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

Something they might say, if the Ministers of England had the provision of the French and other Popish Clergy. (I will not presume to compare now our Calling, fidelity and maintenance, with Magistrates, Judges and men of other professions.) Should I suppose the Magistracy epitomized in you, and the Ministry in me, I should give you an undue advantage: For I suppose there are far more Ministers better than me, than there are Magistrates better than you. And yet I think you would not judge of me, as the Ministers are judged of. As there are no such Commissioners for ejection of scandalous insufficient negligent Magistrates, as are for the ejection of such Ministers, so if there were, I should not doubt, but you would quickly see which part were liable to more exceptions. But when I took on the faithful Ministers round about me, (how many of them could I name!) with whom ⟨image 22⟩my conscience tells me I am not worthy to be compared in Holiness, I am then amazed at the ingratitude of the Apostates of this age. How constantly and zealously do they preach in public, at home and abroad, some of them many times a week? How diligently do they instruct the ignorant in private, from house to house? How unblameably, and meekly, and self-denyingly do they behave themselves? And are men that once made profession of Religion, become the enemies of such a Ministry? [O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their Assembly mine honour be not thou united] Gen. 49. 6. I had rather be in the case of Turks, yea of Cannibals, than of those men.

Something they might say, if the Ministers of England had the provision of the French and other Popish Clergy. (I will not presume to compare now our Calling, fidelity and maintenance, with Magistrates, Judges and men of other professions.) Should I suppose the Magistracy epitomized in you, and the Ministery in me, I should give you an undue advantage: For I suppose there are far more Ministers better than me, than there are Magistrates better than you. And yet I think you would not judge of me, as the Ministers are judged of. As there are no such Commissioners for ejection of scandalous insufficient negligent Magistrates, as are for the ejection of such Ministers, so if there were, I should not doubt, but you would quickly see which part were liable to more exceptions. But when I took on the faithful Ministers round about me, (how many of them could I name!) with whom