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

But if it be not as Ministers and Christi•n• that we are hated; what is it then? If because we are ignorant, insufficient, negligent or scandalous, ⟨image 12⟩why do they not by a legal trial cast us out, and put those in our places ¹that are more able, diligent and godly, when we have provoked them to it, and begged it of them so often as we have done? If it be because we are not Papists, it is because we cannot renounce all our senses, our Reason, the Scripture, the Unity, Judgment and Tradition of the far greatest part of the Universal Church? If I have not already proved that Popery fighteth against all these, and am not able to make it good against any Jesuit on earth, let them go on to number me with Heretics, and let them use me as they do such when I am in their power. If we are hated because we are not of the Opinions of those that hate us, it seems those Opinions are enemies to Charity; and then we have little reason to embrace them. And if this be it, we are under an unavoidable necessity of being hated: For among such diversity of Opinions, it is impossible for us to comply with all, if we durst be false to the known truth, and durst become the servants of men, and make every self-conceited Brother the Master of our Faith. If we are so reviled, because me are against an Universal Liberty of speaking or writing against ⟨image 12⟩the truths and ways of Christ, and of labouring in Satan's harvest, to the dividing of the Churches and the damnation of souls, it is then in the up-shot, because we are of any Religion, and are not despisers of the Gospel, and of the Church, and of mens salvation, and because we believe in Jesus Christ. I have lately found by their exclamations, and common defamations, and threatenings, and by the Volumes of reproaches that come forth against me, and by the swarms of lies that have been sent forth against me through the Land, that even the present Contrivers of Englands Misery (Liberty, I would say) and of Toleration for Popery, and more, are themselves unable to bear contradiction from one such an inconsiderable person as my self; and they have got it into the mouths of soldiers, that my writings are the cause of wars, and that till I give over writing, they shall not give over fighting (though I do all that