A27053:263
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
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1675
Treatise › Chapter 8: The partiality of mens practical judgement in their own Case.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
7. Take a man that is never so worldly and unmerciful, that gives not to the poor any considerable part of his estate, nor doth nothing worth the mentioning for the Church, and yet this man will consent that another shall be as bountiful and charitable as he will: when you can hardly screw a groat out of his purse, he will be content if another will give an hundred. And he will commend the liberal, and speak well of them, when he will not imitate them. And why is this? why it costeth him nothing for another to be liberal; and therefore he can advise it, or consent to it without self-denial: but self is against it when he should do it himself.
7. Take a man that is never so worldly and unmerciful, that gives not to the poor any considerable part of his estate, nor doth nothing worth the mentioning for the Church, and yet this man will consent that another shall be as bountiful and charitable as he will: when you can hardly scrue a groat out of his purse, he will be content if another will give an hundred. And he will commend the liberal, and speak well of them, when he will not imitate them. And why is this? why it costeth him nothing for another to be liberal; and therefore he can advise it, or consent to it without self-denyal: but self is against it when he should do it himself.
8. Take the most selfish unsanctified man, that cannot love an enemy, nor forgive a debt, or a wrong, and he will yet commend it in another, and advise them to it, and speak well of those that will do so by him: And why is this? why it costeth him nothing to have another man love an enemy, or forgive a debt or wrong; but he cannot himself do it without self-denial.
8. Take the most selfish unsanctified man, that cannot love an enemy, nor forgive a debt, or a wrong, and he will yet commend it in another, and advise them to it, and speak well of those that will do so by him: And why is this? why it costeth him nothing to have another man love an enemy, or forgive a debt or wrong; but he cannot himself do it without self-denyal.