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

10. So also in case of personal close reproof: those that cannot endure it themselves, do think it the duty of others to endure it, and expect that others should submit to them; and if any will say, [Neighbour, I thank you for your plain and friendly dealing, and having so much compassion on my soul, as to help to save me from my sins: I confess I am a vile unworthy sinner; but by the grace of God I will do so no more: or if I be any more overtaken, I pray you tell me of it, and let me ⟨p. 66⟩not alone in it.] I say if another should answer them thus and thank them for their reproof, they would think the better of him, and take it well. But yet they will not do so themselves: for it costeth Self nothing to have another submit and humble himself.

So those that are most backward to the admonishing of others, lest they lose their love, can like to have a a Minister or another do it: For that doth not put them to deny themselves.

12. Nay take a scandalous professor, that is drawn to public Confession as a Bear to the Stake, and if it were another mans case, he would think it but reasonable and meet, and would persuade him to it. If another had committed the same sin against God as he hath done, or had slandered, or wronged him, and would freely, without urging, confess in the Congregation with tears in his eyes, that he hath sinfully provoked God, and offended the Church, and wronged his Brother, and laid a stumbling block in the way of the ungodly, and the weak, and dishonoured his holy profession, and is never able to make satisfaction for such heinous sins, and is unworthy any more to be a member of the Church, and to have any communion with Christ or them; and should earnestly entreat them to pardon him, and pray for him, and retain him in their Communion, and entreat God to pardon him; Would not the stander by think this were well done, and a better way to his recovery than to refuse it? And all is, because that self is not touched in another mans case; unless he apprehend it like to become his own; and then he may be against it, and scorn at this, as too precise a Course.