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

Nay you have the great mysteries of the Gospel to discourse of with the Godly; the glorious things of everlasting life to make mention of to one another, yea you have the high praises of God to advance in the world, and all his blessed attributes to magnify, and all his glorious works to praise, & all the experiences of your own souls to lay open, & his many & great mercies towards you to admire and thankfully confess. And yet have you leisure for idle talk? For number of objects, you have God and all his works in heaven and earth (that are revealed) to talk of; you have all his providences, all his judgments▪ all his mercies, and all his word: And is not this field large enough for your tongue to walk in, but you must seek out more work in vanity it self? For Greatness, you have the greatest things in all the world to mind and talk of: For necessity, you have the matters of your own and other mens salvation to discourse of: For excellency, you have God and his Image, and works, and ways, and heaven it self to talk of: For delightfulness, you have the sweetest objects in the world, even goodness it self, salvation, & the way to it, to be the matter of your discourse. And lest one thing should weary you, you have a world of variety to employ your speeches on; even God, and all his works, and word, and ways before-mentioned. And is it not a shame to talk of vanity, yea to go seek for recreation in vanity, while all these stand by, and offer themselves to the subjects of your wise, and fruitful, and delightfullest discourse: Consider whether this be wise or equal dealing.

Nay you have the great mysteries of the Gospel to discourse of with the Godly; the glorious things of everlasting life to make mention of to one another, yea you have the high praises of God to advance in the world, and all his blessed attributes to magnifie, and all his glorious works to praise, & all the experiences of your own souls to lay open, & his many & great mercies towards you to admire and thankfully contess. And yet have you leasure for idle talk? For number of objects, you have God and all his works in heaven and earth (that are revealed) to talk of; you have all his providences, all his judgments▪ all his mercies, and all his word: And is not this field large enough for your tongue to walk in, but you must seek out more work in vanity it self? For Greatness, you have the greatest things in all the world to mind and talk of: For necessity, you have the matters of your own and other mens salvation to discourse of: For excellency, you have God and his Image, and works, and ways, and heaven it self to talk of: For delightfulness, you have the sweetest objects in the world, even goodness it self, salvation, & the way to it, to be the matter of your discourse. And lest one thing should weary you, you have a world of variety to employ your speeches on; even God, and all his works, and word, and ways before-mentioned. And is it not a shame to talk of vanity, yea to go seek for recreation in vanity, while all these stand by, and offer themselves to the subjects of your wise, and fruitful, and delightfullest discourse: Consider whether this be wise or equal dealing.