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

Answ. 1. When ever it craveth any thing that is forbidden: This is past doubt. It must not be pleased to the disobeying of God. 2. When it ticeth us towards that which is forbidden, and would be feeding on the baits and occasions of sin; unless the thing desired be necessary, it is here to be denied. For sin and Hell are dangers that no wise man will draw too near to. 3. When ever the pleasing of the sense conduceth not to Gods service, and doth not fit or furnish us for our duty, it is unlawful.

Answ. 1. When ever it craveth any thing that is forbidden: This is past doubt. It must not be pleased to the disobeying of God. 2. When it ticeth us towards that which is forbidden, and would be feeding on the baits and occasions of sin; unlefs the thing desired be necessary, it is here to be denied. For sin and Hell are dangers that no wise man will draw too near to. 3. When ever the pleasing of the sense conduceth not to Gods service, and doth not fit or furnish us for our duty, it is unlawful.

Quest. But may not the Creatures be received for Delight as well as for Necessity?

Answ. It's an ill expressed question: As if Delight it self were never necessary. Necessity is either Absolute, as of those things ⟨p. 126⟩without which we cannot be saved; or it is only to our bettering and the greater securing of our salvation: and so it's taken for that which is any way useful and profitable to it; directly and indirectly. We may and must make use of the creatures, 1. Not only for our own Necessity, but principally for the service and glory of God, 1 Cor. 10. 31. And 2. not only for our Absolute necessity, but also when they in any measure further us in or to the service of God; so be it they be not on any other account unlawful. 3. We may use the Creatures for delight, when that Delight it self is a means to fit us for the work of God, and is sincerely sought for that intent. But we may not use them for any other Delight, but that which it self is necessary or useful to Gods service. Reasons are evident. 1. Because we should else make that Delight our ultimate end, which is as bad as brutish; for either it must be an End, or Means. If it be not used as a means to God as our ultimate end, it must be our ultimate end it self, which is no better than to take his place. 2. That action is idle, and consequently a sinful misemploying of our faculties which doth not conduce to the end that we were made for, and live for. 3. It is a misemploying of Gods creatures, and a sinful casting them away to use them for any end which is not it self a means to the great end of our lives. All is lost that is no way useful to God and our salvation. It is contrary to the end of their Creation and of ours. 4. It is a sinful robbing God of the use of his talents, if we use them for any end that is not subservient to himself as the chief end. For certainly he made all things for himself, and that which is not employed for him, is taken from him injuriously. All men must answer for the mercies which they have received; whether they