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

And what though this be unknown to the opposers? That will not warrant us to betray a cause that we know to be of God; nor will the ignorance of others excuse us, for neglecting known truth and duty. If the souls of private persons be worth all the study and labour of our lives, and we must deal faithfully with them, whatever ⟨image 14⟩it shall cost us: surely the safety of a Nation, and the hopes of our posterity, and the public interest of Christ, is worthy to be spoken for with much more zeal, and we may suffer more joyfully, for contradicting a public destroyer of the Church, than for telling a poor drunkard or whoremonger of his sin and misery.

And what though this be unknown to the opposers? That will not warrant us to betray a cause that we know to be of God; nor will the ignorance of others excuse us, for neglecting known truth and duty. If the souls of private persons be worth all the study and labour of our lives, and we must deal faithfully with them, whatever ⟨image 14⟩it shall cost us: surely the safety of a Nation, and the hopes of our posterity, and the publick interest of Christ, is worthy to be spoken for with much more zeal, and we may suffer more joyfully, for contradicting a publick destroyer of the Church, than for telling a poor drunkard or whoremonger of his sin and misery.

Hither to I have permitted my pen to express my sense of the common want of self-denial in the Land: Now give me leave, as your most affectionate faithful friend, to turn my stile a little to your self, and earnestly to entreat of you these following particulars.

I. In general, that as long as you live you will watch against this common deadly sin of Selfishness, and study continually the duty of Self-denial. We shall be empty of Christ, till we are Nothing in our selves. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Self is the strongest and most dangerous enemy that ever you fought against. It is a whole Army united; and the more dangerous because so near. Many that have fought as valiantly and successfully against other enemies as you, have at last been conquered and undone by Self. And conquer it you cannot without a conflict: And the conflict must endure as long as you live: And combating is not pleasing to the enemy: And therefore as long as self is the enemy and self-pleasing so natural to corrupted man, (that should be wholly addicted