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 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.

But I must desire you not to mistake me, and think I speak this of any honest godly Magistrate, and abuse the good by joyning 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.

And, alas, if the Sovereign Powers of the Nations of the world were not too sick of the same disease, gain would not be accounted Godliness, but Godliness the greatest gain: and carnal Policy would not go for Piety, but true Piety would go for the surest Policy: It would not be so common in most Nations to have the Truth ⟨p. 47⟩and Cause of Christ disowned, and his servants persecuted, and their lives and blood to be made a sacrifice to carnal Self and worldly Interests. Nor would the breaches of the Churches be so long unhealed, and grow wider and wider, and few much regard them, but all have their own work to do which must be looked after. Yea and the Cause of Christ and the Gospel must be trod down if it stand in the way of their own: And the Churches must be set on fire by their wars and contentions for their selfish Interests. And if Self were not too strong among us, we should not have had such connivance at doctrinal and practical abominations, nor so much delay or neglect of healing the discomposed Churches, and uniting the divided Christians, or attempting it more effectually than we have done. But because I desire to speak to none but those that are within my hearing, I will return home to our selves.