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

1. Consider what a Power it is that self beareth down in the world: The Commands of the God of heaven are overcome by it. The promises of eternal life, are trod under foot by it. The threatenings of endless torments are nothing to it. It casts by Heaven: it ventures upon Hell: It tramples upon the precious blood of Christ: It will not hear the voice of wisdom it self: Nor the voice of goodness and mercy it self: It refuseth him that speaks from heaven: Love it self is not lovely where self is Judge: It quencheth all the motions of the Spirit: it despiseth Ministers: It turneth mercies into wantonness and sin: Like Sampson, it breaks all bonds that are laid on it: and till it be weakened it self, there is no holding, no ruling, no saving the soul, that's ruled by it.

1. Consider what a Power it is that self beareth down in the world: The Commands of the God of heaven are overcome by it. The promises of eternal life, are trod under foot by it. The threatnings of endless torments are nothing to it. It casts by Heaven: it ventures upon Hell: It tramples upon the precious blood of Christ: It will not hear the voice of wisdom it self: Nor the voice of goodness and mercy it self: It refuseth him that speaks from heaven: Love it self is not lovely where self is Judge: It quencheth all the motions of the Spirit: it despiseth Ministers: It turneth mercies into wantonness and sin: Like Sampson, it breaks all bonds that are laid on it: and till it be weakned it self, there is no holding, no ruling, no saving the soul, thats ruled by it.

2. Consider also the exceeding Number of its Subjects: Truly if there were no other proof, that the sanctified and the saved are very few, this one is so full and sad a proof, that it tempteth me sometime to think them much fewer than willingly I would do. Alas, how few self-denying persons do you meet with in the world; ⟨p. 71⟩yea in the Church! yea among the stricter Professors! Look over all the world, and see how few you can find at work for any one but for carnal self? If you observe the Courts, and see whose work is done most there; and look into the Armies of the world, and see who it is that ruleth there: if you look upon the affairs of Nations, and the wars of Princes, and their confederacies, and see who it is that rules in all; how little will you see (save here and there) but carnal self? It is self that makes the cause and manageth it: It is self that maketh Wars and Peace. Come down into our Courts of Justice, and whose voice is loudest at the bar, but selves? and who is it commonly else that brings in the Verdict? at least who is it else that made and followeth on the quarrel? How many causes hath self at an Assize, for one that God hath? Come lower into the Country and who is it that ploughs and sows; who is it that keeps House or Shop but self? I mean what else but carnal self is the Principle? what else but carnal self is the End? what else but the will of self is the Rule? and what else but selfish commodity, or pleasure, or honour are the matter, or some provision that is made for these; and consequently what else but self-respect is the form? For the End informeth the means as means; and therefore all that is done for self is self-service and self-seeking. In a word, as God is all in all to the sanctified, so self is as all in all to the ungodly. And alas how great a number are all these!