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

3. Another discovering instance of the rarity of self-denial is this, The great averseness of men to any costly, or troublesome, or self-denying duty, how necessary soever, how plainly soever revealed in the Scripture, and how generally soever acknowledged by the Church: As if self had a Negative voice in the making of Laws for the Government of the world, and none must be binding without its consent. I shall come down to some more particular instances.

3. ANother discovering instance of the rarity of self-denyal is this, The great aversness of men to any costly, or troublesome, or self-denying duty, how necessary soever, how plainly soever revealed in the Scripture, and how generally soever acknowledged by the Church: As if self had a Negative voice in the making of Laws for the Government of the world, and none must be binding without its consent. I shall come down to some more particular instances.

1. The great duty of charitable relieving our brethren in necessity to the utmost of our power, is commonly made almost nothing of in the world. And men cheat their souls by thinking they are passed from death to life, because they love the brethren with such a cold and barren love as will neither lay down estate for them, ⟨p. 53⟩nor venture life for them, but think they are sure Christians, because they can say as the believers that James mentioneth, [Depart in peace: be you warmed and filled, but give them not that which is necessary thereto] James 2. 16. Though it be told them plainly by Christ himself that it is not a fruitless uneffectual love, but that which causeth them to feed and clothe and visit the Saints, that must stand them instead at judgement, Matth. 25. and the Apostle asketh them, How the love of God can dwell in that man that seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up the bowels of his compassion from him,