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

CHAP. V. The power of Selfishness upon mens opinions in Religion.

2. Another instance Discovering the Reign of selfishness in the world, is, The great Power that it hath to form mens Opinions and Conceptions in Religion. Though the understanding naturally be inclined to Truth, yet a selfish by as upon the soul, especially on the will, doth commonly delude it, and make the vilest error seem to be Truth to it, and the most useful Truth to seem an error. The Will hath much command over the Understanding: and when selfishness is become the very habit, the bias, the nature of the will, you may easily conjecture how it will pervert the understanding. But what need we more than experience to satisfy us. Do you not see that where self is but deeply engaged, the judgement is bribed or overmastered, and carried from the Truth? So that as the eye that looks through a coloured glass, doth see all things as if they were of the same colour as the glass: So the understanding that is mastered by a selfish inclination, thinks every thing is truth that savoureth his self-interest. And here I shall offer you some more particular instances.

2. ANother instance Discovering the Reign of selfishness in the world, is, The great Power that it hath to form mens Opinions and Conceptions in Religion. Though the understanding naturally be inclined to Truth, yet a selfish by as upon the soul, especially on the will, doth commonly delude it, and make the vilest error seem to be Truth to it, and the most useful Truth to seem an error. The Will hath much command over the Understanding: and when selfishness is become the very habit, the byas, the nature of the will, you may easily conjecture how it will pervert the understanding. But what need we more than experience to satisfie us. Do you not see that where self is but deeply engaged, the judgement is bribed or overmastered, and carried from the Truth? So that as the eye that looks through a coloured glass, doth see all things as if they were of the same colour as the glass: So the understanding that is mastered by a selfish inclination, thinks every thing is truth that savoureth his self-interest. And here I shall offer you some more particular instances.