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

1. It is for want of this part of self-denial that the world is so full of scandals, and the Consciences of men so full of wounds, and Professors walk so unevenly with God, and seem to be but as other men. Here one drops into tippling, if not stark drunkenness; and there another into wantonness, if not fornication: and many live in gluttony, and never see it nor repent of it; and many are drowned in covetous desires and practices; and some give up themselves to sensual pastimes; and all because they do not make this Covenant with their senses, nor have ever yet learned to deny themselves; but because it pleaseth them, they think it is not displeasing to God; and that it's no sin, but a part of ⟨p. 129⟩their Christian liberty: yea many of them think that by this Doctrine of self-denial, we would deny them the use of the mercies of God, and consequently hinder them from thankfulness for them. And thus they make a Religion of pleasing the flesh, which is the deadly enemy to God and Religion. They imagine a Liberty purchased them to Please it, and fulfil its desires; and they measure out mercies as they please it, and they would return God a fleshly thanks for these mercies, and offer him a sacrifice as the Heathens did to Ceres and Bacchus; when as the Gospel knoweth no mercy, but either eternal mercy, or that which is a means to it: nor will it call that a mercy which hath not a tendency to God: nor did Christ purchase us an• liberty, but what is from sin or punishment, and is for his Service: He did not suffer in the flesh to procure us liberty unprofitably to indulge and please the flesh, and to strengthen our enemy, and by use to give it the mastery, when this mastery is the damnation of most of the world. If Christians had learned more to deny their senses, they would walk more blamelessly and inoffensively in the world: if they would keep at a distance from the bait, and when they cannot do so, yet shut up these doors, that it may be at a distance from their minds, how safely would they walk that now are stumbling at every creature that is given for their relief! The objects of sense are these lower things, so contrary to the objects of faith, that the more we love the one of them, the less we shall regard the other: and therefore these are always working against each other.

1. It is for want of this part of self-denial that the world is so full of scandals, and the Consciences of men so full of wounds, and Professors walk so unevenly with God, and seem to be but as other men. Here one drops into tipling, if not stark drunkenness; and there another into wantonness, if not fornication: and many live in gluttony, and never see it nor repent of it; and many are drowned in covetous desires and practices; and some give up themselves to sensual pastimes; and all because they do not make this Covenant with their senses, nor have everyet learn'd to deny themselves; but because it pleaseth them, they think it is not displeasing to God; and that it's no sin, but a part of