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

CHAP. XVI. Selfish Passions to be denied.

5. Another part of selfishness to be mortified and denied, is, selfish Passions. The soul is furnished with Passions by God, partly for the exciting of the will and other faculties, that they do not sluggishly neglect their duties; and partly to help them in the execution when they are at work: So that they are but the wheels or the sails of the reasonable soul, to speed our motion for God and our Salvation, and not to be ⟨p. 120⟩employed for carnal self. When Passions and affections are sanctified and used for God, they are called such and such particular Graces, and the fervour of them is an holy Zeal; But when they are used for carnal self they are our vices; and the heat of them is but fury, or carnal zeal, and the height of vice. But how rare is it to meet with men that are meek and patient in their own cause, and passionate in a holy zeal for God? I know many are passionate in disputes and other exercises about Religion, and think that it's purely zeal for God, when self is at the bottom of the business, and ruleth as well as kindleth the fire, when they scarce discern it, and little know what spirit they are of: But pure zeal for God, conjoined with self-denial, is exceeding rare. How few can say that their Love to God, is greater and hotter than their Love to themselves? The Desires of men are strong after those things that supply their own necessities, and please their own corrupted wills: but how cold are they after the honour of God? How averse are men from that which hurteth the flesh! as to go into a Pest-house, or to take deadly poison, or to suffer any pain: but few are so averse to the breaking of the Law of God. A hard word or a little injury done to themselves, will put them into a passion, so that their anger is working out in reproach, if not in more revenge: but God may be abused from day to day, and how patiently can they bear it? There's few carnal minds but can more patiently hear a man swear, or curse, or scorn at Scripture and a holy life, than hear him call them Rogue, or Knave, or Thief, or Liar, or any such disgraceful name. It seems an intolerable dishonour with selfish persons that are advanced by Pride to be great in their own eyes, for a man to give them the lye, or to reproach their Parentage, or make them seem base: