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

Let the most useful Minister live in a place that hath the plague, or other contagious mortal sickness; and most that are visited, will take it ill if the Minister come not to them, though they know that his life is hazarded by it, and that his loss to the whole Church is more to be regarded than the content or benefit of particular persons; and it is not the pleasing of them, nor their benefit by him then, that will countervail the Churches loss of him. What is this but too much preferring self (I hope not habitually, but) in that act, before the Church and honour of God?

Let a Minister or any other man resolve to bestow all that God hath given him for his service, on the poor, or pious uses: Perhaps he shall displease as many as he pleaseth, because he hath not enough for all: and if he give to nineteen, the twentieth will say [He past by me; and I am never the better.] And thus this insatiable, unreasonable self will hardly be pleased; And among the godly how much doth it prevail! O how many Ministers in England can tell by sad experience, how much of self surviveth in Professors! so much that we can hardly rule them or keep them from breaking all to pieces, and every man running away of his own. The ruin of England's ⟨p. 75⟩expected Reformation; the fall of our hope▪ in too great a measure, the multiplying of sects: the swarms of errors: the rage against the faithfullest Ministers: the neglect of Discipline, and obstinate refusal of penitent confessions, and humbling, self-denying duties: the backwardness to learn: the forwardness to be teachers; the high esteem of weak parts, and weaker grace: the commonness of backbiting, censuring, and slandering, especially those that are not of their fond opinions: the rising designs of many▪ the tenderness of their reputations: the contendings for preeminence, all these, with many others, do too loudly tell the world how much of self, and how little self-denial is in many that seem godly.

Let a Minister or any other man resolve to bestow all that God hath given him for his service, on the poor, or pious uses: Perhaps he shall displease as many as he pleaseth, because he hath not enough for all: and if he give to nineteen, the twentieth will say [He past by me; and I am never the better.] And thus this insatiable, unreasonable self will hardly be pleased; And among the godly how much doth it prevail! O how many Ministers in England can tell by sad experience, how much of self surviveth in Professors! so much that we can hardly rule them or keep them from breaking all to pieces, and every man running away of his own. The ruine of England's