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

For indeed they lived as without a calling, doing very little else but rise, & dress them & complement those about them, and drink, and eat, and so to their sports at home or abroad, and then to eating and drinking again, and so to their vain discourses, and so to their beds again: and this was the ordinary course of their lives: They sate down to eat and drink, and rose up to play, Exod. 32. 6. 1 Cor. 10. 7. In the sins of Sodom did they live, Pride, fullness of bread, and idleness, Ezek. 16. 49. They trod the steps of him that Christ had told them, did cry in vain for a drop of water to cool his tongue, Luke 16. 19. gallantly clothed, and fared deliciously every ⟨p. 162⟩day (or sumptuously.) Their whole life almost was but a sacrifice to their flesh, to their belly, their fancies and their lusts: Till God broke in upon them in his wrath, and found them another employment, and shortened their store, and diminished their full estates and brought them into contempt and trouble; and yet how common is the sin to this day? Isa. 5. 11, 12, 13. [Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink that continue till night, till wine inflame them; and the Harp and the Viol, the Tabret and Pipe, and Wine are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of the Lord, nor consider the operation of his hands: therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge, and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst: therefore Hell hath enlarged her self, and opened her mouth without measure, and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth shall descend into it,] Amos 6. 1, 4, 5, 6. Woe to them that are at ease in Zion,—that stretch themselves on their Couches, and eat the Lambs out of the flock, and the Calves out of the stall, that chant to the sound of the Viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music—that drink Wine in Bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.]