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

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 ⟨image 14⟩to please the Lord)▪ Self-denial will prove a difficult task: And if somewhat in the advice that would engage you deeper in the conflict, should seem bitter, or ungrateful, I should not wonder. And let me freely tell you, that your prosperity and advancement will make the work so exceeding difficult, that since you have been a Major General, and a Lord, and now a Counsellor of State, you have stood in a more slippery perilous place, and have need of much more grace and vigilancy, than when you were but Baxter's Friend. Great places and employments have great temptations, and are great avocations of the mind from God. And no error scarcely can be small, that is committed in public great Affairs; which the honour of God, and the temporal and spiritual welfare of so many, do, in some sort, depend upon. These times have told us to our grief, what Victory and Prosperity can do, to strengthen the selfish principle in men: They have swallowed Camels since they were lifted up, that would have strained at Gnats in a lower state. The Ministry, and Ordinances, and Holy Communion that once were sweet to them, are grown into contempt. Centaury and Wormwood are excellent helps to procure an appetite, and strengthen the stomach; but marrow and sweetness breed a loathing. The Vertiginous disease is not so strong with them that are on the ground, as with them that ⟨image 15⟩stand on the top of a steeple. I had rather twenty times look up at them that are so exalted, than stand with them, and have the terror of looking down.