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

his Son Jesus Christ in his sacred person, and office, and holy life, hath yet more notably commended it to the world; and it was a principal part of his business in the flesh, to set men a pattern of Holiness and Self-denial: And yet many scorn it, & hate it, and most dislike it, and even fight against this holy Will of God, that is, against God ⟨p. 113⟩himself, if they had but any hope to get the le•ter▪ There is no doubt of it, though •h•y w•ll not know so much by themselves. Do y•u think it is for nothing that God calleth them his enemies, and resolveth them the reward of enemies, even because they would not have Christ to rule over them? Luke 19. 27. Doubtless God sentenceth no man unjustly: If he say they are such, and condemn them as such it's certain that they are such. O but the infinite dreadful God •s ou• of their reach; but they be not out of his reach. Their malice cannot hurt him any more than it can stop the course of the Sun; but his displeasure will quickly bring them down. In the mean time, these wretches should consider what a God they have had to do with, that beareth with their malignity. The Sun or Moon forbear not to shine even on the dogs that bark at them. Thy rebellious self hath hitherto been maintained by the mercy of that Will of God which thou hast resisted. But this patience will not always last: Take therefore this necessary advice in time. Down with thine own Idolatrous self-will; Know not a will or desire in thy self, that's not moved by the will of God, even by his word as thy ground, and his pleasure and honour as thy chiefest end. Destroy that will that springs but from self, and is moved but by the Interest of self. Slay it before the Lord as his enemy as Samuel did Agag. Though an hypocritical Saul will spare this King of rebellion, designed to destruction, yet so will not an obedient servant of G•d. I will not bid thee offer it in sacrifice to Gods Will: for it is too vile to be an acceptable sacrifice: But utterly destroy it as the accursed thing. Know not hereafter such a thing within thee as a will hat is Originally or finally thine Own. If the Word and the Glory of God be the movers of it, thou mayest call that Gods Will, as well as thine own