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

3. Love none excessively, but with a moderate love: such as shall allow God and holiness the preeminence; so that when you have the most love for your Relations, you may have more for God, at least in the Estimation, Resolution, Adhesion of your souls to him, if not in the passionate part of Love.

3. Love none excessively, but with a moderate love: such as shall allow God and holiness the preheminence; so that when you have the most love for your Relations, you may have more for God, at least in the Estimation, Resolution, Adhesion of your souls to him, if not in the passionate part of Love.

4. See that you subject them to the Government of Christ: Labour to win all other relations to him: and devote your children to him betimes that they may be his as soon as yours. Whiles they have no wills of their own to use, they are to choose with your wills: that is, you are to make choice for them. And therefore if you unfeignedly Dedicate them to God, you have small reason to doubt of his acceptance. This all parents do virtually, that are Godly: For he that is himself devoted to God by sanctification, doth with himself devote all that he hath, and virtually all that ever he shall have. And if he understand himself, he will do it actually. And hence it is that the Seed of Believers (yea of one Believer) are said to be Holy: Not only or chiefly, because they are yours, born of your bodies; nor merely from a promise of God, that hath no presupposed reason from the subject: But because they are the children of one that hath devoted himself, and all that he hath, to God; and if he understand ⟨p. 199⟩himself, doth actually offer, devote and dedicate his child to God in the solemn Baptism, Ordinance and Covenant. And God will sure accept all that upon his own invitation is consecrated and offered to him.

4. See that you subject them to the Government of Christ: Labour to win all other relations to him: and devote your children to him betimes that they may be his as soon as yours. Whiles they have no wills of their own to use, they are to choose with your wills: that is, you are to make choice for them. And therefore if you unfeignedly Dedicate them to God, you have small reason to doubt of his acceptance. This all parents do virtually, that are Godly: For he that is himself devoted to God by sanctification, doth with himself devote all that he hath, and virtually all that ever he shall have. And if he understand himself, he will do it actually. And hence it is that the Seed of Believers (yea of one Believer) are said to be Holy: Not only or chiefly, because they are yours, born of your bodies; nor meerly from a promise of God, that hath no presupposed reason from the subject: But because they are the children of one that hath devoted himself, and all that he hath, to God; and if he understand