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

Remember where you begun, and where you must end. Naked you came into the world, and naked you must return to dust. You brought •• Riches bither, and none shall you take hence, unless you learn the blessed art of making friends of the unrighteous Mammon, and laying up a good foundation against the time to come, and ⟨image 18⟩laying up a treasure in Heaven, by the right improvement of your present mercies. Though our life be nor circular, but progressive, the end as to our naturals, is liker to the beginning than to the middle. If we die not children, yet liker to Children than we live. It's sad that the height and perfection of our Age should be the height of our folly: And that childhood and retired Age should be least entangled with these vanities. And it's a lamentable stupidity that alloweth self so confidently to play its game, so near eternity; where one would think the noise of damned souls, and the triumphant joys of blessed Saints, that past to rest by the way of self-denial, should mar the sport, and turn their pride into shame and trembling; and the great things of mortality that are even at hand, should drown the noise of pomp and pleasure, and make the Greatness of this world appear an inconsiderable thing. The Lord grant that you be no less humble, and heavenly, and true to Christ, and above this world, than when you and I had our first familiar converse, (and sure by this time you should be much better.) It's said of Agathocles King of Sicily, that having been a Potters Son, he would always have together▪ Earthen and Golden Vessels at his Table, to remember him of his Original. You tread on earth▪ and bear about you such evidences of your f••• ty▪ as serve to tell you, whence your […] ⟨image 19⟩and whither it's going, and how it should be used now: Remember also your spiritual new birth, by what seed you were begotten, and by what milk you were nourished, and see that you degenerate not, and do nothing unworthy that noble birth, and the heavenly nature then received.

Remember where you begun, and where you must end. Naked you came into the world, and naked you must return to dust. You brought Riches bither, and none shall you take hence, unless you learn the blessed art of making friends of the unrighteous Mammon, and laying up a good foundation against the time to come, and