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

4. And let the same Ministers have a disordered flock, that hath scandalous members, especially if they be great ones, or many, and how rarely will they do their duty to them, in plain reproof, and in case of impenitency and continuance in sin, by Public Admonition and Rejection? what shiftings and cavillings will they find against this displeasing work of Discipline? even when they will reproach a man themselves whose Opinion is against Discipline, and when they have preached and written and disputed so much for it: and almost all parties are agreed of the necessity of it in the substance; yet when it comes to practice, it cannot be done without procuring mens hatred and opposition; and laying us open to much incommodity; and therefore self doth persuade us to forbear; and whether God or self have the more servants even yet in a reformed Ministry, I leave you to judge as your observation of the congregations through the Land shall direct you. But were it not for self I should undertake to do more for discipline and personal Instruction with most Ministers, by one Argument, than I have done by a volume, and you might see an unanimous concurrence in the work, and consequently a great alteration in the Churches.

4. And let the same Ministers have a disordered flock, that hath scandalous members, especially if they be great ones, or many, and how rarely will they do their duty to them, in plain reproof, and in case of impenitency and continuance in sin, by Publick Admonition and Rejection? what shiftings and cavillings will they find against this displeasing work of Discipline? even when they will reproach a man themselves whose Opinion is against Discipline, and when they have preacht and written and disputed so much for it: and almost all parties are agreed of the necessity of it in the substance; yet when it comes to practice, it cannot be done without procuring mens hatred and opposition; and laying us open to much incommodity; and therefore self doth perswade us to forbear; and whether God or self have the more servants even yet in a reformed Ministry, I leave you to judge as your observation of the congregations through the Land shall direct you. But were it not for self I should undertake to do more for discipline and personal Instruction with most Ministers, by one Argument, than I have done by a volume, and you might see an unanimous concurrence in the work, and consequently a great alteration in the Churches.