but the ungodly would do as I have mentioned, and prefer themselves before the Lord, and the bodies of men before the souls.