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

Whence is it but for want of self-denial, that Christian Love is grown so cold, while all profess it to be the badge of Christs Disciples? And that so many professors have so little Charity for any but those of their own opinions: unless it be a slandering Charity, or a persecuting, or murdering Charity? That all is commendable or excusable, that is done by men of their own conceits; and all condemnable, or a diminutive good, that is found in those that differ from them; especially if they dispute or write against them?

Whence is it but for want of self-denial, that men who know that whoredom, and drunkenness, and theft are sins, can yet be ignorant (in the midst of light) that discord and Church-divisions are sins? And that they hear him with heart-rising, enmity, or suspicion, that doth declaim against them? As if Uniting were become the work of Satan, and Dividing were become the work of Christ. I mean not Dividing from those without, but Dividing in his Church, and among his Members; who are all baptized with one Spirit into one body, 1 Cor. 12. 13. even the Body of Christ, (not of the Pope) of which even Apostles are but members (and therefore Peter was not the Head) 1 Cor. 12. 27, 28. which is so tempered ⟨image 6⟩together by God, that there should be no schism in it, but that the members should have the same care one of another, 1 Cor. 12. 24, 25. And that for all the plain and terrible passages against Divisions, that are found in the word of God, it seems to some a Venial sin, and to others a commendable Virtue, if not a mark of Christian Piety. I may seem to speak incredible things of the delusions of selfish Professors of Religion, if they were not attested by the common and lamentable experience of the times.

Whence is it but for want of self-denial, that men who know that whoredom, and drunkenness, and theft are sins, can yet be ignorant (in the midst of light) that discord and Church-divisions are sins? And that they hear him with heart-rising, enmity, or suspicion, that doth declaim against them? As if Uniting were become the work of Satan, and Dividing were become the work of Christ. I mean not Dividing from those without, but Dividing in his Church, and among his Members; who are all baptized with one Spirit into one body,