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

Had not professors been intoxicated by prosperity, they had not believed and lived so giddily. I have often seen mens reason marred with a cup or two too much, but seldom by too little. And too many I have known, that have wounded conscience and sold their souls for the love of Prosperity and Wealth; but none that ever did it for Poverty. For a rich man to be saved is impossible to man, though all things are possible with God, Matth. 19. 26. Luke 18. 27. For my own part, I bless God that hath kept me from greatness in the world, and I take it as the principal act of Friendship that ever you did for me, that you provoked me to this sweet, though flesh-displeasing life, of the Ministry, in which I have chosen to abide. I had rather lie in health on the hardest bed, than be sick upon the softest. And I see that a feather-bed maketh not a sick man well. The sleep of the labouring man is sweet: The plough-mans brown bread and cheese, is more savoury to him, and breedeth fewer sicknesses, than the fullness and variety of the rich. This Country Diet doth not cherish Voluptuousness, Arrogancy, Vain-glory, Earthlymindedness, Uncharitableness, and other selfish diseases, so much as worldly greatness doth.

Had not professors been intoxicated by prosperity, they had not believed and lived so giddily. I have often seen mens reason marr'd with a cup or two too much, but seldom by too little. And too many I have known, that have wounded conscience and sold their souls for the love of Prosperity and Wealth; but none that ever did it for Poverty. For a rich man to be saved is impossible to man, though all things are possible with God, Matth. 19. 26. Luke 18. 27. For my own part, I bless God that hath kept me from greatness in the world, and I take it as the principal act of Friendship that ever you did for me, that you provoked me to this sweet, though flesh-displeasing life, of the Ministry, in which I have chosen to abide. I had rather lie in health on the hardest bed, than be sick upon the softest. And I see that a fether-bed maketh not a sick man well. The sleep of the labouring man is sweet: The plow-mans brown bread and cheese, is more savoury to him, and breedeth fewer sicknesses, than the fulness and variety of the rich. This Country Diet doth not cherish Voluptuousness, Arrogancy, Vain-glory, Earthlymindedness, Uncharitableness, and other selfish diseases, so much as worldly greatness doth.