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

Our Lord doth not use to thank people for their service, and yet he did that which was next to it, to this humble, self-denying, penitent woman. He doth not use to deny his own Disciples an heavenly request: and yet he did that which was next to a denial, when self brought him the petition. He that hath taught us not to press to the highest room, lest with shame we hear, [Sit lower] doth hereby tell us what we must expect from himself: And he that hath bid us sit down at the lower end, that we may hear [Friend sit up higher] doth express his purpose for humble, self-denying souls. I had rather from the dust hear his [Come up higher] than from self-exaltation to hear [Come down lower.] O you that are proud, self-conceited wretches, did you but know what good it doth an humble soul, to feel Christ take him up from the dust, you would soon fall down that you might taste their comforts in his lifting up. O what a blessed feeling it is, to feel ones self in the arms of Christ! Our common compassion that makes us run to take up one that falls before us, is a spark of that compassion in Christ: who meddles with him that walks before us? but a man that falls down in a swoon, we are all ready to lay hands on! O happy fall, that makes us feel the arms of Christ! Though the fall into sin be never the better, that occasioneth it, yet the fall into Humiliation is the better, that prepareth for it. ⟨p. 103⟩He that in his agony had an Angel to minister to him, will not leave the self-denying, humble soul, without his Angel, or some way of relief that is suitable to the necessity. Christ himself will not communicate himself to the proud and self-conceited. He is wisdom, but not to them that are wise in their own eyes already. He is Righteousness, but not to them that Justify themselves: He is Sanctification, but not to those that never found their own uncleanness. He is Redemption, but to none but those that feel themselves condemned. He hath the white raiment, and the treasures of grace and glory: but it's only those that penitently feel that they are poor and miserable, and blind, and naked. Truly Sirs, though I have no mind to trouble the well-grounded peace or comfort of any of your Souls, yet I would advise you, if you have never so good thoughts of your selves, suspect lest it should be the fruit of self-conceitedness:

Our Lord doth not use to thank people for their service, and yet he did that which was next to it, to this humble, selfdenying, penitent woman. He doth not use to deny his own Disciples an heavenly request: and yet he did that which was next to a denial, when self brought him the petition. He that hath taught us not to press to the highest room, lest with shame we hear, [Sit lower] doth hereby tell us what we must expect from himself: And he that hath bid us sit down at the lower end, that we may hear [Friend sit up higher] doth express his purpose for humble, self-denying souls. I had rather from the dust hear his [Come up higher] than from self-exaltation to hear [Come down lower.] O you that are proud, self-conceited wretches, did you but know what good it doth an humble soul, to feel Christ take him up from the dust, you would soon fall down that you might tast their comforts in his lifting up. O what a blessed feeling it is, to feel ones self in the arms of Christ! Our common compassion that makes us run to take up one that falls before us, is a spark of that compassion in Christ: who meddles with him that walks before us? but a man that falls down in a swoon, we are all ready to lay hands on! O happy fall, that makes us feel the arms of Christ! Though the fall into sin be never the better, that occasioneth it, yet the fall into Humiliation is the better, that prepareth for it.