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

7. Your own wills are so mutable as well as misguided, that they will bewilder you and toss you up and down in perpetual disquietness; though I know you think that is the only way to your content, and nothing will content you unless you have your will. But you are lamentably deluded; your wills are like the will of a man in a sever, that would fain have cold water, which pleaseth him in the drinking, but afterwards may be his death. You love that which hurteth you; yea that which is no bet••r than poison to your Souls. You would soon undo your selves, if you had your own wills. It is none of the least of Gods mercies to you to cross your wills▪ and to deny you that which you have a mind to. You will not let your Children eat or drink what they will, but what you will, that know better what's good for them. A patient can deny his own will for his health, and submit himself to the will of his Physician. And should not you much more submit to God? yea you should desire him to deny your own wills, when ever he seeth them contrary to his Will, and to your own good: Had you but the skill of judging aright of Gods dealings, I am persuaded that upon the review of your lives, you would find, that God hath showed you more mercy in the crossing of your wills, then in accomplishing them. Be not therefore too eager for the time to come, to have what you Love, till you are surer that you Love nothing but that which is good for you, and which you should love. The present contenting of diseased self-will, is but the breeding after-disquietness, But in the Will of God you ⟨p. 117⟩may have full and durable content. For his Will is always for good, and therefore hath nothing that should cause your discontent. His will is still the same & unchangeable; and therefore will •ot disquiet you by mutations. He knows the end at the beginning, and sets you upon nothing but what he is sure will comfort you at the last. It belongeth to his will and not to yours to dispose of you and all your affairs. And therefore there is all the reason in the world, that Gods Will should be set up, and in it you should rest your selves content, and that self-will should be denied as the disturber of your quietness.

7. Your own wills are so mutable as well as misguided, that they will bewilder you and toss you up and down in perpetual disquietness; though I know you think that is the only way to your content, and nothing will content you unless you have your will. But you are lamentably deluded; your wills are like the will of a man in a sever, that would fain have cold water, which pleaseth him in the drinking, but afterwards may be his death. You love that which hurteth you; yea that which is no betr than poyson to your Souls. You would soon undo your selves, if you had your own wills. It is none of the least of Gods mercies to you to cross your wills and to deny you that which you have a mind to. You will not let your Children eat or drink what they will, but what you will, that know better what's good for them. A patient can deny his own will for his health, and submit himself to the will of his Physician. And should not you much more submit to God? yea you should desire him to deny your own wills, when ever he seeth them contrary to his Will, and to your own good: Had you but the skill of judging aright of Gods dealings, I am perswaded that upon the review of your lives, you would find, that God hath shewed you more mercy in the crossing of your wills, then in accomplishing them. Be not therefore too eager for the time to come, to have what you Love, till you are surer that you Love nothing but that which is good for you, and which you should love. The present contenting of diseased self-will, is but the breeding after-disquietness, But in the Will of God you